Why is gemstone polishing such an unpredictable art? Isn there some kind of definitive rules for gaining a good, high polish?
A. Sorry, but definitive rules for gem polishing give way to general rules. That’s because no two gemstones every present the same polishing condition. Colored gems DO have grain issues although they’re not as severe as diamond. Try polishing on the cleavage plane of a kunzite and you’ll gain a quick and heart breaking understanding of colored stone grain. Because every stone’s polishing demands differ due to changes in pH and hydrogen atom generation circumstance, here’s a general rule: polishing agents apparently require a higher melting point than the stone due to the higher temperatues generated at the point of contact between the stone and the polishing wheel. This condition induces a chemical or molecular interaction between the stone and polish alike. It’s this electro-chemical activity – and the production and conduct of hydrogen atoms – that is generated by acid’s ability to reduce pH levels. So General Rule #1 is: introduce acid to the polishing mix. Reduction of pH explains
