Category Archives: Uncategorized

Understanding Light Return: Why Some Stones Glow and Others Don’t

A diagram showing the importance of critical angle in gemstone cutting.

The Mystery of the “Dead” Stone In the gemstone market, there’s a lot of talk about color and clarity, but the factor that often determines if a stone looks “alive” or “dead” is something called light return.  Simply put, when light enters the top of your gemstone, does it come back to your eye or […]

Gemstone Engagement Rings: A Stunning, Ethical, and Meaningful Alternative to Diamonds

An image of two gemstone engagement rings.

When most people think of engagement rings, a sparkling white diamond is often the first image that comes to mind. But in recent years, a growing number of couples have begun to buck this trend, looking instead for rings that feel more personal, ethical, colorful, and unique. Enter the gemstone engagement ring. Whether it’s a […]

From Rough to Radiant: The Journey of a Custom-Cut Gemstone

A featured blog image showing the before and after stages of a rough gemstone to fully cut and polished.

Introduction: More Than Just Sparkle Every gemstone has a story, and it starts long before it ever finds its way into a piece of jewelry. In fact, every glittering facet you admire is the result of careful planning, patience, and precision. At Lumis Jewelcraft, we specialize in transforming both natural and lab-created rough gemstones into […]

Understanding Gemstone Hardness & Durability for Jewelry

An infographic of gemstone durability.

When choosing gemstones for jewelry, whether for an engagement ring, a pendant, or a family heirloom, durability is key. Not all gemstones can withstand daily wear, and knowing the difference between gemstone hardness and toughness can save you from costly repairs or replacements. In this brief guide, we’ll explain the basics of gemstone hardness, toughness, […]

Locally Mined Beauty: Grossular Garnet from Quebec’s Historic Jeffrey Mine

An image of a golden-peach garnet from Jeffrey Mine, Quebec, Canada

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a gemstone that’s not only beautiful but also deeply rooted in Canadian soil, let me introduce you to one of our nation’s hidden treasures: grossular garnet from the Jeffrey Mine in Quebec. As a Canadian gem cutter, I recently had the pleasure of faceting a round grossular garnet sourced […]