Mine to Market - How the Magic works
Mine-to-market, a term that has gained a lot of attention in the recent times. Let's examine what Mine-to-Market is and the approach at Lustre Ceylon.
Mining Marvels: Unearthing the Treasures of the Earth
The initial step begins by unearthing the treasures by venturing deep into the heart of gemstone mines, where the earth yields treasures of unparalleled brilliance. The unique geological features contribute to the exceptional quality of every gemstone, making each gem a testament to the natural wonders beneath our feet. The differences in geological features across the world results in the different chemical composition & pressure, thereby resulting in different types of gemstones being unearthed in different locations.
Rough Gem Grading : Identifying Quality Stones
Once gemstones have been mined, the process of gem grading begins. This is when experts at Lustre Ceylon carefully inspect each and every rough gemstone unearthed. Since gemstones are made over thousands of years, the change in conditions of the environment which the gemstone crystals grow could have an impact on its colour and clarity.
Hence the need to identify "gem grade" gemstones, the term refers to the rough stones that would be of acceptable quality, in terms of clarity and colour, once cut. This involves grading gemstones based on the level of inclusions, the quality of colour and transparency. The gemstones with best colour, transparent with little to no inclusion (i.e: Loop Clean to Eye Clean) would be any gem merchant’s goal.
The Art and Craftsmanship: Transforming the Rough
Witness the transformation of rough gemstones into exquisite pieces of gemstones as our skilled artisans meticulously cut and polish our gemstones. The journey from mine to market is a testament to the craftsmanship that elevates these stones from raw beauty to wearable art.
Our experienced and highly skilled gem cutters carefully inspect every gemstone, since every piece is unique, the yield and the quality of every gemstone would rely heavily in the skills our cutters possess. They then determine and cut the most suitable gemstone shape for each piece, which is termed "pre-form".
Once a stone is pre-formed, the gemstone would be ready to be polished. This is the final step, where our facetors/polishers bring "Sparkle" to every stone by faceting/polishing every piece. The completed gemstone would now be sparkly, as light now reflects off every facet, a testament to pure art & craftmanship.
Entry to the Market
The finalised gemstones out of polish will be inspected closely by our experts and gemmologists who will rank the quality of polish and determine the need for any re-polish. The most suitable gemstone with the best cut & polish now will be evaluated before it can enter the 'market".
Firstly, the gemstone's weight in carat is measured, then the clarity is determined followed by the colour grade. After classifying these essential characteristics a price is determined. Since Lustre Ceylon controls the process from the mines to market, a very competitive price can be offered to our partners in the industry, as we've done for decades !
Some unique gemstones would be sent for gemstone certifications/labs before entering the market, however, any of our gemstones can be certified (if not already certified) upon any client's request.