Local Lapidary Services

Rubble Rock And Gem offers local re-cutting services. We offer recutting of colored faceted stones (no diamonds). If you have a gem that has become scuffed and hazy, let us take care of it for you.

Rates:

Gemstone Anatomy

Stone Drilling is done locally in house at rubble rock and gem. If your gemstone is rough, or polished, we can drill it. If it is transparent or opaque, we can drill it. If you need a hole for a chain or wire to go through, or need a hole drilled so you can make a stone into a ring or bangle- we can do it.

Price Sheet

*Depth matters. The average gemstone is about 4 or 5mm. If your stone is thicker, like a raw crystal, the cost double’s because thicker stone requires transitioning between 3 to 6 different types of drills to create a clean hole.

Notes

Glass and seashell are treated same as stone
20% Discount for 10 or more stones
Drilled holes will not be polished inside
Stones smaller than 1 cm may be rejected

Have a rock you want to see inside of? Need a rock slabbed for lapidary use? We have production scale water saws, large gravity fed and feed drive lapidary saws. If it’s a rock and you need it cut, we can do it.

Cost

Waiver

• Rocks are not a refined material. They have flaws. Many rocks break apart during cutting on pre-existing faults. We can not control this- but will return all the pieces from the saw.
• The cut faces are not polished. Polishing is not included. Small rocks may have crude cuts due to hand cutting.
• Cutting stones causes loss of material. This is called the kerf and has to do with the blade width. Please note that this means weight will be lost during cutting.
• Oil saws are used on rocks larger than 6.5 inches. This means your rock will become saturated. We will wash it, and though we use high grade mineral oil as lubricant, please be aware that oil may stain your rocks. (This is industry standard practice, but I like to inform you that a slight muddling of colours could occur.)

How to lay out cutting:

Leave it to us to decide what's best, or pick a width of your choosing — such as"4mm" or "1/4", etc. Please note however, that slabbing is a crude process and the slabs will not be identical to the size you requested. Expect a +/- 1.5mm margin of error.

Or

Pre-mark your stone for us, and we will do our best to follow the lines.

How to Layout Your Rock

Draw, with a permanent marker (Black) the way you want the saw to go through the rock.

We have the skills, tools, and expertise to execute advanced lapidary techniques—including inlay, intarsia, carving, custom shaping, and other precision stonework. These services are available by request and are billed at an hourly rate of $150 for intricate, custom, or technically demanding projects.

Due to the unique nature of each piece, final pricing depends on complexity, material, and time required. Estimates can be provided upon request, but please note that once work begins, unforeseen factors (such as hidden fractures, internal flaws, or irregular hardness) may affect both process and timeline.

You may drop off/ pick up your stone in person any time during our regular business hours.

We will also ship your stone to you once recutting is complete, but this will be at your expense.

If a courier is to be arranged, we ask that you arrange it. We do not offer delivery or pick up services at this time.

At Rubble Rock and Gem, we take pride in offering professional lapidary services—including cabochon cutting, drilling, faceting, reshaping, and general stonework. However, it’s important to understand that lapidary is an art form practiced on unpredictable materials. All stones are different, and many carry internal flaws, fractures, or hidden weaknesses that may not be visible before cutting or drilling begins.

By submitting your stones for any form of lapidary work, you acknowledge and accept the inherent risks involved. Even with great care and decades of experience, stones may crack, chip, blow out, or break during processing—particularly during drilling (which can leave visible marks, especially at the exit point), or during re-cutting of already-abrasioned or worn stones. Stones that have been previously mounted, polished, or subjected to wear may have hidden stress points that make them especially vulnerable.

In the case of faceting repairs, fractions of a millimeter matter. Damage caused by wear, misjudged hardness, or subtle asymmetries may limit what is possible. Our goal is always to preserve the carat weight and visual style as much as the material allows. This process requires the discernment of experienced lapidarists. By proceeding with any lapidary service through Rubble Rock and Gem, you agree to trust our judgment in determining the best possible outcome for your stone.

We are very good at what we do—and stone breakage is rare—but it is a known occupational hazard. If your stone is damaged during work, Rubble Rock and Gem is not liable for its replacement. No charge will be incurred on either side if breakage occurs during drilling or other high-risk operations. Submitting your stone to us constitutes agreement to these terms.