Raw Materials is where I offer the stones and slabs that have not yet been shaped into finished cabochons, giving wire wrappers, silversmiths, and fellow lapidaries the opportunity to work directly with the source material and make their own cutting decisions. Everything in this collection has been personally sourced and evaluated for quality, color, and cutting potential, and I only offer material that I would be willing to cut myself.
Working with raw material is one of the most rewarding parts of the lapidary craft. There is something deeply satisfying about holding a rough slab or nodule and seeing the finished stone within it before the wheel ever touches the surface. For makers who cut their own cabs, this collection is an opportunity to access exceptional material and bring your own vision to the finished piece, choosing your own shapes, sizes, and orientations to suit the designs you have in mind.
What Makes Raw Material Special
- Raw and rough material gives the maker complete creative control over the finished stone, from the shape and size of the cab to the orientation of the pattern, allowing for a level of intentionality and personalization that is impossible to achieve with pre-cut stones.
- Purchasing raw material is often the most economical way to build a collection of high-quality cutting stock, particularly for makers who are developing their lapidary skills and want access to a variety of materials to practice with.
- There is a unique energetic quality to working with stone in its most unaltered state, and many practitioners believe that the act of cutting and shaping a stone yourself creates a deeper bond between the maker, the material, and the finished piece.
