OnlyGems.eu | Honest Hand-Cutting of Gemstones and Opals

Q: I have an opal with a bit of color play. What should I do with it? Should I get it cut? Won't the color play be destroyed during cutting?

That's a question that can only be answered after inspecting the stone. If I see a spiderweb crack or an opaque inclusion, or if the opal layer is too thin or cracked, I won't force the cut because it would likely break or get destroyed. I will explain all possibilities and risks after the inspection.

Q: How long does it take you to cut one stone?

If it's a single, undemanding stone and I have enough time outside of work, I can cut it while you wait, or on the same day. For a larger quantity (up to 10 pcs) or a more demanding stone or repair, I usually finish the work within a week. For a large amount of raw material (10+ pcs), it depends on our agreement and my time availability.

Who am I exactly?

IT manager, developer, researcher (yes, really), and an AI and drone enthusiast. But when the dust settles, above all else, I am a passionate opal and gemstone cutter. This crazy technological combo actually explains why I designed and built all my grinders and lapidary saws entirely by myself. I simply like it when things work precisely and efficiently.

Where I work & Shipping

I am based around Košice and Prešov (Slovakia). If you are from the other side of the country or abroad, don't hesitate to write to me. It's completely normal for clients to send me their raw material by post or courier, even from distant countries. Stones travel safely, and we can arrange everything remotely with the same quality as in person.

Languages we can use

I speak fluently: Slovak, Czech, English, and I can also manage a bit of German.

Communication: If you write to me in another language, I will try to understand and we'll figure it out, but keep in mind it will go through a translator.

What you get from me (and what you don't)

What kind of cut?

I specialize in hand-cut cabochons. Each piece stands out with its natural depth, texture, color, and structure. I do not offer faceting or repairs of faceted stones - I don't have the equipment for it.

What shape?

My absolute favorites are freeforms – a shape that makes the stone the best version of itself. A vein of material or a natural crack can change the character of the stone into something unique. But I also do classics and various shapes upon agreement.

What kind of stones?

Anything cuttable and non-toxic (NO mercury, uranium, active asbestos, arsenic, etc.). I cut stones with a Mohs hardness of 3 - 9 using water cooling. However, you must consider the type and quality of your material, hidden cracks, porosity, etc. I will warn you about everything in advance.

Final finish?

For material that allows it, I polish to a mirror finish, exclusively using diamond pastes with grits from 50µm to 0.25µm, finishing on suede and leather. For standard polishing, I use Cerox powder - CeO2. The only synthetic involved is superglue for securing during cutting and an acetone bath to remove the glue and degrease.

Rescue & Revival

Up to 30% of my work is stone rescue. Have a dull and matte stone? Or did your favorite piece crack? No panic. I can professionally repolish or recut the stone so it looks brand new again.

Jewelers, over here!

Do you have raw material, a damaged, scratched, or broken stone, and want a jewelry piece out of it? I will modify the stone according to its possibilities and our agreement. I try to stick to dimensions, but I don't calibrate stones because I cut by hand.

My Absolute Passion: Opals

I specialize in processing rough opal from all world locations (not exclusively the ones listed below). Upon request, I apply treatments to enhance the color play.

Australian Opals

Nobby, potch and color, crystal opal, dark opal, black opal, boulder opal, boulder matrix opal, Andamooka hard matrix, galaxy, West Australian fire opal, or pink opal.

Slovak Precious Opal

Dubník and other domestic localities - light precious opal, matrix opal, etc.

Special Treatment on Request

I darken matrix opals using a gentle vacuum method with sugar and baking – absolutely without the use of harsh sulfuric acid.

Ethiopian Opals

Light Wollo and black Stayish. I do not cut Ethiopian crystal opal.

Special Treatment on Request

I can smoke Wollo opal using a cold smoking method, where there is no risk of the stone cracking from heat.

Mexican and Fire Opal

Magdalena Jalisco locality - Contrazul opal, Cantera. Fantastic Mexican fire opals.

Peruvian Opal

Blue (turquoise) and pink opal, typical for their beautiful pastel tones.

Common Opals & Specialties

Kiwi opals, dendritic opals with interesting patterns, and common opals from various corners of the world.

How it works here

Coffee and Material Assessment

Ideally, we meet, you show me the material, and we discuss your vision. I will evaluate the condition of the stone and give you a fair assessment of what we can realistically get out of it. I can inspect the stone with loupes on the spot, or at home under a microscope if necessary.

Magic in the Workshop

Upon agreement, I head to the machines. If it's necessary or suitable to cut the stone, I can make cuts up to approx. 15cm thick. I can record any grinding and cutting upon request and provide a video of the process. Depending on the type and condition of the stone, it happens that the material splits or cracks during cutting.

Communication

In case of a larger quantity of stones (e.g., 50+), we will agree on a deadline and I will continuously send you photos and status updates.

A Result with a Soul

You will receive a polished and glowing stone in your hands, ready to be set into jewelry, or just to be displayed in a showcase for joy.

My Work

Click on a photo to enlarge.

Petrified wood from Slanské vrchy, Slovakia

Petrified wood from Slanské vrchy - presentation cut

Pricing and Fair Deal

My prices are not set in stone. When asked how much it costs, I usually answer - I HAVE NO IDEA :). The final amount always depends on the type of raw material, your shape requirements, and the difficulty of cutting and polishing. But we will always make a fair agreement IN ADVANCE.

🇸🇰 Slovak Opal

Light, dark, black, with inclusions, matrix, seam, and any Slovak opals have a stable place in my workshop. If you bought or received a Slovak opal with a nice play of color, I'll gladly take a look at it and try to get the most out of it.

Price: from €5 to ??? €/pc Everything depends on the stone, the requirements, and what will be done with it.

€ 0 Free

For Museums & Exhibitions

I cut completely free of charge for publicly accessible and museum collections in SK, CZ, HU, PL, or for a pre-agreed symbolic price if it involves a significantly large number of stones (50+ pcs). My only condition is an agreement on a public reference and visible attribution of my authorship.

I also accept Barter... Make an offer!

Do you have some rare, crazy, or otherwise fantastic raw material in your collection that's worth it? I am open to a trade. You give me a great stone, and in return, I will polish, cut, or otherwise process yours.

Important: Toxicity and Radioactivity

Stones with low toxicity (min. €7/pc): Malachite, pseudomalachite (copper), beryl, fluorite, unaltered pietersite, hawk's eye, and tiger's eye with unstable layers of crocidolite. I take extra precautions here.
Highly toxic and radioactive – I DO NOT CUT: Cinnabar specimens, stones containing uranium, and others with a high content of free heavy metals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What you're curious about...

Can a broken or dull stone be saved?

In most cases, yes! Stone rescue makes up to a third of my work. If your favorite piece has fallen and broken, gotten scratched, or lost its mirror polish over time, I can professionally repolish it or recut it into a new shape. I will breathe a second life into it. Of course, I leave the jewelry modification and setting to a jeweler.

Do you also cut synthetic stones or diamonds? Do you do brilliant cuts?

No. I focus on natural materials. I do not do faceting (cutting flat faces like on diamonds, and therefore no diamonds themselves - meaning brilliant and other cuts), as I currently do not have the equipment for it.

How does the darkening of matrix opals work?

Roughly cut and shaped stones are soaked in a vacuum chamber with a saturated "sweet and sour" solution of sugar, citric acid, and distilled water, which is slowly boiled until the sugar inside the stone perfectly caramelizes. The stones are then baked in a kiln or oven at a controlled temperature and finished with standard fine-tuning and polishing.

How much does it cost to cut one stone?

My lowest price starts at €0 (for museums and publicly accessible collections - depending on quantity and difficulty) and ends at I DON'T KNOW, depending on the type of stone and other circumstances. It's one thing to cut basalt with a nice white quartz stripe that's been on your shelf for 10 years (say €5). It's another to cut a valuable black Australian seam opal with a thin color line (approx. €50). It is completely different to sandblast a delicate opal like a White Cliffs pineapple, whose value is in the thousands to tens of thousands of euros (10% of the price or min. €1000). That's why I don't list fixed prices, because it's really not possible without seeing what awaits me and knowing what you expect.

How do I get the stone to you?

We will agree on that. I prefer personal contact so I can inspect the stones in person. If that's not possible, you can send me the stones via courier or post, and we'll agree on the next steps.

I have an opal with a bit of color play. What should I do with it? Should I get it cut? Won't the color play be destroyed during cutting?

That is a question that can only be answered after inspecting the stone. If I see a spiderweb crack or an opaque inclusion in the stone, or if the opal layer is too thin or cracked, or if the host rock is unstable and crumbles on touch, I will not force the cut because it would likely break, fall apart, or otherwise get destroyed. I will explain all possibilities and risks to you after the inspection.

I have a piece of jewelry with a scratched stone. Can you fix it?

Even if the scratch is deeper, it can usually be ground away and polished. Have a jeweler or silversmith remove the stone from your jewelry, and I'll take care of the rest.

How long does it take you to cut one stone?

If it's a single piece of undemanding stone and I have enough time outside of work, I can cut it while you wait, or on the given day. If it's a larger quantity (up to 10 pcs) or a more demanding stone or repair, I usually finish the work within a week. In the case of a large amount of raw material (10 and more pcs) where cutting with a saw is also required, it depends on our agreement and my time availability.

Hand cutting of cabochons
from various stones and opals