A look around the laboratory
In this section, you can browse our many work spaces and get a feel for the different types of equipment we have available. You’ll find that we use a combination of vintage and modern tools and techniques as we strive to find the best methods of any century.
Gemological Science Department
Our gemology work stations are stocked with all of the industry standard equipment, plus several advanced pieces of technology that put us ahead of many other labs, to include an X-Ray machine, UV-VIS-NIR Spectrometer, Raman microscope in 532nm and 785nm wavelengths, High powered trinocular biological microscope, Binocular gemological microscope with all accessories, Immersion cells, ASET light performance device, Polariscopes, Digital stone cut grade evaluation software, Dichroscopes, Spectroscopes, Precision weight scales and measuring devices, Hydrostatic specific gravity tool, Long and short wave Ultraviolet light box, Lab grown diamond rapid screening tool, large color grading light box with GIA master diamond color set, and more.
Watchmaking/Horology Station
Our Watchmaker's Bench is also very well equipped, with a wide range of specialized movement holders, case opening tools, a pressure testing device, balance repair tools, staking sets, jeweling sets, binocular microscope, electronic timegrapher, quartz diagnostic tools, demagnetizers, crystal tools, etc.
Jewelry and Metal Arts Stations
Our Jewelers’ Benches are state-of-the-art, with a range of specialized hand tools, gravers, holding tools, articulated microscopes, Orion pulse-arc welding unit, GRS pneumatic graver, Bench-Mates with accessories, Oxy/Propane and Hydrogen/Oxygen torches, Micromotors, Flexible shaft rotary tools, GRS ball vise, and many custom-made tools.
Machining
Our machining benches include a mid-size vertical milling unit with adjustable head angles and dividing head, a mid-size horizontal machining lathe with automatic feed and specialized tailstocks/accessories, two miniature high precision watchmaker's lathes, a flexible shaft rotary tool, and Drill Press.
Grinding and Polishing
In this area, we have several polishing motors, belt sander, grinding wheels, wet saws, band saw, table saw, router table, and several other hand tools for anything from wood working to metal finishing.
Computer Assisted Manufacturing
Our CAD/CAM work station includes 3 resin based 3D printer units, two filament based 3D printing units, a small CNC laser engraving machine, and a mid-size 4-axis CNC router, controlled through a central computer. The CAD modeling is done on a separate, more powerful computer that is stocked with a wide range of industry leading CAD software, such as Rhino, Matrix, Panther, Blender, Makehuman, AutoCAD, and several others.
Lapidary Arts/Stone Cutting
Our lapidary work space contains a 10” wet diamond saw, precision 7" wet gem saw, a custom universal cabochon grinding and polishing machine, a modified 6" lap wheel with precision faceting armature, and a larger diamond polishing lap wheel. We also utilize CAD software to analyze rough and cut gemstone materials, and to plan and examine everything from light performance to weight yield before we ever have to make a cut.
Casting and Finishing
Our casting and finishing area is fairly straight forward, with a large ultrasonic bath, a watch parts cleaning machine, a steam jet cleaning unit, a magnetic pin-tumbler, a mechanical tumbler, metal plating setup, and several hand tools to aid the process. Beneath hides two programmable high temperature kilns with a vent hood built into the heat shielded table. We use both the centrifugal and vacuum casting process.
Engraving
Throughout the shop, our engravers can use several precision tools, such as a pneumatic assisted hand engraving unit, vintage style hand-push gravers, mechanical inside-ring engraver, freehand pantograph engraving machine for freeform shapes and art, and a stencil pantograph engraving machine with diamond tip and high-speed motor for lettering or the roughing-out of small parts.
General
This general work station serves as a bridge point for many types of work flow, from 3d printing to setting stones in wax for cast-in-place techniques, to enameling, wax carving, stone treatments, and light electronics repair.
Art Nook
Our artist’s nook is a cozy space away from the bustling lab to create or service fine art pieces on various materials from canvas and board to musical instruments, metal objects, and anything you can imagine. We can use various airbrush and hand brush methods in several media types.
Mobile Laboratories
Our mobile laboratories include a portable set of testing equipment that represent many of the capabilities of the primary lab. This tool set includes a binocular gemological microscope, spectroscope, polariscope with conoscope, London style dichroscope, contrast loupe, 10x corrected triplet loupe, a set of digital scales with specific gravity testing apparatus, calibrated digital calipers, gem refractometer, Long wave and short wave ultraviolet light sources, halogen full spectrum light source, wood identification kit, electronic precious metal purity testing device, Chelsea style light filter, thermal and electrical diamond tester, diamond color grading master set calibrated against GIA graded master stones, digital reference libraries, and a laptop and printer combination, loaded with several types of industry related software to aid in the identification, grading, and appraisal of various types of materials and personal property.