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Jaipur . 2008-08-16
Since the end of last year, it is very difficult to find colored stone necklaces with a native facet cut
Since the end of last year, it is very difficult to find colored stone necklaces with a native facet cut. Most beads offered in the market are now machine cut (also called israeli cut).
This is due to few factors:
First is the absorption of small, family sized, cutting factories by bigger ones.
They started by sub-contracting them, giving them rough material and datelines, ending with full absorption of their cutting capacities.
With their power, these few big factories put a pressure on rough dealers getting all material for discounted prices, leaving nothing for the small units.
These big factories are headed now by the new generation of executives who studied abroad bringing to India the new mechanized techniques.
Improvement of shipping facilities and relaxation of import duties helped these companies to bring in new cutting equipment.
Demand for better quality goods and competition with China did the rest.
Machine cut material is more expensive, due mainly to a lesser yield from the rough, but arrival of new and more efficient machines and competition between these big companies are bringing the price for these necklaces down.
Today, it is possible to buy these machine cut goods with only a slight increase in prices compared to native cut.
Hand cutting is now only done for bigger size necklaces which cannot be done with machines.
Of course, due to the rarity of good material, ruby, sapphire and emerald necklaces are not affected by this change.
Source : Roger Pingley
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