Can a rough gemstone be recut?

Yes, previously cut or pre-formed rough stones can be recut by a professional lapidary to boost the brilliance, mend damage, or update the general outline. This process always brings a permanent loss of carat weight.

Recutting means grinding and repolishing the gemstone facets to fix awkward proportions or take away small chips and fine scratches. Even though the piece ends up weighing less after the work, often dropping 20% to 50% of its mass, the improved optical response, richer colour saturation, and clearer appearance can raise the gem’s overall market value quite a lot.