Skin polishing Sapphires in tumbler

[hithwentinuviel]

Hi. I have a bulk amount of rough sapphires that are about 2mm-7mm in size. I am wanting to just skin polish them so when kids are fossicking for them at my gem show, they sparkle. What would be needed grit wise in a tumbler to just skin polish and not eat away too much of the stone. Or would just running them in the tumbler with a bit of water help polish them.

[Aussie Sapphire]

Hi. I have a bulk amount of rough sapphires that are about 2mm-7mm in size. I am wanting to just skin polish them so when kids are fossicking for them at my gem show, they sparkle. What would be needed grit wise in a tumbler to just skin polish and not eat away too much of the stone.

You will need diamond grit - this is expensive and will take a long time.

[Aussie Sapphire]

Or would just running them in the tumbler with a bit of water help polish them.

NO - it wont really do anything. 

We get asked about this a lot and I usually try and talk people out of it.  We can supply tumbling grade diamond in a very small bowl (preferably vibe tumbler) but it not an easy thing - we dont really recommend trying.

cheers
Leah