Inside the Shop
Every piece at Rock Dragon Stone is crafted with precision and a deep respect for the material. From the first pass on the diamond saw to the final polish on the flat lap, our process remains entirely hands-on. By combining modern diagnostic tools with old-world craftsmanship, we ensure every specimen is treated according to its unique character.
Have a stone with a story? > From identifying a raw find to documenting its journey in a high-res portrait, let’s bring your piece into the light.
Artisan Services & Consultations
1. Diagnostic Evaluation & Identification
Not sure what you’ve found? Whether it’s a curious Lake Superior agate, a pocket of banded jasper, or a mystery mineral pulled from a dusty basement box, I offer an artisan’s eye and an experienced perspective to help identify your find. Note: Any history you have on the piece—such as the specific region where it was found or details you’ve noticed—greatly assists in the diagnostic process.
Workshop Analysis: Once your stone is in the studio, I utilize specialized bench tools—including high-power digital magnification, UV light analysis, and hardness testing—alongside careful visual inspection to determine your stone’s mineral family.
Lapidary Insight: I carefully map the internal "landscape" of your piece, evaluating fractures, inclusions, and color zones.
The Outcome: You will receive a detailed assessment of your stone's identity, its structural integrity, and my professional recommendation on the best path for cutting, shaping, or polishing to ensure its hidden beauty can truly shine.
2. Custom Commissions & The "Provenance Package"
If you have a stone of your own that you’d like transformed into a wearable curiosity, I offer professional lapidary services to carefully shape, polish, and finish your find.
The Artisan’s Ethical Approach: Before a stone ever meets the diamond saw, I start with an evaluation. Not every stone is meant to be cut. Some specimens possess a natural architecture or "skin" that is more beautiful than anything a blade could reveal. I will always provide an honest assessment of whether your stone is a candidate for a commission, or if it is a masterpiece better left exactly as nature intended.
Every custom project includes The Provenance Package:
The Masterpiece Portrait: A high-resolution digital photograph of your finished stone, captured with meticulous detail to highlight its unique external polish and color.
The Micro-Portrait: A "journey to the center" of your stone. Using high-power digital microscopy, I capture a stunning, high-magnification image of a specific inclusion, crystal growth, or hidden landscape inside your piece.
The Stone Dossier: A concise, printed report documenting the stone’s identification, its likely origin, and the specific artisan techniques applied to bring out its character.
3. Restoration & Specialty Repair
Stones are resilient, but life happens. I specialize in breathing fresh life back into natural treasures that have lost their luster or suffered damage.
Stone Re-polishing: Expertly repairing chips, scratches, or dulling on agates, jaspers, and fossils to restore their original, glass-like brilliance.
Setting & Mount Restoration: Carefully reinforcing and repairing custom settings and mounts, preserving both their structural integrity and natural charm.
Studio Intake & Evaluation Form
To ensure every piece gets the time and attention it deserves, all evaluations and commissions begin here. Please fill out the form below with as much detail as possible about your stone and your goals.
Once I review your request, I will reach out to coordinate the best way to get your stone to the studio:
Secure Shipping: If you are mailing your stone, please wrap it generously in bubble wrap and pack it securely in a sturdy, corrugated cardboard box. Avoid using padded paper envelopes, as heavy stones can easily tear through them during transit.
Local Drop-Off: If you are local to the Twin Cities area, we can arrange a convenient, secure drop-off to safely transfer your specimen.
