Nowadays there´re several types of tools for the processing of Precious and Semiprecious stones, such as lasers, water by high pressure or most commonly Industrial Diamond Equipment. At La Casa del Jade all our pieces are worked with the best industrial diamond equipment available in the market.  The quality has to be selected due to the large quantity of inclusions (impurities) such as Mica, oxides, carbons, among, others.  For this is necessary to cut the big stones in slabs (plaques) with a industrial diamond saw with the purpose of observe the translucency and clarity.  This saw works at the speed of 1500 rpm, but it´s capable to cut only 3 inches per hour.  Once the quality has been selected we have to design of the slab´s surface the shape to work.  Taking the example of beads for necklaces we have to design squares, the measure could varies from 5 to 14 mm with a space in between of 3 mm where we are going to pass a smaller diamond saw to cut and separate them individually. When all these separated squares are ready we star drilling all the way through just like a dentist does with a diamond drill.  To shape we take each of the little squares to be carved by hand with friction against industrial diamond emery.  Different degrees of finest of industrial diamond sandpaper has to be used to leave the stone shiny and smooth and for the final high polish gloss we have to shine up the beads with a leather band and industrial diamond powder.