Peter Torraca is a western NY based colored gemstone faceter and gemologist. Enamored with classic gemstones designs, he focuses on precision cutting and repair of colored gemstone varieties generally used in the jewelry trade. “Precision cutting” means faceting stones to a significantly higher symmetry, polish and optical performance standard than is commonly seen in the jewelry trade. Peter has been cutting gemstones professionally since 2007 and has been involved in the jewelry trade since the late 1980’s.
Precision cutting requires high quality equipment, an artists eye for detail and significantly more time to achieve than generic, commercially cut gems. Working with precision faceting machines and high quality rough, Peter individually, hand crafts gemstones specifically for use in the jewelry trade. His precision cut stones have traditional outlines with carefully engineered facet arrangements. This unusual combination allows Peter’s gems to be visually more dynamic than comparable commercially cut stones, while still being usable in both “off the shelf” and custom designed mountings. Several of Peter’s gems have been featured in award winning jewelry.
Repair and recutting of colored gems is a specialized aspects of gemstone faceting. Many gem cutting services offer discount repair services, however *precision* repair and recutting is far from generic. In precision repair work, Peter’s gem cutting and gemological knowledge are both brought to bear to ensure minimal loss of weight, minimal loss of outer dimension, and minimal risk for the jeweler. Precision repair means repair work to the job specification down to matching the polish quality.
Peter is a GIA Gradute Gemologist with wide experience from basic gemstone identification in the home office to identifying rough gemstones on location in East Africa. And his skills go further than simple identification: Peter’s experience as an accomplished gem cutter helps him “read” the stone for internal issues that may change with the stress of cutting and/or mounting a stone. This combination of gemological knowledge and practical cutting experience is used to help safeguard his clients from misidentified gems and/or risky stones that may be compromised in mounting or use.
Peter describes himself as “an unapologetic Christian, the father of twins, and husband to a highly intelligent and beautiful wife who works for a small Western NY college. When I’m not faceting gemstones, corralling kids, working in the garden or on an ambulance call, I pursue theology, fiction, martial arts and rock-hounding. In between all of that, we roast our own coffee and I’m always looking for a legitimate excuse to brew some up.”