Jewelry Stone Removal: Unmatched Gemstone Recovery in the Refining Industry

In some cases, refining scrap jewelry requires the careful removal of high-value gemstones like diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and more. Although the retail market has undergone a major shift to more affordable stones like lab-grown, crystal, and glass counterparts, much of the secondhand market is still saturated with natural ornaments. If you’re looking to refine the gold, silver, or platinum in your scrap jewelry, it’s important to consider recovering valuable gemstones which still hold tremendous amounts of value today. Why Gemstone Removal is Important

Removing gemstones from scrap jewelry not only recovers valuable materials for resale, but it provides a smoother process for both you and your refinery. Skipping the stone removal process may speed up refining, but foregoing this step may present more drawbacks than advantages. At the end of the day, refining scrap jewelry without first removing mounted stones results in the irreversible loss of gemstones that may otherwise be recovered and resold.

Stones We Commonly Remove

 While our gemstone recovery process is designed to recover various types of ornaments, we commonly work with the following stones: 

• Diamonds (natural and lab-grown) 
• Rubies 
• Sapphires 
• Amethyst 
• Emeralds 
• Cubic Zirconia (CZ) 

The following ornaments DO NOT survive our stone recovery process: 

• Pearls 
• Coral 
• Opals 
• Other organic gems & ornaments

BEFORE

AFTER

How Our Gemstone Removal Process Works 

At Mid-States, we want our clients to succeed and maximize the value of their precious metal material. That’s why we never take shortcuts, and we always do the right thing for our clients. Here is a simple breakdown of how we remove stones from jewelry for our clients:

Our highly trained staff uses specialized acids and chemicals to dissolve metallic settings, bonded components and adhesives in your jewelry.  After the metallic components are dissolved, all stones are safely released from the base setting. If requested, Cubic Zirconia (CZ) stones are “frosted” for quick and easy identification.  All precious metal is precipitated, filtered, and dried.  Processed material then follows the standard procedure for a traditional karat gold melting and sampling.  Recovered gemstones are returned directly to you or can be forwarded to your preferred diamond buyer.

Responsible Chemical Handling & EPA Accountability

 Our stone removal process for scrap jewelry is quality checked every step of the way to ensure safety for our employees, our equipment, and the environment. We take EPA standards and OSHA requirements very seriously to protect air quality, waste disposal, and hazardous material handling. Our strict environmental safeguards help ensure responsible operations and consistent quality at every turn.                                               
 

All our employees utilize top-of-the-line respirators, protective eyewear, and glove liners to ensure health and safety throughout stone removal operations. Not to mention, our chemicals are stored according to manufacturer recommendations and maintain strict process controls. These parameters allow us to safely recover your gemstones and maximize precious metal recovery no matter the size of your lot.

Work With Mid-States for your Next Stone Recovery Lot 

With decades of experience, Mid-States is known for consistency and transparency at every step of the gold refining process. Our in-house chemists and trained specialists have perfected jewelry stone removal, setting the industry standard for countless years to come. Gold refining with stone removal cannot be trusted to just any refiner — we take pride in our process and o er transparency where others fall short. Our ability to efficiently recover gemstones while maximizing precious metal returns is why our customers remain customers. Contact us today to tour our facility and see exactly how the stone removal process works!

FAQ's

How much does the stone removal process cost?

Our treatment charge for stone removal is $175. This charge is shown on your final settlement statement at the end of your refining lot.

What does it mean to “frost” gemstones?

Frosting is a chemical process that leaves stones with a cloudy, etched appearance. This process is intentionally used for Cubic Zirconia (CZ) stones to help differentiate them from real diamonds. Genuine diamonds are impervious to this treatment, which allows for further organization after the stone recovery process.

What chemicals are used in the stone removal process?

We use strong acids like Nitric acid and Hydrochloric acid, along with other chemicals and gases like Sulfur dioxide at various stages of the process.

How long does stone removal take?

Our stone removal process typically adds ~2 weeks to a traditional gold melt. This time varies depending on our backlog of stone removal lots in house.

What if my gemstones are not valuable?

While we can help you determine if stone removal is a worthwhile step for your particular lot, recovering even a few genuine gemstones allows you to profit from the minimal cost of stone removal.

Is the stone removal process bad for the environment?

While our stone removal process involves the use of harsh chemicals, all chemical waste is neutralized and disposed of in accordance with EPA standards.

How do I know that my precious metal recovery will not be affected by the stone removal process?

Our gemstone removal service is proven to maintain all gold content that would otherwise come from a standard gold melt. This is backed by years of experience and careful handling at every step of the stone recovery process. Please read our “How Our Gemstone Removal Process Works” for more details.

Can I sell my recovered gemstones back to Mid-States?

While Mid-States doesn’t buy your stones directly, we do partner with licensed secondhand diamond dealers who will pay top dollar for your recovered gemstones. Visit https://jaypays.com/ to learn more about our partners.