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We do custom gem cutting for jewelers, jewelry designers, and individuals and are located in the area of Denver, Colorado.
When you have a gem cutting need, we listen to what your needs are, we look at your gemstone, your piece of jewelry, your photos or your sketches in order to best understand exactly what you want.
Once we understand what you want, we discuss gemstone materials with you and we also may make suggestions as to how you may save money
Denton Anderson graduated from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in 1976 as a Graduate Gemologist in Residence.
Denton has over 40 years of cutting experience. He learned to cut from James Stradley of Stradley Lapidary and also worked for Ron DuFault Lapidary before starting Denver Gem Cutting Co. in 1985.
Denver Gem Cutting Co. is located in the area of Denver, Colorado.
How I got Started Cutting
I grew up on a dairy farm in SE South Dakota. From as young as I can remember I liked rocks. The unpaved road which went past our farm had glacial gravels which contained many Jaspers, Petrified Wood, and on rare occasions, Agates. Finding an Agate was as exciting as finding a Diamond for me. From as early as I can remember, I was picking up ‘rocks’ and coming home with a pocket full of rocks.
I was also exposed to gems and minerals on family vacations which took us to Western states such as Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado and sometimes included tours of local mines and caves. This prompted me to buy books on rocks and minerals. I was reading those when I should have been doing my school homework.
My first polisher was a rock tumbler but it couldn’t do much.
About the time I was 13, the newest Sears Catalog had a rock cutting outfit (#2 in the ad) that offered everything that one needed to cut cabochons. (See attached photo) I wanted to learn to cut cabs. It was about $50 including accessories and shipping. I didn’t have $50. How was I going to get $50?
My dad hated Canadian thistles. I asked my dad, would he pay me a penny each if I cut thistles? He said, yes. So I sharpened the machete and got to work. During that summer I cut 5000 thistles. I got my $50 and ordered the machine. I doubt there were many left on our 250 acre farm.
For the next couple of years I would look at examples of cabs in rock and gem books and magazines and taught myself to cut cabs, when I should have been studying Algebra and Biology. But a lot of people now tell me I made the right choice.
Once I became proficient at cutting cabs, I ordered some findings from the Greiger’s Rock catalog and I made a couple of bracelets for my mother from Rhodonite and also Tigers Eye. I also made brooches and pendants for my grandmothers.
My mother’s bracelet clasp would come undone and she was afraid of losing it. She took it to a jeweler in Sioux City, Iowa for a safety clasp. He said, these are pretty. Where here did you get them? When she told him that her son had made them, he offered to meet me to tell me about GIA.
The jeweler lent me a gemology book which I quickly read and I also ordered materials from GIA. I applied to attend and was accepted. A year later I moved to Los Angeles and started classes. I got my GG in 1976.
After finishing at GIA I moved to Denver. My first job was working at Kortz Jewelers downtown Denver. I enjoyed working for Bob. Shortly after that I was offered a job at a gemstone company owned by Jim Stradley at Stradley Lapidary. This offered the opportunity to learn more about gem cutting.
A few years later the company was purchased by Ron DuFault. I worked for Ron until I started my business in 1985.
This is a photo of me when I started my business when I was 28.
Denton Anderson,
Gemologist & Gem Cutter
click photo for Video
Graduate Gemologist, GIA, GG
Over 20 years of experience.
