Gemstone Tumbles

Unlike gemstone faceting, which involves making cuts into a rough specimen, tumbling is the process of smoothing and polishing rocks and minerals into round, bright gemstones. To achieve this smooth finish requires placing gems into a tumbling machine, or rock tumbler.

Tumbled stones are small, rounded, brightly polished pieces of rocks and minerals. They are made by placing rough rocks in a machine known as a rock tumbler, which tumbles them until their edges and surfaces are smooth and polished. They are also known as “polished stones,” “tumbled gems,” “baroque gems,” “polished rocks,” and a variety of other names.

Many people enjoy tumbled stones because they are beautiful natural materials that have been given a pleasing shape and a bright polish. They are popular in jewelry, craft, souvenir, awards, collectibles, and New Age markets.