If these color effects (pleochroic effects) aren't properly compensated for in gemstones where they exist, the result can often be disasterous, reducing the value of a gem to a small fraction of what it would have been if oriented properly. In the case of our apatite, however, we have nothing to worry about.

Another important consideration for proper orientation of most gemstones is the impact of inclusions. Many rough materials have inclusions, and while it may not always be possible to avoid having flaws in a finished gem, a good gem cutter will orient the stone to minimize the visual impact of the inclusion. In our case, the apatite is fairly "clean," with only minor imperfections near the surface, which should cut out. So, orienting in this particular case is fairly straightforward: we'll place the table parallel to the long, straight edge of the crystal and will use the roughly rectangular crystal shape to our advantage to obtain the largest stone possible.

Next, we'll grind small portions of the rough away to better approximate the shape of the finished gem. This is called preforming and is usually (but not always) done. Some crystals are so well shaped to begin with that no preforming is necessary. in the case of our apatite, there are a few jagged, angular parts on each end of the crystal that we need to take care of, and we need to grind a flat spot where the table will go. We will also use this opportunity to grind away any major imperfections near the surface.