Gemstone stringing is essentially about a careful selection of gemstones, which can either match perfectly in size, clarity, shape, and colour, or each stone can be different from the other in type and size. They undergo a thorough cleaning and polishing process. Rough stones like emeralds and rubies are refined by tumbling them in a rotating barrel with abrasives and water. Holes are made using a rotating diamond-tipped rod or tube. Once shaped and prepared, gemstones are expertly strung together by the Patwas with metal wire, silk, or cotton thread using unique knotting and wrapping techniques. The strings are created in a single colour or in combinations of multi-coloured stones. They are arranged in various patterns, ranging from multiple strands to geometric designs to those tightened with sarafas (adjustable thread strings), finished with a metallic clasp or fishhook.