Hi List, The topic is of great interest. It is just like cooking. Most ingredients are known and are probably the same used in the gemstone industry. Your dentist might also be in a position to give you lots of tips on abrasives and mechanical tools to be used. I am personally very concerned about surface treatment that might be applied to the very expensive or even common cypraea.Is the shell community ready to accept such enhancement with or without full disclosure? People who restore old paintings also informed miracles are possible.Who will educate us to spot restorations? Responses are encouraged to the author of this note or on the forum.