About the Gemstones
The Gemstones is Arc1's debut yoyo, released September 2022, and the first modern Dutch-made unresponsive throw. Its name derives from the shape created when two brilliant-cut gemstones meet at their culets — the form that defines the yoyo's profile. The design was developed in collaboration with Mark Diehr of MK1 YoYos, who contributed CAD work and the interchangeable spin-top cap design.
The body is polycarbonate, left unpolished from the lathe to preserve grind-friendliness. Aluminum hubs anchor the assembly, while stainless steel rings carry the majority of the weight — nearly two-thirds of the total — outward to the rim. At 40mm diameter and 40mm width, the Gemstones is intentionally undersized and pocket-portable. Weight varies by cap configuration: 60g without caps, 64g with flat or finger spin caps, and 65g with spin-top caps.
The cap system is the defining feature: flat caps, finger spin caps, and spin-top caps press-fit by hand and are removed with approximately 12 BAR of air pressure through an included air needle. The spin-top caps allow the yoyo to balance upright on a palm or flat surface. Each unit carries minor machining marks and slight vibe due to the multi-material construction — Arc1 considers this intentional, making each piece unique. The package includes a replacement bearing, air needle, five strings, two flat caps, two finger spin caps, and a set of spin-top caps.
