These days, prospecting Saronite Ore for gems can be a bit of a gamble, I've found it easier to make small amounts of gold simply by buying 2-3 Red/Yellow/Orange gems raw, cutting them to a popular cut and marking them up 20g. This way you don't have to deal with prospecting RNG
Also: Don't cut gems for tips, this goes for pretty much any production profession, except if you have a rare recipe. Using 5 minutes only to get a 5g tip because people are stingy is just a waste of time The AH is your friend.