[looking4] Faceting workshops

Jewelry Discussion
1

Does anyone know where you can go to learn how to polish rough into
gem quality stones? There are so many things to learn. We have a
Facetron lapidary machine which we don’t know how to use and would
consider buying more equipment, but really you have to sit beside
someone and learn this. We would travel almost anywhere to learn if
the recommendation is right.

Thanks.
Anne-Marie Warburton

2

Anne-Marie

I would suggest you check in your area to see if there is a gem and
mineral club. They almost always have classes in cabbing and/or
faceting. If no joy there, check on line for Wild Acres or William
Holland. These two places are run by the Southeast Federation of gem
and mineral Society and are simply great. They have classes/workshops
in just about everything related to gems and jewelry.

Cheers from Don in SOFL

3

Anne-Marie

The Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore has various classes. Check with
them at Gemcuttersguild.com/classes.htm

Best wishes,
Jamie

4

Hi Ann-Marie

I know how you feel. I inherited my dad’s faceting machine and did
not know here to begin. I did searches on the internet until I
found www.facters.com. I found it to be very educational and it has
good instructions on how to facet. I am not saying it will replace a
good hands-on instructor, but it is a possible resource for you.
Hopefully someone else will chime in and give you more help. I still
have not had any formal training, but I get by.

Ken Moore
www.kenworx.com

5

Anne Marie, for your since you are in Ontario, Wild Acres
is near Little Switzerland, North Carolina, and William Holland is in
Young Harris, Georgia. We would love for you to visit the south, but
you might not want to travel that far. Don is quite correct, look
locally (Toronto) to find a club.

John

6

You might want to contact the US Facetors Guild; If you go to their
web site there is a list of affiliated clubs that teach faceting.
The link for the USFG is

http://www.usfacetersguild.org/guilds.shtml

Hope this helps

7

Hi Anne,

You might try Jim Perkins in Medina OH. Jim writes a
faceting column for Rock & Gem magazine. He has been a faceter &
instructor for many years.

Yo might also check your local area for any rock/lapidary clubs.
Many times these clubs offer classes or have a member that will teach
on a 1 to 1 basis.

Dave

8

You might try the Southeastern Federation of Mineralogical
Societies. Their member clubs generally put on several sets of
lapidary workshops. Website is Redirect to the new SFMS website. For that matter,
www.amfed.org will list clubs across the country.

William Holland school in Georgia runs classes pretty much all year:

Good luck!
Beth in SC/NC

9 
I know how you feel. I inherited my dad's faceting machine and did
not know here to begin. I did searches on the internet until I
found www.facters.com. I found it to be very educational and it
has good instructions on how to facet. I am not saying it will
replace a good hands-on instructor, but it is a possible resource
for you. Hopefully someone else will chime in and give you more
help. I still have not had any formal training, but I get by.

That website is indeed a great resource. You do have to keep in mind
that in areas where there may be different opinions, some faceters
may disagree, so don’t make this your sole resource.

In my opinion, there is no better resource than the USFG (United
States Faceters Guild) list. Check it out at
Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos or, better yet, follow
the link from the Guild’s website at http://www.usfacetersguild.org.
If you do choose to join the Guild, it’s the best $18/year you’ve
ever spent.

Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ