Faceting

Faceting is the art of taking a piece of facet quality gemstone rough and cutting it into a scintillating gemstone suitable for a piece of Jewellery or for your collection. It is an art but one that only requires a bit of patience and practice.

The club has three Topaz Tec faceting machines plus all the necessary equipment to allow members to perfect their art. It is not the cheapest of disciplines, as you need either to fossick or buy suitable faceting rough. This can range from a few cents per carat for quartz and topaz through to $100+ per carat material. (There are 5 carats to one gram) The reward though is some spectacular gemstones that you can then use in Jewellery.

The basic Faceting course is taught over a weekend and the courses are conducted if there is a requirement to have one. Normally two or more beginner courses are conducted in a year, plus some advanced courses.

After the course you are welcome to use the faceting machines, at any session, to improve your skill. There is no additional cost above the normal session fee of $3.00. As you progress you will constantly challenge yourself with new designs and different types of gemstones. Some members progress to owning their own machines which can vary in price from about $1500 to $5000+ depending on whether the machine is new or second hand.

There is a wealth of experience in the club with many of our members being also members of the Australian Facetors’ Guild. Some cut professionally and some just for their own pleasure.

Golden yellow sapphire

Course Details

 The Beginners Faceting Course is conducted over two days, one weekend, and introduces you to:

- Initial dopping of the gemstone rough (to be done prior to the start of the course)

Day one

- The faceting machine and how it works

- Reading faceting diagrams

  - Cutting and polishing the Pavilion (the bottom of the gemstone)

- Transfer the gemstone in preparation for cutting the Crown (the top of the gemstone)

Day two

    - Cutting and polishing the Crown

    - Removing from the dop and admiring your finished gemstone.

Participants will  require two dops to suite the faceting machine they will be using as well as a clear Topaz that will cut a 7mm to 8mm Standard Round Brilliant.  These are available at the club at a cost of $8.00 for a pair of dops and $3.00 to $5.00 for your stone, a clear topaz, depending on its weight.

At the end of the course you will be the proud owner of your first cut gemstone, a Standard Round Brilliant Topaz.

Cost for the beginner’s course is $50.00, plus the cost of the dops and rough, and you will receive a folder of handouts from the course.