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| Back Issue clips
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The Faceter’s Tale
First of all I should probably explain why this is a faceter’s tale and not a cutter’s tale. A gem cutter is an artisan usually working as fast as he can because time is money and gem setters will always becutting corners off emeralds and asking the cutter to put them back again! A faceter is an artisan with all the time in the world trying to produce an article of beauty,
By Doug Morgan FICME FGA
Extract taken from
current issue 76 page 11,Click the image to see more |
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Letter to the Editor:
I'm a self taught faceter as I assume are the majority of the UKFCG guild members, however, during the past 4 years I've tried to hone my techniques with very rewarding results - yes I've had problems and made mistakes, some trivial others major, still do have these occasionally.
A big thank you to Keith Ardron for the following:
Extract taken from
issue 75 page 7,Click the image to see more |
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Hints on photographing gems
Cheap high-resolution digital cameras are often equipped with a built-in lens capable of focusing very close, so it is now easy to take photographs of gems. However, it is not at all easy to get perfect pictures.
Dr Brad Amos (Hon. FRPS)
Extract taken from
issue 74 page 10,Click the image to see more |
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EMERALD CUTS FOR VERY LOW REFRACTIVE INDEX MATERIALS
The Emerald cut was designed to show the rich colour of emerald whilst having cut corners so that the brittle stones would not get damaged. As I investigated in an earlier article (Stonechat 72), for stones of refractive index below beryl (about 1.57) this style of cut is limited in brightness. This is a shame as the long facets down the side of the stone show colour very well and the general outline of the cut can be very attractive.
By Tim Smith
Extract taken from
issue 73 page 6,Click the image to see more |
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FITTING STOP LAMPS TO GRAVES MK IV AND ULTRA-TEC MACHINES
Faceters who use ‘hard stop’ machines will know that it is easy to overcut if a slightly raised finger pressure is applied to the stone after the stop block has been contacted. This is especially true on
machines which are slightly wanting in rigidity.
Article and Photos By Mike Richardson with addendum for Ultra-Tec by Graham Scarr and photos by Ian Slipper
Extract taken from
issue 72 page 16,Click the image to see more |
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Caveat Emptor
In the Emerald trade business in Bogota, Colombia, there Is a specific way of conducting business. While good stones and special stones are shown by the very owner, medium
quality stones are usually
traded by an intermediate
Alain Viot
Extract taken from
issue 71 page 6,Click the image to see more
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SHARING THE SECRETS.
Picture the scene. In my hand is a large piece of dream rough,
the sort that must have cut those fancy bits in the museum.
This is going to be the definitive cut. In my minds eye I
can see the ideal shape which will fit in between all those
nasty looking cracks and blemishes. The angles will fit perfectly.
This will be the big one,
by Graham Scarr
Extract taken from
issue 70 page 11,Click the image to see more |
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DOP IT SQUARE!
New-comers to faceting will find that the literature is full
of advice on the dopping procedures. Some of these are unnecessarily
complicated and advocate a range of heat lamps, irons, spirit
stoves, hotplates, painting the stone with shellac, light
bulbs etc. all geared up to getting the stone warm to stick
to the dop. Very few address the basic requirement of getting
the stone on the dop square.
by Mike Richardson
Extract taken from
issue 69 page 12.Click the image to see more |
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I'd rather not be telling about this... in
fact, I wish it had never happened to be written about. But,
in the hope of averting future pain and possible tragedy for
other FACETS readers, I tell this tale of woe. Pin wearing
a rather uncomfortable back brace these days - and have been
for the past seven weeks. All because of neglected safety
precautions.
by Merle A. Reinikka
Extract taken from
issue 68 page 14.Click the image to see more
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Tanzanite, named after the country
of origin,Tanzania, was first found in that country in the
1960s, and then finding its niche in the world market place
in the early 1970s
By Dennis Durham
Extract taken from
issue 67 page 4.Click the image to see more |
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Recntly I acquired a beautiful blue Afghan fluorite that
was already faceted as a square emerald step cut. This had
plenty of depth and consequently good colour but was marred
by poor meets and a general lack of brightness........................
Extract taken
from issue 65 page 9.Click the image to see more
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| The whole idea behind reversible lap direction
is to overcome the effects of the differential strains in crystalline
growth, whichresults in striated or otherwise zoned hardness
differences.........................
Extract taken from
issue 63 page 5.Click the image to see more |
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| Faceting a gemstone can be both fascinating and
tedious and some of the tedium can be alleviated by being able
to sit comfortably at the right height under appropriate lighting
in order to make the necessary observations..........................
Extract taken from
issue 61 page 4.Click the image to see more |
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Barite is a very common mineral and can be found
throughout the U.K. in a variety of
geological environments. In some places the mineral has been
found in such a large amount as to be mined in its own right
as an economic product..........................
Extract taken from
issue 59 page 9.Click the image to see more |
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In our issue #51 of September/October 2003, Jim
Finlayson, the proprietor of AGATEWARE proposed and sponsored
a mini competition for the UKFCG for the best
“Bullet”
design, and one which would exceed 70% ISO brightness..........................
Extract taken from
issue 56 page 9.Click the image to see more |
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| Sumner Olsen was born in 1918, and served in the
United States Air Force for 33 years before retiring as a full
Colonel, and unhappily, passed away in November 2000.........................
Extract taken from
issue 50 page 12.Click the image to see more |
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The cutting instruction sequence for ovals has
been designed to achieve a specific length/width ratio to establish
the correct geometry. Once the correct geometry has been
established, there is no reason to adhere to the cutting sequence..........................
Extract taken from
issue 48page 13.Click the image to see more |
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Opal is a non crystalline mixture, being an
hydrated silica. It is considered to be a “hardened jelly”..........................
By Keith Tucker
Extract taken from
issue 47page 4.Click the image to see more |
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