5602.A Gemstone Faceting
Class - Lapidary | This class is completed
Faceting is the art and skill of taking a rough piece of gemstone and
creating a stone with flat planes (facets) suitable for jewelry. Learn to use a Raytech Shaw faceting machine to grind and polish precision facets on a transparent gemstone. You’ll learn machine setup and care, and proceed step-by-step to the completion of a brilliant-cut stone. Brian will show you lots of tips and tricks learned over his years as a professional stonecutter, to help make your introduction to faceting a sparkling success! Please bring magnifying eyewear (Opti-visor or similar) or a jeweler’s loop, or borrow one of Sawtooth’s. You’ll love the small class size and quality equipment. Suitable gemstone material and faceting equipment are provided. Class may be repeated to improve your skills, learn advanced cutting designs, and realize more practice time. (age 14 to adult)
Sawtooth thanks the Forsyth Gem and Mineral Club for their establishment of a scholarship to support students wishing to attend courses in lapidary arts at Sawtooth. The Forsyth Gem and Mineral Club (Paul Burton and Dick Hartz) Lapidary Arts Scholarship is available annually. New scholarship funds will be available July 2024. Interested students should apply using the online form here.
Brian Burdette
Brian is a retired configuration management associate and a lifelong rock hound with a degree in geology. He initially learned to cut stones as a teenager through a local gem and mineral club. Once settled into a career (non geology) he was able to buy some equipment and expand and hone his gem cutting skills. As a hobby, he occasionally custom cuts or repairs damaged faceted and cabochon gemstones for private jewelers. With 40 plus years of cutting experience Brian is happy to share his knowledge with new cutters and minimize the learning curve for this aspect of the lapidary arts.