A Comprehensive Study of Gem Faceting Classes Around the World

Choosing Local Gem Faceting Classes or Choosing to Travel

Typically, new faceting students look into local lapidary clubs. Learning from local clubs is usually the most cost-effective choice, since travel costs are low and club memberships are very reasonable. Nevertheless, there's nothing like traveling to a faraway country, steeped in gem history, and learning the regional techniques on regionally styled machines.

For those like me who love to travel and want to learn faceting styles from around the world, the table below is for you. It lists courses from across the globe by total cost. Potential students can figure out the most appropriate class based on their location and budget.

Potential students should consider other things besides budget. The experience and reputation of the teacher should be primary considerations. Of course, budget limits our ability to travel and make free time.

For those who are able, I highly recommend the experience.

A New Course on Gem Cutting

Since writing this article, I have started an online apprenticeship program of my own called Faceting Apprentice. I would like to take this moment to let you know about our course, which I believe to be unique and offers a lot of knowledge that no other course does. Aside from teaching the foundational cutting skills on a handpiece-style machine, we walk students through all the steps of gemstone cutting, from the beginning lessons to the most advanced skills. The course includes cutting from rough as well as recutting and repairing. We present all the major gemstone materials and talk about the special polishing needs of each, including an extensive section on emeralds. The best part about it is that you can take the course from the comfort of your own home and at your own pace.

If you're interested in learning more about the apprenticeship, please visit our website.

Back to the article… 🙂

School and Class Descriptions

The following descriptions of schools and gem faceting classes are organized by continent (west to east), then alphabetically. I've given the prices in local currency unless otherwise noted. Descriptions and prices are from summer 2017.

North America

Ashton Gems  —  Petaluma, CA, USA

We offer ONE-ON-ONE gemstone cutting lessons. The lessons are for flat faceting (using the Ultra Tec V5 Machine), concave/fantasy cutting (using the Ultra Tec Fantasy Machine), or both. We offer a 5 to 6-day course on either machine, or 10 days for both. Prior faceting experience isn't essential for training on the V5 Machine but is needed in order to use the Fantasy Machine. Previous experience using  —  or owning  —  a different brand faceting machine is sufficient. Our "hands on" method for the V5 course will provide you with the skills needed to cut a standard shape of your choice, as well as an oval, during your time in our studio. In addition to cutting your own gemstones, you'll learn all about cutting and polishing laps, tools, gemstone cutting diagrams, and rough gem material.

• Price: $250/day
• Website: http://www.ashtongems.com/gemstone-cutting-lessons/

Austin Gem and Mineral Society  —  Austin, TX, USA

The class will walk students through the fundamentals of faceted gem cutting, and they will cut a faceted stone. The class will also teach basic safety and maintenance procedures for the equipment.

• Price: club membership, $30/year
• Website: https://agms-tx.org/classes/

Columbia-Willamette Faceters' Guild  —  Portland, OR, USA

This class introduces the theory and techniques of gemstone faceting. During the course, students will facet one or two gemstones with material and equipment provided by the Columbia-Willamette Faceters' Guild. Students will gain sufficient knowledge and techniques to continue faceting on their own.

• Price: 4-day course, $150
• Website: http://facetersguild.com/classes/

EFMLS Wildacres — Little Switzerland, NC, USA

Students will learn to cut and polish a 57-facet round brilliant gemstone. In addition, they'll learn how to identify well-cut stones, select rough material, and see whether they enjoy this fascinating aspect of the hobby. Students are asked to bring an Optivisor and/or jeweler's loupe if they have one. No prior experience necessary.

• Price: 2 2-day courses or a 4-day course, $410
• Website: https://efmls.org/wildacres/

The Faceting Academy — Klamath Falls, OR, USA

The Faceting Academy is an opportunity to accelerate your faceting hobby or career through intense immersion training like none offered anywhere else. In our basic training, total beginners will learn  —  in just a few fun and intense days  —  to select and cut standard materials in standard designs, creating precious jewels nicer than what you'll find in most jewelry stores. Also in our basic training, beginner to intermediate faceters will increase their confidence, efficiency, fun, speed, and profit. By the time they're done, they'll have better ergonomics and workflow and resolve their problems with dopping, polishing, and transfers. Students must bring their own faceting machine.

• Price: the course is 8 long days, $3,000.
• Website: https://facetingacademy.com

Georgian College  —  Barrie, ON, Canada

This course concentrates on various aspects of cutting and polishing stones, as related to the jewelry and fine metals trade. Students will investigate various cuts, including cabochon and faceted as well as techniques including channel inlay and carving. We encourage students to incorporate the finished products into actual pieces of jewelry or hollowware.

• Price: 4-month course, C $736
• Website: https://www.georgiancollege.ca/academics/part-time-studies/courses/lapidary-and-gem-cutting-glds-1000/

Jewel Envy  —  Toronto, ON, Canada

Learn how to cut a gemstone during a 2-day course. Then, learn how to make something with it and set your stone in another 2-day workshop. Anything made in this class will be truly unique, because you'll have the chance to choose the stone to cut, design a piece around it, and complete the setting yourself. Boris Kolodny, an award-winning gem cutter, has agreed to teach this exciting class. We welcome his experience and technical expertise! No experience necessary.

• Price: each 2-day course, C $340
• Website: https://www.jewelenvy.ca/class-descriptions/

NC State University  —  Raleigh, NC, USA

Release the color and hidden light from within a precious gemstone! Participants in this class will learn to cut facets in crystals and gemstones, turning them into works of art. Students will begin by working with crystal quartz and then move on to fine gemstones. Stones and use of laps and other supplies during class are included in the course fee.

• Price: 6-day course, $150
• Website: https://crafts.arts.ncsu.edu/classes-and-workshops/lapidary/

North York Faceting Guild  —  Toronto, ON, Canada

North York Faceting Guild has existed for many years in the city of Toronto, which has a population of almost 3 million. It is very active with monthly meetings, weekend faceting workshops, and attending various gem shows in Toronto, London, etc.

• Price: club membership, $40/year
• Website: https://northyorkfacetingguild.ca

Revere Academy — San Francisco, CA, USA

Increase the range of your skills and potential by learning how to use gem cutting machines and a flex shaft to open up the world of color and textures that gems offer. Learn how to cut, carve, and manipulate gemstones with lapidary equipment and hand tools. Instruction covers choosing rough gemstones, drilling, cutting, carving, using diamond polishing compounds, and using epoxies and cold connections that are simple, elegant, and effective. Walk away with a set of samples to take home.

• Price: $550
• Website: http://www.revereacademy.com/gem-cutting-carving/

Rio Doce  —  Spruce Pine, NC, USA

Rio Doce has an in-house lapidary school, complete with lapidary supplies and the extras, like rough, gem rough, and faceting supplies. Whether you want to make this your life's work, cut gems for your own investment, or cut perfect gems as your hobby, no one can teach you better than our own Rio Doce staff, who have been trained by the world-famous Jerry Call himself. The opportunity to learn from a Master Gem Cutter is a rare one indeed!

• Price: 6-week course, $600/week
• Website: https://www.riodoce.com/lapidary-school

Ryan Joseph Gems — Northern California, USA

If you have an interest in fantasy or concave gemstone cutting and would like to learn how to create and design your own custom cuts, we offer one-on-one, personalized classes in Northern California, about an hour northwest of Lake Tahoe. The highly detailed lessons will get you acquainted with top-of-the-line faceting equipment (Ultra Tec V5 Classic and Ultra Tec V5 Fantasy Machines), as well as teach you concepts for creating custom gemstone designs and also offer tips on running a successful gemstone business. Prior faceting experience isn't essential for training on the Ultra Tec V5 Classic Machine but is needed in order to use the Ultra Tec V5 Fantasy Machine.

We offer 5-day courses for flat faceting and 5-day courses for fantasy/concave cutting. In each class, you'll finish a flat-faceted gemstone as well as a fantasy-cut gemstone. The materials are provided for both classes, and you get to keep your creations.

• Price: $200/day
• Website: http://ryanjosephgems.com

San Francisco Gem and Mineral Society  —  San Francisco, CA, USA

A non-profit organization dedicated to the education and enjoyment of its members and the community at large, with respect to rocks, minerals, gemstones, lapidary arts, and all things related. The SFGMS has a free faceting class. Once you become a club member, you put your name on the waiting list for the class. It takes about 2 years to get to the top of the list. So, in the meantime, you can learn the art of cabochon cutting and polishing right away. The teacher, Harry, is a wise and experienced faceter and rock hound. Instruction is on an Ultra Tec V2 on Thursday nights, and students learn to cut and polish using a faceting diagram. Students learn to cut one stone and have 6 months to do it perfectly.

• Price: club membership, $60/year
• Website: http://www.sfgms.org

Tuscarora Lapidary Society  —  Brookhaven, PA, USA

Faceting is the skill of taking a rough piece of clear stone and turning it into a gem with many flat planes (facets) suitable for jewelry. In this class, the student will learn how to use a faceting machine that uses precision components as well as angles and degrees of a circle to grind and polish the facets. Suitable cutting material is provided. The student will follow written instructions and go step-by-step with the instructor as a gem is cut. The student can expect to finish one stone during the length of a 10-week course.

• Price: ?
• Website: https://www.lapidary.org/class-descriptions/

William Holland School of Lapidary Arts — Young Harris, GA, USA

This course will give you the necessary skills to facet your first stone. Students will cut a simple hex shape in synthetic or natural quartz as their first stone. Techniques in wax dopping, stone transfer, lap maintenance, and others will be taught. The lab fee includes the manual, rough for two stones, and an Ultralap polishing lap. Additional synthetic or natural rough will be available for purchase at additional cost. Additional designs will be available for you to cut more stones. William Holland also has many other faceting and lapidary classes available throughout the year.

• Price: 1-week course, $450
• Website: https://lapidaryschool.org/main.aspx

Europe

Free Form Artists  —  Montreux, Switzerland

Learn how to facet a precious stone. Hubert Heldner will teach you how to cut a round brilliant in aquamarine, tourmaline, or garnet. Precision cutting to achieve maximum brilliance and beauty is the goal. The class is limited to a maximum of 3 students per day. A second day in class is offered if you like to test your skills and want to cut a second stone. Prior knowledge not required.

• Price: 1 day, CHF 380
• Website: http://www.free-form.ch/educ.html

Hochschule-Trier: Masters Degree in Gemstones and Jewellery  —  Idar-Oberstein, Germany

The Department of Gemstones and Jewellery Design (GJD) was founded in 1986. Since then, the program has developed continuously. In Summer Semester 2005, the GJD was merged with architecture, interior architecture, communication design, and fashion into the new Department of Design. The adjustment to the European study standard "Bachelor/Master of Arts" is prepared. Since Winter Semester 2008-2009, we offer a bachelor degree, which prepares for the Gemstones and Jewellery Master Studies. The Master in Gemstones and Jewellery has been offered since Summer Semester 2008.

• Price: the regular Master study in Idar-Oberstein is free of tuition fees.
• Website: https://www.hochschule-trier.de/en/

Metallo Noble  —  Florence, Italy

The course covers gemstone cutting and faceting techniques, basic gemology for identifying cutting material, analyzing cutting diagrams, and learning GemCad software.

The practical part will be devoted to actual stone cutting and using the machinery and mechanical equipment. The aim of the course is to prepare the student to execute classic 57-facet cuts (brilliant cuts and rectangular-shaped step cuts on crystals of grade 7 hardness, such as citrine and amethyst, and cabochon cuts on materials of grade 3 hardness, such as coral). At the end of the course, the student will be able to carry out simple cuts on gemstones of average hardness.

• Price: 1-month course, €800
• Website: https://www.metallo-nobile.com/en/gemstone-cutting-course.php

Scottish Mineral & Lapidary Club  —  Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Our faceting area consists of seven faceting machines where you can practice the art of cutting or faceting semiprecious and precious stones into wonderful sparkling gemstones. A highly skilled craft, faceting requires patience and attention to detail. Even a simple stone can take many hours to complete. Most stones can be faceted, but hard, semiprecious stones with good transparency are preferred, as the faceting process enhances the color and brightness of the stone.

• Price: club membership,  £180/year
• Website: http://lapidary.org.uk/faceting-gallery/

Africa

African Minerals and Geosciences Centre  —  Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Gemstone faceting class.

• Price: ?
• Website: http://www.seamic.org/index.php/training

Gemological Institute of Madagascar  —  Antananarivo, Madagascar

To master the basic techniques for stone cutting according to international standards. Certificate issued by the IGM/Ministry of Technical Education. Several courses offered, including: Basic American Style Lapidary, Advanced American Style Lapidary, Basics in Lapidary, Cabochons, Basic Thai Style Cutting, and Advanced Thai Style Cutting.

• Price: 1-month course, 745.000 Ariary
• Website: http://igm.mg/

Noreen Masaki — Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This 2-week gemstone cutting class introduces you to cutting and polishing techniques. A professionally equipped lapidary workshop is at your disposal. We work on Ultra Tec faceting machines, different types of cabbing machines, gem saws, and Foredom flex shaft motors, as well as with freeform carving tools. Grading, evaluating, orienting, and proper handling of gems before and after cutting are part of the training. You'll cut a series of faceted gemstones, cabochons, and freeform shapes for yourself. You'll start with the classic brilliant cut and progress to modern facet designs in different shapes and sizes.

• Price: 2-week course, US $500
• Website: http://www.noreen.ch/education.html

Asia

Indian Institute of Jewelry and Gemology — Jaipur, India

The programs offered here specialize in the gem cutting industry's specific needs. For example, how can the value of rough stone be enhanced by cutting, so that cut, color, clarity, and carat bring about the best in any stone, per global standards? All the courses are also designed to alleviate the acute shortage of skilled workers in this sector. Skills taught include: gemstone faceting on jamb peg machines, polishing, dopping, and cabochon making.

• Price: 2-month course, US $1,800
• Website: http://iigjjaipur.com

GIT Faceting Class with Victor Tuzlukov  —  Bangkok, Thailand

Come learn faceting with champion cutter Victor Tuzlukov, using Facetron faceting machines, at Bangkok's Gem Institute of Thailand.

• Price: 10-day course, 85,000 THB
• Website: https://www.git.or.th/index_en.html#

Ratnapura Online  —  Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

Each day, you'll spend two to four hours with a lapidary. You'll spend the rest of the time examining both rough and cut stones and making local excursions. We can only offer this course to one person at a time, since we have only one lapidary wheel. Working with gemstones takes patience. We ask you to bring plenty of this  to our course —  as well as a certain sense of flexibility.

• Price: 5 or 10-day course, Rs. 6,000/day
• Website: http://www.ratnapura-online.com/gemstones/

Venice of the East  —  Bangkok, Thailand

With our in-depth knowledge of gem cutting (more than 30 years of experience), our gem cutting class is full of knowledge that will translate into the beauty of your gemstone. The strength of our gem cutting class is we ensure that students gain real experience by practicing with real stones. Yes! We train students with real stones and give you every single gemstone you practiced with.

Our class has a one-on-one basis and no duration limitation, as people learn at different speeds. We'll train students until they're satisfied with their knowledge.

• Price: ~120 hour course, 30,000 THB
• Website: https://www.veniceofeastgems.com/gem-cutting

Pakistan Gems and Jewelry Development Company — Lahore, Pakistan

Students learn artistic talents and mechanical skills to cut brilliant tiny facets on diamonds or colored gemstones. The course includes learning the following: standard round brilliant, step cut (emerald cut), oval cut, marquise cut, Portuguese cut, trillion cut, pear cut, and Asscher cut.

• Price: 2-month course, Rs. 500
• Website: http://pgjdc.org/index.php/marketing-initiatives/gjtm-centers

Oceania

Australian Facetors' Guild Limited  —  Australia

Learn to facet through hands-on training. You need your own faceting machine. The course fee includes notes and some consumables. Participants will need basic faceting accessories and cutting materials.

• Price: 35-hour course, AU $200
• Website: https://www.facetorsguild.com.au/courses

Acknowledgements

This article has appeared on Medium.com. The International Gem Society would like to thank Mr. Prim for giving us permission to post his article here.