Beginner's - OK, one of the things that I get asked on a regular basis is... "What do I need as a beginner to start faceting?"

If you have questions or suggestion for this page please let me know.

On this page I have listed what a new faceter or a beginning faceter will need.

All the information about rough, equipment, books, instructions, diagrams, and any other information I think is relevant to a new cutter is listed here.

I have also listed articles that a new cutter should read when getting started. Please also note that there are many more articles on faceting related subjects in my "Just ask Jeff" section. So be sure and read through this section of my website.

Midwest Faceters Guild - This guild offers various classes through out the year so contact them for information... Classes

Here is a list of things I recommend that may help you make some decisions.

Equipment List
Buying a faceting machine and do not know what else you need?

Articles of Interest for a Beginner
What Equipment do I need to get started?
What is my opinion on laps? What do I use?
Buying a Faceting Machine? What Machine?

Faceting Machines Reviews
Ultra Tec Faceting Machine Review
Facetron Faceting Machine Review
Graves Faceting Machine Review
OMNI Faceting Machine Review - I sell OMNI machines

As a beginner be sure and look at my online Gemstone Information. There is a lot of very useful information in this section of my website. Also look at all of my FREE Online Designs. I have a very wide selection of out standing faceting designs that are free for any one who wants to use them.

Books - I recommend at least the first two books on the list to get started.
Learn To Facet the Right Way - This book discusses what faceting is, what the terms mean, and walks a new faceter through cutting 5 different stones and designs one step at a time with pictures and explantions of each step. Also included are pictures of most major machines and controls

Gram 1 - My original book - designs and links cutting diagrams/designs
Addition #1 - Quartz, Tourmaline, Garnet Designs - Additional design pack
Addition #2 - Mixed Designs - Additional design pack
Addition #3 - Mixed Designs - Additional design pack
Addition #4 - Money Cuts Designs - Additional design pack
Addition #5 - Barion Designs - Additional design pack
Addition #6 - Checker Board Designs - Additional design pack
Addition #7 - Money Cuts Designs - Additional design pack
Addition #8 - Diamond Checker Boards - Money Cuts Designs - Additional design pack
Addition #9 - Mirage Cuts - Money Cuts Designs - Additional design pack
Addition #10 - Mirage Cuts #2 - Money Cuts Designs - Additional design pack

Rough - Faceting rough to get started faceting can vary. It depends a lot on the individual person. Quartz is generally a good stone to start learning with because of it's availability and color as well as price range. Quartz comes in all price ranges and I would say for most beginners buy a small parcel of quality moderately priced material. Also buy a couple larger pieces in better color/quality to cut after your first couple stones.

Note: I highly recommend that people cut real stones that will have some value to them when finished. Generally faceting, particularly for a new cuter takes significant labor and man hours. I feel that people should facet some thing that has some value for the labor and time spent. For that reason I do not recommend man-made materials. Man-made materials are all basically worthless rough or faceted.

Here are some excellent choices for a new or beginning faceter

Large Clear Quartz - $0.06 to $0.04/carat
Locality: Brazil

This is nice inexpensive cutting material, and it has already been slabbed, the hard work is already done for you.. This is optical Quartz that they used to use in radios and electronics. Of course with todays modern computer chips it is not used any more. The color of this rough varies from colorless to smokey with a little hint of Citrine. This material is mostly clean but there are some dings here and there in the slabs. Slabs are random and weights may vary a little.

Clear Quartz - Large clear optical Quartz slabs.

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Sawed Clean Medium/Dark Amethyst - $1.00/ct to $.60/ct
Locality: Brazil

This is really nice material for the money. This material is quite a bit darker than Bolivian Amethyst. The color is medium to dark purple and nice, there is a color zone once and a while but this material is good and solid color. If you like my sawed clean Ametrine and Rose de France then you will really like this material. Sizes are basically 10 carats to 20 carats per piece and there are a few larger and smaller ones. Random pour and sizes are mixed, all of these stones are nice sized.

Amethyst -Maraba Amethyst from Brazilian, Bolivian Amethys

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Uruguayan Amethyst Points "Extra Color" - $2.00 to 6.00/carat
Locality: Uruguay, South America

Shown above is a 9.8mm x 7.2mm deep - 3.64 carat "Shrike" cut from piece of "Extra Fine" Uruguayan Amethyst.

This is the high color saturated material that is sometimes available. Uruguayan points come in several color grades, "Extra" is the top color there is.

Amethyst2 - Uruguayan Amethyst crystal points, "Siberian Color" Uruguayan Amethyst crystal points, "Extra" & "Extra Fine" Uruguayan Amethyst crystal points

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Uruguayan "Extra" & "Extra Fine" Citrine Crystal Points - $1.75 to 2.75/carat
Locality: Uruguayan, South America

 

This is the deeply saturated material that is sometimes available. Uruguayan points come in several color grades, "Extra" and "Extra Fine" are the top colors.

Citrine2 - "Extra" Uruguayan Citrine crystal points (Uruguayan)

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Rough - After a new cutter has cut a few Quartz stones. The next type of material I recommend a new cutter try is Tourmaline. Tourmaline comes in all sizes, shapes, and price ranges. Tourmaline is generally easy to cut and does not offer any problems for the new cutter. I recommend that a new cutter buy a few nice pieces in a price range they are comfortable with and have some fun.

I have lots and lots of Tourmaline, in fact it is about my favorite stone to cut. Feel free to look at all of the various page of Tourmaline and pick some thing you like both in color and price.

Nigerian Tourmaline Mix - $3 to $50/carat
Locality: Nigeria, Africa

Shown above is a 11mm x 13mm x 7.5mm deep - 5.12 carat Pearl cut from piece of Nigerian pink Tourmaline. This design is in Ad#6.

Tourmaline is my favorite thing to cut, it has the best color range, availability, hardness, and ease of cutting/polishing (not to mention easy to sell) of almost any other gem. With the huge find that occurred in Nigeria around the mid to late 90's, there is a larger selection of material available than ever before.

The color ranges from Rubellite purple/pink/bubble gum pink to peach with some nice greens, the greens are all open on the "c" and most of the pinks can be cut on the "a" or "b" axis with nice color. This material works well in almost any design, and there are no real surprises when cutting.

Tourmaline - Nigerian Tourmaline Parcels, Nigerian Tourmaline Mix, Huge Nigerian Tourmaline, Rubellite Tourmaline, Achroite Tourmaline, Dravite Tourmaline, Verdelite Tourmaline

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Rough - After a new cutter has cut a few Quartz and maybe some Tourmaline. The next type of material I recommend a new cutter try is Garnets. Garnets come in all sizes, shapes, and price ranges. Garnet is generally easy to cut and does not offer any problems for the new cutter.

Note: The number one mistake people make is buying dark cheap Garnets. They do not cut a nice stone. Buy quality Garnets from some one (like me) that will sell you good material.

Mombo Rhodolite - $3 to $12/carat
Locality: South Africa

This Rhodolite is nice, it comes from the Mombo mining region in Tanzania. The colors range from red/pink, red/pink/purple, red/pink/peach. As a general rule this material is a little more red to peach than most other Rhodolite Garnet. This material typically has carbon spots, bubbles and a little silk. I have cleaned all of these stones, there will be an occasional spot or piece of silk. Many of these stones are preformed. I enjoy cutting this Garnet in about any design, it always come out nicely and is not dark like a lot of Garnet tends to be.

Rhodolite - Rhodolite parcels from Tanzania, Tanzania Rhodolite Garnets, Mombo Rhodolite from Africa, Lilac Rhodolite Garnet from Tanzania, Maralambo Garnet

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Kangala Rhodolite Garnet - $5 to $30/carat
Locality: Kangala, Africa

This is an "old" new mine, they are basically back digging at this mine again after a fairly long time. This material is mostly alluvial nodules and has been scarce on the market for quite some time now.

The color of this material is the true "Classic Rhodolite" color pink/ purple/red and makes gorgeous finished stones.

The saturation of this material is typically like all Rhodolite, medium/light to medium/dark generally depending on the size of the rough.

It is easy to cut, and works well in almost any design with high yields. This material is better than any Rhodolite I have seen, and was my personal favorite years ago when I was getting this rough regularly. The clarity is very good, and bright, much better than most other Rhodolite which tends to be silky. This material is ideal for cutting checker boards and brilliants.

Rhodolite 2 - Kangala Rhodolite

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All of the above rough is of course just suggestions. As you can see from looking through my website that there is literally thousands of choices. All of the rough suggested is readily available and cuts easily.

Note: Beryl of any type with the exception of Emeralds is a good intermediate material for a new faceter. I do not have it as a suggested beginner's rough because Beryl tends to be more expensive (Aquamarine) or not available in large supply.

If you have a question on some thing email me and ask. I try to help people with questions...

E-mail to inquire or order: jeff@faceters.com or jeff@cabbers.com