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Faceting History
Cutting Diamonds and Colored Stones
by Glenn Klein
Hard/Soft cover, 6" x 9", 242 pages, copyright 2005. A written history about the equipment and work methods that were used through the centuries for cutting and polishing diamonds and colored stones has long been needed. Faceting History provides that account in an interesting, informative and easy to read style. A copy of this book belongs in every faceter's personal library. It is an excellent book and reference for those wanting to be informed and knowledgeable regarding the evolution of the art and technology of both diamond and colored stone faceting over the ages, and how the technology and body of knowledge that many contemporary faceters take for granted came to be.
Faceting History is organized into 8 chapters including: An Introduction to Faceting, Early Man's Stone Appreciation, Diamond-fashioning Procedure and Equipment, Colored-stone Faceting Procedure and Equipment, The Evolution of Cut Designs, Famous and Historic Gemstones, Sources of Diamond and Colored-stone Rough, and Advances in Faceting over the Past One Hundred Years. Faceting History is well illustrated with 129 pictures, diagrams and drawings. Four pages of sources and references are additionally included in its bibliography.

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Learn How to Facet the Right Way
by Jeff Graham Learn How to Facet the Right Way presents detailed instructions regarding the use of faceting equipment and faceting techniques. The text is lavishly illustrated with photographs and diagrams. Shown is the basic equipment a new faceter will need along with explanations as to why and how it is used. There are pictures of most of the commonly available faceting machines along with descriptions of their controls. Other topics covered and demystified for the beginning faceter include faceting and gemstone nomenclature, stone design basics, scoring and charging laps, dopping and transferring proceedures, use of cheaters, how to read faceting diagrams, setting up and adjusting faceting machines, and more. Oriented to learning by doing, this text presents a hands-on approach to faceting five instructive designs with detailed step-by-step diagrams and pictures serving to concisely illustrate the process of faceting each design. Projects start with "Easy 8", a very simple basic octagon design, and progress through "Easy Cushion", "Floater Trillion", "Round Brilliant", and "Brilliant Pear". By the time you have cut each of these introductory designs, the basic principles of faceting will be understood and and have been learned. Highly recommended. Loose leaf with binder and protector sheet for the diagrams, 8.5" x 11" sheets, 58 pages.

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Gram 1 Faceting Designs
by Jeff Graham If you're a faceter looking for new, high performance cuts, you'll definitely appreciate Jeff Graham's highly acclaimed gemstone designs. These gem designs are created and optimized for specific materials such as Beryl, Cubic Zirconia, Garnet, Quartz, Sapphire, Topaz, or Tourmaline. The diagrams are organized by recommended material - no transposing or tangent ratioing required! Each of the 42 designs presented are ray-traced, test cut, and proven. Jeff Graham's design series feature sharp, high quality printing on loose leaf pages. Gram 1 Faceting Designs is the first in a series of design collections featuring Jeff Graham's designs. Loose leaf with binder and protector sheet for the diagrams, 8.5" x 11" sheets, 63 pages.

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Diagrams for Faceting Volume I
by Glenn and Martha Vargas
Hard cover, 7.5" x 11", 166 pages, copyright 1975
Sample page Diagrams for Faceting Volume I is the first volume in the set of three collections of faceting diagrams published by Glenn and Martha Vargas. Included are 160 diagrams that will produce at least that many different gems. Nearly 20 of these have variations that will produce another gem.
This book is divided into ten sections with each section including diagrams that have a close relationship. These are the step cuts, round brilliants, multifacet brilliants, mixed cuts and others. Within each section those that have further relationships are grouped together.
In general, the book starts with the very simple, moves to the more complex and ends with a section devoted to unusual shapes for faceted gems. The greatest part of the book is devoted to the diagrams that are popular, or those that stand to become popular. Nearly all diagrams have some accompanying text that gives a bit of history, or some hints on cutting. Each section, and some of the more unusual diagrams are introduced by explanatory text.
The diagrams include Section I The Very Simple; Section II The Round Brilliants; Section III Brilliants Without Pavillions; Section IV Brilliants Variations of a Circle; Section V Brilliants Other Than Round; Section VI Multifacet Brilliants; Section VII Step Cuts; Section VIII Variations on Geometric Forms; Section IX Mixed Cuts; and Section X The Unusual, The Domed Cuts, The Barion Cuts. Also provided are index transposition charts, a table of recommended culet and crown angles for nearly 200 facetable materials, and a glossary.

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Diagrams for Faceting Volume 2
by Glenn and Martha Vargas
Hard cover, 7.5" x 11", 151 pages, copyright 1983.
Sample page Diagrams for Faceting Volume II is the second volume in the set of three collections of faceting diagrams published by Glenn and Martha Vargas. Included are diagrams from numerous designers that will cut over 150 different gems.
This book is divided into twelve sections with each section including diagrams that have a close relationship. These are Section I The Round Brilliants; Section II Ovals, Marquise, Cushions; Section III The Diamond Shapes; Section IV The Split Facet Technique; Section V The Pendeloques; Section VI Hearts; Section VII Triangles; Section VIII The Squares and Rectangles; Section IX The Pentagons and Stars; Section X The Hexagons; Section XI The Octagons; and Section XII Barions and Pseudobarions. Also included are Miscellaneous Diagrams from Ernst Wollert detailing square cushions and octagons.

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Diagrams for Faceting Volume 3
by Glenn and Martha Vargas
Hard cover, 7.5" x 11", 149 pages, copyright 1987
Sample page Diagrams for Faceting Volume III is the third volume in the set of three collections of faceting diagrams published by Glenn and Martha Vargas. Included are diagrams from numerous designers that will cut at least 133 different gems.
This book is divided into eleven sections with each section including diagrams that have a close relationship. These are Section I The Round Diagrams; Section II Ovals and Their Relatives; Section III Triangles; Section IV Squares, Rectangles, Etc.; Section V Pentagons; Section VI Hexagons; Section VII Heptagons; Section VIII Octagons; Section IX Nonagons; Section X Barions and Pseudobarions; and Section XI The Unusual Diagrams.
The inclusion of seven-fold diagrams (heptagons) and nine-fold diagrams (nonagons) is new to the authors' books. These are easy to cut diagrams that produce spectacular gems. Most of the complex diagrams in the unusual section will produce excellent gems. Some do not cut what might normally be called excellent gems, but instead are gems that are interesting. As a whole, the more complex diagrams are challenges to suit the advanced faceter.

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How To Cut A Diamond
by Leonard Ludel
Hard cover, 8.5" x 11", 250 pages, copyright 1985.
Sample page How To Cut A Diamond presents the fundamental basis for becoming a diamond cutter and a thorough exposition of the art of diamond cutting. It is strongly suggested before investing in machinery, equipment, tools or diamonds that the aspiring diamond cutter peruse this text thoroughly. An avid reader who makes a study of this text, and who is determined to become a diamond cutter, can acquire the necessary insight into the crystallography of diamonds and the highly specialized tools and techniques involved in cutting them. This text may also serve to profitably convince some colored stone faceters who are interested in cutting diamonds, but who are still unfamiliar with the complexities involved in the art of diamond cutting, that cutting diamonds may not be suitable for them as a hobby or vocation after all.
The text is organized into 12 chapters: I Tools and Equipment, II The Wheel - Its Preparation, Care and Use, III Cleaving and Sawing, IV Girdling or Shaping, V Proportion in the Diamond, VI Proportion Continued - Blocking Bottoms and Bolas, VII Grain in the Diamond - blocking The Four and Two Points, VIII Cutting a Three Point - Blocking and Brillianteering, IX Brillianteering of a Four and Two Point Diamond, X Cutting the Fancy Shapes - The Straight Edged and Free Form, XI Cutting the Ellipticals, and XII Brillianteering the Ellipticals.

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Master Gemcutting Tips
A Comprehensive Selection of Practical Gemcutting Tips and Techniques For Immediate Use By Anyone Seeking To Excel in Gemstone Faceting, Carving or Cabochon Cutting
by Gerald Wykoff
Soft cover, 6" x 9", 166 pages, copyright 1992
Sample page Master Gem Cutting Tips unveils tips, techniques, methods and procedures used or originated by master gem cutters who are willing to share their expertise with others.
Articles and tips include: Make Diamond Paste, What Every Gemcutter Should Know About Abrasives, Breaking the Superglue Bond, Effective Method to Remove CA, Use of Epoxy, Using Syringes For Fast Epoxy, Ridding a Buff of Contamination, Making Interesting Cabochons, Special Techniques for Cabochons, Cutting Grooves and Channels, Bill Horton's "Drunken Oval", For Brilliance Cut a Sunflower, A Dopping Technique, Different Approaches to Dopping, Dopping Method Relies on Shellac, Drilling Small Holes in Gemstones, Tips on Faceting, A Way to Cut Even Break Facets, For Good Results Use Tangents, Faceting With"Ticks", Cut Table First, Then Relax and Cut, Some Comments of Serpentine, Heat Treating, Suggestions For Best Universal Faceting Angles, Interpreting Imperfections, Troy vs. Avoirdupois, Technique for Scratch Identification, "Running the Wheel" is Important Cab Technique, Cleaning Pelletized Resin Laps, Resurfacing Laps, Lap Tips From Experts, Thin Polishing Laps Gain Acceptance, Laps: Cast Iron Laps are Useful, Making Your Own Laps, Cliff Jackson's Wax Lap, Which Shape Sells Best, The 7 Points of Payoff Profits, Consistent Polish Requires a System, Oxalic Acid Polish, Techniques on Ceramic Polishing, Channel Polisher? Tray a Toothbrush, Polishing Buffs and Polishes, Ceramic Laps, Solving Difficult Polishing Problems, Colloidal Silica Proves Very Effective Gemstone Polish, Use Baby Shampoo With Diamond, Tips on Repair Work, Special Dopstick For Ring Repairs, Cutter Prepares Release Form, A Sawing Technique, Carving Techniques With a Saw, Quick Sawing, Paua Shells Beautiful-But Dangerous, Techniques For Cutting Sunstones, Tips in Corundum Polishing, Star Sapphire Height is Optional, Opal Cutting/Polishing, Marking Girdles, Avoiding a Shower When Girdling, A Trick For Even Girdles, Proper Lighting is Important, Papier-Mache For Unique Jewelry, Do You Really Need Angle Splitters, Good Holder For Printing, Saving Contents, Construction of a 1/10 Vernier, Good Use For Ceramic Laps, How to Make a Polariscope, Removing Oil, and The Big Fight Against Rust.

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Raytech Shaw Faceter Handbook
by Raytech Industries, Inc.
Soft cover, 5.5" x 8.5", 33 pages.
Sample page Raytech Shaw Faceter Handbook is the factory operator's manual shipped with Raytech-Shaw faceting machines. It provides assembly and operator instructions for the Raytech-Shaw.
Chapter One covers the operation of the faceting machine and reading its 1/10° vernier. Chapter Two covers how facets are formed and names of each part of a faceted stone. Chapter Three covers selecting stones for faceting, how to preform a stone on a grinding wheel and how to dop a stone. Chapter Four provides a complete step-by-step description of how to cut and polish a simplified brilliant. Chapter Five covers cutting and polishing the 57 facet round brilliant. Chapter 6 covers how to cut rectangular stones such as French Star and Emerald Cut. Appendix I provides a table of popular gemstone characteristics including harness, refractive index. critical angle and facet angles. Appendix II provides helpful hints. Appendix III addresses the causes of scratching.

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The Art Of Gem Cutting Volume 1 Video
by Fac-Ette Manufacturing Company
Available in VHS or DVD video formats, copyright 2004 Finally! Here is a video that has basic information and shows the step-by-step procedures for cutting a standard round brilliant, including grinding procedures, machine operation, dopping and much more.

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Advanced Cabochon Cutting
Assembled Stones - Special Shapes - Star Stones - Cat's-Eyes - Opal
by Jack R. Cox
Soft cover, 5.5" x 8.5", 64 pages, copyright 1986 The first book in the Gem Cutters Handbook series, Cabochon Cutting, covers the basics of producing that type of gem - slab and trim sawing, preforming, dopping, girdling, smoothing, polishing and jewelry setting. After the hobbyist has learned these basics, he's ready for more advanced techniques. So, presented in this companion handbook, Advanced Cabochon Cutting, are instructions for cutting special shapes such as hearts, crosses, teardrops, loafs, stars and freeforms. The techniques involved in working hard materials such as chrysoberyl and corundum with diamond abrasives are presented. Dedicated chapters cover how to properly orient phenomenal stones such as cat's-eye and star chrysoberyl, quartz, garnet, sapphire and moonstone. Other chapters cover working with opal and present information on finding and orienting the fire in opals, special dopping and cutting techniques for opal and making opal doublets and triplets. Techniques for cutting and polishing jade are also presented in a chapter dedicated to working jade.
Chapters include: Special Stone Shapes, Assembled Stones, Cat's-Eye and Star Stones Part 1, Cat's-Eye and Star Stones Part 2, Cat's-Eye and Star Stones Part 3, Cutting Opal Part 1, Cutting Opal Part 2, and Cutting Jade.
Advanced Cabochon Cutting is concise and well illustrated with numerous photographs and drawings. The cabochon making techniques presented are tried and proven and have withstood the test of time. This highly recommended book presents a great deal of valuable how-to information for a very modest price and belongs in the library of every lapidary hobbyist.

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American Flintknappers
Stone Age Art In The Age Of Computers
by John C. Whittaker
Soft cover, 9" x 6", 353 pages, copyright 2004
Sample page
Sample page Making arrowheads, blades and other stone tools was once a survival skill and is still practiced by thousands of flintknappers around the world. In the United States, knappers gather at regional "knap-ins" to socialize, exchange ideas and material, buy and sell both equipment and knapped art, and make stone tools in the company of other knappers. In between these gatherings, the knapping community stays connected through newsletters and the Internet.
In American Flintknappers, avid knapper and professional anthropologist John Whittaker offers an insider's view of the knapping community. He explores why stone tools attract modern people and what making them means to those who pursue this art. He describes how new members are incorporated into the knapping community, how novices learn the techniques of knapping and find their roles within the group, how the community is structured, and how ethics, rules and beliefs about knapping are developed and transmitted.
The author also explains how the practice of knapping relates to professional archaeology, the trade in modern replicas of stone tools, and the forgery of artifacts. Whittaker's book thus documents a fascinating subculture of American life and introduces the wider public to an ancient and still rewarding craft.
Chapters include: 1. Introduction: Coming to the Knap-in, 2. Making Stone Tools: The World's Oldest Craft, 3. From Fakes and Experiments to Knap-ins: The Roots of Modern Flintknapping, 4. The Knap-in: People and Organization, 5. Knappers at the Knap-in, 6. Status and Stones, 7. Art, Craft, or Reproduction: Knapper Esthetics, 8. Can't Never Have Too Much Flint: The Lore of Stone 9. Modern Stone Age Economics, 10, Knappers, Collectors, Archaeologists: Ethics and Conflicts and 11. Silicon and Society.

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American Lapidary
Designing the Carved Gemstone
by Henry Hunt
Soft cover, 7" x 9", 191 pages, copyright 1996
Sample page American Lapidary is a must-read loaded with how-to and ideas for anyone who carves gem materials or is interested in learning more about the technical and design aspects of gemstone carving. This book provides a strong emphasis on the tools and techniques required to produce various types and styles of carving in gem materials.
The content is organized along seven major topics including: 1 Introduction, 2 Designing The Design, 3 Angular Design, 4 Curvilinear Design, 5 Lathe Turning And Milling, 6 Laminated And Combination Designs, and 7 Tool Designs. Discussed in Introduction is Designs And Their Influence. Topics covered in Designing the Design include: Three Main Design Areas, Significant American Gemstone Designs, and Drawing and Carving. Topics presented in Angular Design include: Cutting The Freeform Faceted Stone, Designing A Simple Handheld Freeform Stone, Designing the Handheld Freeform Intended For Use With V-Grooves, Sanding And Polishing The Freeform Faceted Stone, The Wood Wheel, Carving The V-Grooves, The Straight Wheel, Cutting The V-Groove, Polishing The Flats And The Grooves, Polishing Stones Harder Than Quartz, The Finished Angular Stone, and Setting The Angular Designs.
Topics discussed in Curvilinear Design include: Tool Shapes And The Grooves They Cut, Doing The Ridges, Grooving The Organic, Use Of Craytex Wheels, Non-symmetrical Grooves And Prints, The Use Of Optic Dishes, Carving Designs With Holes, and Carving A Whole Stone. Presented in Lathe Turning and Milling are Milling The Milled Cut and Circular Designs. Laminated and Combination Designs discusses Testing Epoxies, Laminating A Candy Cut, Cutting The Sections, and Working With Combination Forms.
Topics covered in Tool Design include: Making Copper Wheels And Disks, The Copper Point, Wood Wheels, Shaping The Wood Wheels, The Wood Point, Polishing Tools, Ordering Special Diamond Cutting Wheels, Making Diamond Compound, The 35mm Camera, Basic Equipment, The Camera, The Close Up Lens, Tripod, Remote Control, Seamless Paper, The Lights, The Bulbs, And The Lens Filter, and Using A Darkroom.

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Cabochon Cutting
by Jack R. Cox
Soft cover, 5.5" x 8.5", 64 pages, copyright 1986
Sample page Cabochon Cutting provides an excellent primer and introduction to cutting and polishing cabochons for anyone interested in learning more about this very popular facet of the lapidary hobby. It answers all questions from how to slab rough with a slab saw, how to saw cabs from slabs with trim saws, how to grind and shape cabochons, how to polish gem materials and how to set finished cabochons in jewelry.
Chapters include: Dopping Gemstones, Preparing Stones for Shaping, Grinding Gemstones, Smoothing Gemstones, Polishing Gemstones, Using a Trim Saw, Using the Slab Saw and Setting Your Cabochon Gems.
Cabochon Cutting is concise and well illustrated with numerous photographs and drawings. The cabochon making techniques presented are tried and proven and have withstood the test of time. This highly recommended book presents a great deal of valuable how-to information for a very modest price and belongs in the library of every lapidary hobbyist.

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Creating With Soapstone
Simple Techinques, Beautiful Projects
by Kurt Haberstitch
Soft cover, 7.5" x 8.5", 96 pages, copyright 1997
Sample page Creating With Soapstone provides all the information needed to begin stone carving using soapstone. For anyone who has ever had an interest in stone carving, soapstone is an ideal way to begin. It is inexpensive, and is readily available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures. Since the stone is very soft, expensive and specialized tools are not necessary. Beautiful soapstone pieces can be created with nothing more than a sharp knife and sandpaper.
Soapstone is a choice medium not just for decorative carving, but for functional objects too. Because it can be heated without bursting and retains warmth, it has been used through the ages for sinks and stoves, for pots and pans. And because it remains cool in warm weather, it is just a useful for insulative containers. Since soapstone consists mainly of the mineral talc, working with it is as soothing to the hands as to the psyche.
The contents of Creating With Soapstone includes chapters on The Basics, Materials and Tools, Working with the Stone, Ornaments and Jewelry, Practical Pieces from Soapstone and An Assortment of Projects. A color plate Gallery of Soapstone Pieces by various artists serves to illustrate the creative possibilities of soapstone as a medium and provides ideas and inspiration for your own works of art.