How the American Faceting Technique Developed (Pt.2)

[@raeleenrobinson5749]

We have this book at our Campbelltown Lapidary club (NSW Australia) it’s one of the first books we are encouraged to read to understand the process, a round brilliant is usually the first thing we try using a standard glass playing marble( like kids play with ) as our gem rough(it’s inexpensive and soft and comes up great when finished)

[@ainsophwac78]

Very eloquently presented. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into producing quality informative videos. There is a lot to be said about the person who is knowledgeable in his craft and who puts forth genuine honest information and reviews. Without your knowledge, my grasp of this subject would be near non-existent. Thank you for your contribution to the gem cutting world.

[@JustinKPrim]

[@raeleenrobinson5749]

Sorry the book-Introduction to meet point faceting, Lol ,I forgot to mention the title, by the way the super pear design is beautiful when cut - my first pear cut in amethyst was just beautiful.

[@CoraleenWaddell]

So fascinating

[@geoffgeoff143]

As CNC cutting gets better, less than premium material will be cut on them mainly in wastefull styles. However, premium material will be cut in the Thai style to preserve weight. The value of the material will warrant the labour costs.

[@SnowTiger45]

This was posted twice so I watched twice. Excellent miniseries.

[@JustinKPrim]

Dream viewer 😸

[@donaldriddle8002]

Great job! I started cutting in the late 80's, and was taught from day one to cut by meetpoint, to cut pavilion first and facet the girdle. I had no idea that it was a fairly new technique at that time. My first machine was an old Lee machine that was so worn that you had to cheat every facet by twisting your wrist. My very first stone was a piece of yellow glass ashtray (emerald cut). I still have it, and it turned out beautiful, despite the archaic machine. I have gotten hooked on your videos, they are great.

[@JustinKPrim]

Thank you and glad to hear a bit of the history!

[@stevenmiles7479]

Finally watched this all the way through. Very interesting! Especially since I have one hand in American cutting and the other in hand piece cutting. I almost have to flip a switch to move back and forth.

[@余子豪-c1d]

Justin thank you for sharing this topic.

[@JustinKPrim]

my pleasure

[@suuushi52]

This is all very interesting and as an American cutter I feel both the advantages and setbacks of this way of faceeting. I don't think you can set gemcad to cut crown first. Thank you justin.

[@JustinKPrim]

True you just have to ignore the diagram order and cut the crown instructions first. That’s what I do.

[@mycombs]

As an American cutter, it's almost impossible to be exposed to any other technique. Thank you for making these, I would never have known meetpoint faceting was something that was only really codified in the 80s!

[@JustinKPrim]

Agreed. I also didn’t really realize how modern most of these concept are until I made this video.

[@robertanderson2285]

The only logical way to proceed. If you run out of material on the crown, you can always reduce the angles, and preserve the pavilion light return.

[@JustinKPrim]

Proper preforming will prevent that from happening so for me it’s a non issue

[@Liburni]

Thank you for making great interesting historiographical videos ...

[@JustinKPrim]

It’s a pleasure for me. Also it’s a great way to organize all this reading so that I’m digesting it as well.

[@georgeser3939]

Very interesting topic. Of course there will be future advancements. The cycle never ends. Who knows, maybe there will be lazer cutting machines cutting pavilions and crowns simultaneously and we won't be called gem cutters but machine operators. But it's a very cool topic! 👍

[@JustinKPrim]

Scary to think about. I know that the diamond cutting world now has a new laser machine that cut cut all the facets and then the diamantaire is just polishing the burn off. Saves a few steps.

[@geoffgeoff143]

The question is " why did it develope?". Was it simply easier to learn?

[@michaelcampbell5567]

Have you checked out the method Tom Mitchell uses?

[@JustinKPrim]

He sent me his book the day after this video came out :) I haven't seen it yet though.

[@nickmcneill9115]

Hi Justin thanks for your fantastic videos, as someone very new to faceting i find them very informative. I would like to enquire as to whether you preform and whether you would recommended it ? Finally given the historic method of cutting the crown, is there reasons to consider this method for current designs. As someone who is very new, i would appreciate advice on thinking outside the box and finding methods that reduce errors so that l can achieve meet point. Thanks again, the information is priceless.

[@JustinKPrim]

I preform every single stone and honestly I think it's weird that so many people skip this step. Preforming allows you to quickly and easily shape the stone and remove inclusions without anything hidden under wax or glue. Preforming also allows you to confirm that you have enough height from table to culet to avoid windowing. Preforming is time saving and smart, though it's a challenging skill that needs to be practiced a lot. Once your hand preforming step is done, you can drop the stone and do find hand shaping to perfect your oval/cushion/pear/etc shape for the stone and for beauty before faceting begins.

[@ngbgemexplorer]

I have many rare gem collection, but no equipment to cut

[@alphatango1358]

Greetings from New York ..

[@geoffgeoff143]

It seems to be driven by the desire for round brilliants. Was this driven by the diamond industry?

[@JustinKPrim]

@@geoffgeoff143 yes for sure. Marketing for the new “scientific” diamond cuts in the early 1900s and up to the late 1920s really influenced the mentality of the early American cutting community and they never got over it.