Faceting I & II

(Wait List Only)

Examples of Student Work

JUNE 2-8, 2024 WILLIAM HOLLAND

TOM MITCHELL - FACETING I & II (Wait List Only)

If you have never faceted a stone before or if you have cut many stones but need to brush up on your skills or need help with a problem, this class is for you. For beginners, you will learn roughly how to identify your gem rough, how to choose a design, where to place the dop on the stone and how to dop it, hot to cut, polish and transfer, how to realign, how to complete the stone and finally, hot to clean and store it. For experienced faceters, I will help you hone your skills, improve your output and how to fix your problems. Beginners will get a kit with my book on faceting, about a dozen designs, a cerium ultralap for polishing, a microfiber towel for wiping off your stones and much more plus your fist stone. Experienced faceters will get the same kit, but with a cerium topper lap, and more complex designs.


 Lab Fee:  $65-$90

Estimated Materials Cost:  $0+

Consumable Fee:  $15

Prerequisites:  None for beginners; faceting 1 for II

Register: 

Bio:

Tom Mitchell -  Faceting 1 & 2


I have been an amateur geologist since college and have been fascinated by rocks and crystals all my life. Since retiring from a career in fire safety, I have pursued these interests vigorously and over the past several years I have acquired a modest collection of gems rough. I had a few of these pieces faceted by someone else, which turned out to be exorbitantly expensive. Consequently, I took up faceting at William Holland with Bill Compliment (Faceting 1) and David Corn (Faceting 2). I purchased my first faceting machine, an Ultra Tec V2 Digital, in 2009 after completing Faceting I and upgraded it to the V5 Digital in 2012, and I have never stopped or slowed down with my faceting interests. I am currently the President of the Tomoka Faceters Guild in Central Florida, and I’m two a time Past President of the United States Faceters Guild". I also teach basic geology, gemology, gem and mineral identification and faceting at The Villages Gem and Mineral Society in The Villages, Florida.