Cliff, I am an experienced cutter of over 30 years and a G.G. as well. I am writing this note to you to tell you how much I enjoy your faceting shows. While there are a number of how to facet shows available I find yours to be relaxing yet both professional and very informative. I especially like the fact that you inlcude information about lap grits and polish used on each variety of gemstone. I would like to ask for information on where you purchase your diamond laps and synthetic gemstone materials please. Thank you for making faceting interesting again.
Hi Edwin, all the diamond topper laps I buy off Ebay a set of 4 for $30. As for synth gems they are bought from China. Register with Alibaba, and I purchase them from stargems. starsgem.en.alibaba.com/
Wonderful gems, every one of them. It makes me a bit sad I'll never be able to create them - my health won't allow it - but seeing them make by an experienced gem cutter as you brings a smile to my face. So thanks for sharing, Cliff!
Hi Cliff i always enjoy your videos. I agree with your opinion about Bob Kellers Cleopatras eye. I have cut 5 of them and almost every one who sees them are absolutely stunned by their beauty!!
The Cleopatra's Eye is my number 1 choice. Probably a contentious choice as maybe a SRB is considered the top choice. You need see and facet the Cleo's Eye to appreciate how good it looks and the level of difficulty to get facets around the table perfect. Cheers Cliff
Hi Cliff. What a great compilation. I like how each is a next step up in building your skill. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas. This sounds like great sound advice.
Nice selections, Cliff. I'm glad you included the Squartuguese... I've cut several of them. Just be darn careful with P4, as they come in really fast. Believe it, or not, I avoided the SRB as a beginner. After cutting other initial designs, I was amazed at its simplicity and wondered why I had avoided it. LOL Nowdays, I don't even look at the "paper", as the indexes are so easy to commit to memory. Thanks much for the nice video my friend.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hi John, seems in Australia most gems clubs get the beginner to start with the SRB. And usually its with quartz. I believe Topaz should be the material of choice a beginner should start with.
What a stunning selection of designs you have put together, very interesting and informative, I hope I don't die soon as I have only done 1 srb out of quartz. I sent my sapphire to get cut by a fellow south Australian in swan reach, after first inspection he tells me there is quite a bit of silk and I will lose a third of the stone, fingers crossed for the rest.
Hi Cliff, Cleopatra's eye is on my bucket list, I haven't heard about the squartugese, but I'm going to give it a try. Beautiful work as always my friend!!!!
Marco Voltini designs are some of my favorites. I liked your choices, too bad the list was only five. I think Marco's opposed bar cuts are really nice and would deserve a spot. They cut fast, look good and are great practice for step cuts in general. Honestly, haven't seen many of his I didn't like. The eye is gorgeous, someday I'll be good enough. I agree with you about the starting material. At my local club they start beginners with glass marbles or quartz because of cost, and I can't count how many frustrated moments. Chips, scratches, cracks, hidden fractures, beginners don't have the light touch you need. I give my starters a chunk of cheap topaz, keep them off the cleavage plane, and have them cut Herbst's gem101. Looks good, simple, fast and very forgiving for a first timer.
Cliff, I am an experienced cutter of over 30 years and a G.G. as well. I am writing this note to you to tell you how much I enjoy your faceting shows. While there are a number of how to facet shows available I find yours to be relaxing yet both professional and very informative. I especially like the fact that you inlcude information about lap grits and polish used on each variety of gemstone.
I would like to ask for information on where you purchase your diamond laps and synthetic gemstone materials please. Thank you for making faceting interesting again.
Hi Edwin, all the diamond topper laps I buy off Ebay a set of 4 for $30. As for synth gems they are bought from China. Register with Alibaba, and I purchase them from stargems. starsgem.en.alibaba.com/
Wonderful gems, every one of them. It makes me a bit sad I'll never be able to create them - my health won't allow it - but seeing them make by an experienced gem cutter as you brings a smile to my face. So thanks for sharing, Cliff!
Sorry to hear that Kathy. Regards Cliff
@@VintageTimeGems That's ok, Cliff. You make me happy just by sharing your art and the beauty you create!
Hi Cliff i always enjoy your videos. I agree with your opinion about Bob Kellers Cleopatras eye. I have cut 5 of them and almost every one who sees them are absolutely stunned by their beauty!!
The Cleopatra's Eye is my number 1 choice. Probably a contentious choice as maybe a SRB is considered the top choice. You need see and facet the Cleo's Eye to appreciate how good it looks and the level of difficulty to get facets around the table perfect. Cheers Cliff
Hi Cliff. What a great compilation. I like how each is a next step up in building your skill.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas. This sounds like great sound advice.
Thanks Tam.
Wonderful pieces!
Thanks Santiago.....
Nice selections, Cliff. I'm glad you included the Squartuguese... I've cut several of them. Just be darn careful with P4, as they come in really fast.
Believe it, or not, I avoided the SRB as a beginner. After cutting other initial designs, I was amazed at its simplicity and wondered why I had avoided it. LOL Nowdays, I don't even look at the "paper", as the indexes are so easy to commit to memory.
Thanks much for the nice video my friend.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hi John, seems in Australia most gems clubs get the beginner to start with the SRB. And usually its with quartz. I believe Topaz should be the material of choice a beginner should start with.
What a stunning selection of designs you have put together, very interesting and informative, I hope I don't die soon as I have only done 1 srb out of quartz. I sent my sapphire to get cut by a fellow south Australian in swan reach, after first inspection he tells me there is quite a bit of silk and I will lose a third of the stone, fingers crossed for the rest.
It will be interesting to see what the next design you facet will be.
I love your videos would you do a video about machines? I have been looking for a good used one but I am unsure which one is best.
I did one a while back on a Gemmasta machine.
I have some rough diamonds that I would like to get cut and polished do you do side work?
I only facet as a hobby.
I got a bunch of rose quartz and beryl wanting a used Faceting machine if anyone has one? Nice video 😊
I want to facet an opal, and some crazy stones i have collected . How much is a lapidary setup?
You will need to spend a minimum of $1500. Secondhand.
👍👍👍
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐👍👍👍👍👍🇧🇷
Hi Cliff, Cleopatra's eye is on my bucket list, I haven't heard about the squartugese, but I'm going to give it a try. Beautiful work as always my friend!!!!
Sounds great!
Sparkling examples of your own eye mate!
Thanks...Cheers Cliff
Que lindezas meu amigo amei a gema linda lapidada. Perfect gemns...💕
Thank you.
Marco Voltini designs are some of my favorites. I liked your choices, too bad the list was only five. I think Marco's opposed bar cuts are really nice and would deserve a spot. They cut fast, look good and are great practice for step cuts in general. Honestly, haven't seen many of his I didn't like.
The eye is gorgeous, someday I'll be good enough.
I agree with you about the starting material. At my local club they start beginners with glass marbles or quartz because of cost, and I can't count how many frustrated moments. Chips, scratches, cracks, hidden fractures, beginners don't have the light touch you need. I give my starters a chunk of cheap topaz, keep them off the cleavage plane, and have them cut Herbst's gem101. Looks good, simple, fast and very forgiving for a first timer.
Thank you, your facetting still causes extreme temptation to me to acquire a facetting setup and have a go
No background noise or music!!!!!!
Is like my friend.👏👏👏👏👍
All beautiful especially the squaretugese cut. It sort of looks like a blend of a cushion and princess cut. Thanks Cliff for sharing.
You are very welcome