Amethyst

Amethyst experiments

So once things were more or less caught up after Tucson, it was time for additional experiments with concave and fantasy variations.  First up is a 12.0 mm., 5.24 carat amethyst pentagon where concave facets were used for every other pavilion facet reaching the culet.

Next is this hexagon shaped amethyst which is 12.31 carats and is 14.5 mm. across. Similar to what was done with the pentagon,  this one has every other culet facet done as concave rather than flat facets.

The third amethyst in this group is 14.0 mm. across and weights 13.47 carats.  The concave facets were placed on the pavilion corners and as the center culet facets.

Then, for fun, a series of four round amethysts ranging in size from the 8.79 carat, 13.6 mm. one pictured above down to an 8.9mm., 2.58 carat version.  The culet facets of the pavilion were done as concave facets.  The diameter of the mandrel used for these was adjusted as the diameter of the stone changed.  Then for the crown, instead of the usual series of flat (or concave) facets, it was done as a single ring .

 

 

 

Yes, More Hexagons

Before I went off February 1st for ten wonderful days in Tucson, I was trying some variations to better understand how different facet placements would impact the resulting gem.  While there are software programs that will attempt to do that for flat facets, concave facets and fantasy variations are not included.  So I set up several stones and cut them with the same flat facet pattern but differences with the fantasy machine cuts. (Besides, faceting is more fun that sitting at the keyboard.)

The first one is a 12.61 carat lemon citrine which has all of the pavilion row of facets done with the regular mandrels for concave work.  It is 14.6 mm. across, so I managed to work in more facets than I have been using in some of the smaller hexagons.

 

Using that same flat facet arrangement, I did two somewhat smaller amethysts.  For one, a 6.60 carat, 12.8 mm. stone when done, I used a rounded fantasy wheel and made some small curved cuts.  These added some “lights” which seem to be inside the stone.

 

On the other amethyst, which finished at 5.65 carats, 11.2 mm., I added a lot more of these compound concave “facets”.  It looks like the stone is full of glitter.

 

For a totally different variation, after returning from Tucson, I tried something along the lines of the demonstration done at the USFG seminar on Fantasy cutting.  For this one, which is 5.40 carats and 11.0 mm. across,  I used a slitter and cut grooves from the culet most of the length of the corner facets.  These were left unpolished and they are reflected by the other facets to give the appearance of having many more grooves than were actually created.

 

 

Finishing 2018 rough

This 4.58 ct. Amethyst is among the last stones cut from rough purchased in 2018. The stone is 11.0 mm in diameter and has concave facets on the pavilion. Now it is time to start working on the new rough purchased during my 2019 Tucson adventures.

February’s Birthstone

Getting February off to a good start with the February birthstone, amethyst. This is a 18.0 mm, 21.92 ct. round cut with concave facets on both pavilion and crown.

The rough was one of the “ultravolet” amethyst pieces I got from Steve Ulatowski last February in Tucson. Heading to Tucson in a few more days to restock.

 

 

Some of the final 2018 rough

Making some progress with the remaining 2018 rough. Three quartz varieties cut with concave facets pavilion and crown.

The largest of these is the prasiolite which is 23.70 cts and is 18.0 mm. in diameter.

Next is a 19.40 cts. amethyst which is 17.0 mm across.

And finally, the citrine which is 5.80 cts and 12.0 mm.