During the weekend of the Orcutt show, I got a start on a batch of amethysts and citrines from the faceting demonstration. Of course, that meant that last week, I had that batch to finish up.
Shown here is the first one started at the show. It is a 2.86 carat amethyst which is 9.0 mm. in diameter. This one also got a little extra in the way of concave facets on the pavilion after the show since only the flat facet equipment was used for the demonstration.
The Santa Lucia Rockhounds will be having its annual show at the Paso Robles Event Center from 10 am to 5 pm Saturday, April 21 and 10am to 4pm Sunday, April 22. As part of the show, the San Luis Obispo Gem and Mineral Club will have a booth and will be bringing the club’s faceting machine so we can show how gemstones are faceted. There will also be wirewrapping demonstrations on Saturday and club members will have some of their collections and crafts on display. Of course there will be many vendors with items for sale and other demonstrations by the Santa Lucia club members. Come by if you are in the neighborhood.
Another amethyst pictured here. This one is an 8.33 cts, 12.6 mm. octagon with concave facets on the pavilion side. I had planned to work on some other materials, but decided that this parcel was better for re-training my hands for faceting as my wrist heals.
The first post Tucson stone is finally done. It has been a challenge learning to work with a lame right hand, but things are slowly improving.
The finished amethyst weighs 13.2 cts and is 14.6 mm wide. There is a little bit of color zoning, but it is not too obvious when the stone is face up. A set of concave facets on the pavilion and another set on the crown add some extra sparkle. Rough came from a parcel obtained last year from Farooq Hashmi.
Here is a freshly cut amethyst. Weight is 9.06 cts. and width is 12.7 mm. Concave facets were used on the pavilion side of the stone while the crown is all traditional flat facets.
Ten new stones posted today.
This time mostly quartz varities – Ametyst, citrine and rose quartz. The favored shapes for this batch are pentagons and octagons. A few of these stones were those being cut during the faceting demonstration at the recent San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Show.