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Faceting For Amatuers - $39.50
by Glenn and Martha Vargas
Hard cover, 7.5" x 11", 340 pages, copyright 2002.
Sample page

Faceting For Amateurs was first published in 1969. This work by Glenn and Martha Vargas is considered to be the faceter's bible and is probably the most frequently recommended primer for faceters. It is not just a book for amateurs; we also recommend it to professional faceters, as it is a comprehensive book that will be constantly used as a reference. This fourth edition is the most extensive in coverage of all aspects of faceting. Each chapter has been given a complete rewriting, with some new equipment, techniques, and ideas discussed and evaluated. Some techniques which might be considered obsolete, have been deleted, or given less attention. Some new faceting materials are described, and methods of faceting them are discussed.

Chapters include: Chapter I Gems Are Minerals; Chapter II Faceting Machines; Chapter III Laps That Cut; Chapter IV Laps That Polish; Chapter V Choosing Materials; Chapter VI Optical Properties; Chapter VII Angles For Faceting; Chapter VIII Faceted Stone Patterns; Chapter IX Preparing For Faceting; Chapter X Cutting The Facets; Chapter XI Polishing The Gem; Chapter XII Soft Materials; and Chapter XIII Disposition And Care of Gems.

Detailed cutting patters presented include Petal Cut, Eight-Sided Brilliant, Standard Brilliant, The Highlight Cut, Ten-Fold Standard Round Brilliant, Twelve-Fold Standard Round Brilliant, Horizontal Split Mains Brilliant, The Dutch Rose, The Double Dutch Rose, The Cross Rose, Rose Recoupee, Commercial Cut, Oval With Culet As A Keel, Oval With Culet As A Point, Five-Rayed Star, Six-Rayed Star, Portuguese Cut, Simple Step Cut, Round Step Cut, Emerald Cut, French Star, Double French Star, Barion Round Brilliant and The Square Barion Cut.

Extensive appendices on natural and man-made materials provide physical, mineralogical, optical properties and characteristics with cutting and polishing tips for 150 different facetable materials Actinolite through Zirconia. Other appendices include manufacturers and distributors of faceting equipment and miscellaneous information. Also included is a glossary and index.

Rough for Faceting: www.facetingrough.com
Need faceting rough? We have everything from Andalusite to Zircon on our Faceting Rough website!

Cabbing Machines: www.cabbingmachines.com
Looking for cabbing equipment or a slab saw? We sell Covington brand equipment and Diamond Pacific wheels on our Cabbing Machines website!

Rough for Cabbing and Carving: www.greatrough.com
Need cabbing or carving rough? We have lots of interesting material on our Great Rough website!

Slabs: www.greatslabs.com
We have scores of pages of slabs online at our Great Slabs web site including chrysocolla in quartz, shattuckite and other copper secondaries, petrified wood, all kinds of agates, jaspers and much more!