this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2024
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Faceting

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Community for discussing faceting and gemstones.

If you are a cutter, show off your work, provide tips and tricks or ask for advice.

If you don’t cut stones, feel free to ask questions!

No selling of stones, rough or anything else. You can however post links to vendors that you recommend.

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submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

Let's post links and descriptions of our favorite resources and vendors.

Rough and Synthetics

Lapidary Supplies

Designs

Ultratec

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

For synthetics I have two go-to vendors.

https://store.turtleshoard.com Turtle's Hoard stocks a lot of weird, interesting, science-y facet worthy materials. The Christmas Garnet is worth a gander, I've got a piece of that I'm holding on to for a rainy day.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TomsBoxofRocks Tom sells more "traditional" synthetic material, like corundum, CZ, and nanosital. He has a lot and you can find some cool color change and bicolor versions. I find his corundum is competitively priced with Joe Henley so check them both when you're shopping.

I had this vendor recommended to me by my mentor, and recently bought from him: https://www.westerngem.com His website doesn't display well on mobile, the pictures rearrange in strange ways, it's better with a desktop browser. He sent me a complimentary citrine when I placed my last (rather large) order. Everything was exactly as described and the topaz was even more blue than the picture suggested!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Thanks! I updated the thread post with your links.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

In the UK, we've got https://www.gemsofeastafrica.com/ who provide trustworthy rough without having to pay huge amounts of intercontinental postage

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The vendor I mostly use is Joe Henley Rough.

I met Joe at the Tucson Gem and Mineral show a few years ago, and found him both personable and honest. I have never had an issue with any purchase from him. He sells both natural and some synthetics.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Joe Henley is an amazing resource! Everything I've gotten from him has always been on point. I just wish his shop didn't auto-sort with most expensive first because it is such a tease 😭