Faceting paired with Gemology and other misc. questions

[bdjensen]

Hey there.
I took up faceting about a year and a half ago and have really enjoyed cutting. I still feel really new to the community but have a thirst to learn as much as I can. I am constantly looking for new ways to digest as much information as I can. I feel like I am always finding new sources so I can learn more about the trade.

I don't know quite yet what my long term goals are for the trade, as I already have a good full time job that I enjoy, but faceting has been a fun hobby to do on the side. So far I have been able to sell enough of my cut gems to buy more rough and continue the hobby. I have even made a few connections who ask me to do recuts, and even cut from rough.

With all that being said I am still hungry. I want to learn. I am 36, married and we just had our first child, so financially it doesn't fit for me to jump at a high end gemological school let alone some of the less reputable ones. I mainly just want to learn for learnings sake and maybe put some of what I learn to use as I interact with the faceting and gemology communities. I also am interested, in time learning to make my own jewelry, but again I am not there yet financially.

With that background in mind here are some of my questions.

First, with faceting design software. I have used up my trial for Gem Cut Studio...on multiple computers. And feel like I have a good understanding of how the program works, and how to make my own designs and how to modify cuts that I put into it to different materials with different refractive indices. But I fear I am missing some basic fundamentals to good designing. At this point I am just playing around and having a good time. I want to learn to use gem cut studio more efficiently and understand more about all its features. There are some things that I picked out intuitively and some I learned by watching tutorials on youtube. Can anyone direct me to more in depth information on Gem Cut Studio and more of its features?

Back to the Gemology related stuff. As a faceter I want to be also be able to accurately identify gemstones, and scratch the itch of knowing that sort of stuff. Like I mentioned earlier I'm unsure of my long term goals in the trade at this point, but I still want to learn. What are some recommendations on places to learn, at the free or cheap price point, where I can still build the knowledge and skills to get me started? Along the same lines, I have started purchasing some of the more basic tools, dichroscope, and scale as they are immediately useful to me as a cutter. What other tools would you recommend I invest in next? Are there cheaper models of some of the more expensive equipment that you would recommend, or where could I find some decently priced used equipment? I am thinking my next purchase might be a refractometer, but I have also thought of getting a spectroscope but am open to suggestions on the order of things. And finally what might be some good books for reference that might help me in my studies?

I have lots of questions, and want to learn so any information and wisdom this community can impart would be greatly appreciated!

Attached are some of the cuts I have done recently. the sapphires are synthetic, the aquamarine is natural, not sure of the source, and the garnet is natural as well also unsure of the source.

[suzannec]

Hello! Welcome to Gemology Online. This place used to be a thriving community but I haven't been here for many years. Maybe if you posted in another forum you would get some answers. Why don't you try Lapidary Corner: Colored Stones? It seems very active.
Cheers,
Suzanne

[bdjensen]

Thanks I will try posting there as well.