{"id":11004,"date":"2019-12-06T09:30:39","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T09:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cooksongold.com\/blog\/?p=11004"},"modified":"2020-11-13T15:55:42","modified_gmt":"2020-11-13T15:55:42","slug":"what-is-lapidary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cooksongold.com\/blog\/learn\/what-is-lapidary\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Lapidary?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WhatIf you\u2019re new to the jewellery making crowd, you may have come across the term \u2013 but what is lapidary? Putting it simply, lapidary is the art of working with gemstones. There are many different ways that lapidarists work, but one of the most rewarding ways is to make jewellery with gemstones. Either as a pendant or as a setting in a ring or bracelet, there are a variety of different ways you can incorporate lapidary work into your projects. Find out more about the various techniques and lapidary tools below.<\/p>\n

What are the different arts and techniques of lapidary?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

So, what are the different arts and techniques of lapidary? The main three are: tumbling, cutting and faceting. To help you understand what each means, we\u2019ll talk you through the processes involved and the outcome of each technique.<\/p>\n

Tumbling<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just starting out? This technique could be for you. Requiring the least equipment and minimal effort, tumbling is a great place to begin your lapidary journey. Simply place any rough gemstones you have into a tumbling machine<\/a>, use for the required amount of time and your gemstones will emerge polished. So remember to keep an eye out for any gemstones the next time you\u2019re at the coast \u2013 as these can make beautiful jewellery pieces!<\/p>\n

Top Tip:<\/strong> Make sure you check whether or not the stones you\u2019re working with are suitable for tumbling as some softer stones could be scratched or damaged by the tumbling process.<\/p>\n

Cabochon Cutting<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also known as \u2018cabbing\u2019, cabochon cutting is one of the most common forms of lapidary art. Taking slightly longer to master, this technique is used to enhance and display the natural pattern of a gemstone that may otherwise be hidden. Cabochon cutting is usually used on softer stones where faceting wouldn\u2019t be suitable. If you\u2019d like to find out more about this technique, read our what is a cabochon cut gemstone<\/a> blog.<\/p>\n

Faceting<\/strong><\/p>\n

And the last in our lapidary techniques list is faceting. If you haven\u2019t heard of this before, faceting is where a gem has a number of flat surfaces, or facets, in order to reflect the light entering the stone. Most jewellery makers use a faceting machine to create this effect. Commonly used on diamonds in wedding and engagement rings, faceting is one of the most profitable lapidary techniques.<\/p>\n

Lapidary tools and equipment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Interested in giving one or more of these techniques a go? You\u2019ll need to pick up a few key pieces of equipment first. The basic lapidary supplies for beginners include:<\/p>\n