The Man Behind the Gems
What is your favorite thing about faceting?
It’s meditative. Faceting does for me what yoga, gardening, and swimming does for others. It is a perfect fit for how my mind works…I love when the jigsaw puzzle of facets I’ve imagined in my head come together before my eyes. The gem and I really do take a journey together and sometimes it’s soul-deep.
It’s meditative. Faceting does for me what yoga, gardening, and swimming does for others. It is a perfect fit for how my mind works…I love when the jigsaw puzzle of facets I’ve imagined in my head come together before my eyes. The gem and I really do take a journey together and sometimes it’s soul-deep.
How did you get your start in faceting colored gems?
I started in the colored gem business (a bit by accident!) in 1981, but I didn’t begin faceting gems until 2001. A combination of situations caused me to turn to faceting: I was involved in setting up two gem faceting schools in Namibia in 1999, I realized I wanted to offer premium and precision gemstones, and in 2001 I realized I couldn’t in good conscience sell gems with poor faceting. I went on a search – both physically and spiritually – to learn faceting and how to bring out the very best in every gem.
I started in the colored gem business (a bit by accident!) in 1981, but I didn’t begin faceting gems until 2001. A combination of situations caused me to turn to faceting: I was involved in setting up two gem faceting schools in Namibia in 1999, I realized I wanted to offer premium and precision gemstones, and in 2001 I realized I couldn’t in good conscience sell gems with poor faceting. I went on a search – both physically and spiritually – to learn faceting and how to bring out the very best in every gem.
What does a day in the studio look like for you?
A typical day in the studio doesn’t feel like work…it’s all about playing with rocks! I pick the rough I want to facet that day and spend time examining and contemplating. I prefer variety, so I will probably facet several gem types in any given day. A half hour or so is spent pre-forming the rough to get rid of excess material and shape the gem. Then I get started! When I finish, I take the gem outside. Gems have a way of coming alive in sunlight, like they know they’re reconnected with nature.
A typical day in the studio doesn’t feel like work…it’s all about playing with rocks! I pick the rough I want to facet that day and spend time examining and contemplating. I prefer variety, so I will probably facet several gem types in any given day. A half hour or so is spent pre-forming the rough to get rid of excess material and shape the gem. Then I get started! When I finish, I take the gem outside. Gems have a way of coming alive in sunlight, like they know they’re reconnected with nature.
How do you choose what shape to facet a gem?
If I’m going to direct the future of a piece of gem rough, I want to know its personality, its quirks and idiosyncrasies. Before I facet, I consider if the gem grew in a way that dictates what shape would best display its qualities and if it has characteristics that, stewarded well, would cause the gem to scome alive . I decide the shape before I start, but the rest of the design comes through the process of working on the gem. It shows more and more of its beauty the longer I spend with it, so we chart its future together as we go.
If I’m going to direct the future of a piece of gem rough, I want to know its personality, its quirks and idiosyncrasies. Before I facet, I consider if the gem grew in a way that dictates what shape would best display its qualities and if it has characteristics that, stewarded well, would cause the gem to scome alive . I decide the shape before I start, but the rest of the design comes through the process of working on the gem. It shows more and more of its beauty the longer I spend with it, so we chart its future together as we go.
What inspires your faceting designs?
The gem itself. Every gem has its own story to tell. My art is to know beauty when I see it and unleash it, set it free, display it. I am a curator. When I look inside a gem, it tells me what it wants to be when it grows up. It is my privilege to facet the gem so that it sings, dances, and shines. Some might refer to me as a traditionalist because I’m fascinated with historical designs and classic lines, but I love the challenge of a non-standard outline when a piece of rough is ready for an adventure.
The gem itself. Every gem has its own story to tell. My art is to know beauty when I see it and unleash it, set it free, display it. I am a curator. When I look inside a gem, it tells me what it wants to be when it grows up. It is my privilege to facet the gem so that it sings, dances, and shines. Some might refer to me as a traditionalist because I’m fascinated with historical designs and classic lines, but I love the challenge of a non-standard outline when a piece of rough is ready for an adventure.
