Faceting citrine stone using the Shield of the Heart design comes from the book Twelve Easy Gemstone Faceting Designs, A Guide for the Beginner Gemcutter. The book was written as an exercise for beginner faceters. The Shield of the Heart design is the eighth design in the book. It is an interesting design that develops the beginner’s skills by having the facets meet at points. It creates a beautiful gemstone performance with only 31 facets.
Learning to facet gemstones can be rewarding and fascinating. The best way to get started is by taking faceting lessons, using current reference materials, having a mentor and dedicating the time necessary to practice the skills needed to master the art.
Faceting Lessons
Faceting lessons are available from a variety of places, including private and group lessons, lapidary clubs, faceting guilds and online tutorials. Lessons are a great way to learn the basics and avoid forming bad habits. Once you learn the basics, using your faceting machine manual and Tom Herbst’s book, Amateur Gemstone Faceting Volume 1: The Essentials and the Twelve Easy Gemstone Faceting Designs, you will be on your way with your gemstone faceting journey.
Mapping Progress
The Twelve Easy Gemstone Faceting Designs was conceived as a process map for faceting students to practice. The book has basic faceting information on gemstone refractive indexes and critical angles for gemstones. There is also a short article on buying facet rough to help the beginner faceter make wise facet rough purchases.
The twelve gemstone designs progress from simple to complex, allowing the faceting student to gain skills while increasing confidence. The progression of designs also introduces new gemstone materials including quartz, opal, topaz, beryl and tourmaline. This allows students to see the different grit progressions and polishes that are used on a variety of stones. To make the twelve-gemstone sequence easy and affordable, facet rough dealer Storied Gemstones has put together a parcel of gemstones that match the designs. After mastering the twelve gemstones, the faceting student will have gained essential skills that will lead them to enjoy their faceting hobby or profession even more.
Finding a Mentor
When learning to facet gemstones like citrine stone, it is important to find a mentor to guide you. Faceting gemstones is an exercise in problem-solving. Having a mentor to guide and answer questions is critical to accelerating your ability to facet gemstones. To set yourself up for success, take the time to do your research in choosing an instructor and mentor, get yourself acquainted with the current reference materials available, and practice, practice, practice!
If you have questions about this article or getting started in gemstone faceting, please contact me at https://www.hashnustones. com/contact-us.html
Resources
Free download of the Twelve Easy Gemstone Faceting Designs book – https://www.hashnustones.com/twelve-stones1.html
Storied Gemstones facet rough beginner parcels – https://storiedgemstones.com
Gemstone Faceting Lessons – https://www.hashnustones.com/learn-to-facet.html
Additional gemstone design books by Andrew Ian Brown – https://facetingdesigns.com/
This story about faceting citrine stone previously appeared in Rock & Gem magazine. Click here to subscribe. Story and photos by Mark Oros.
