Registration for this schedule starts on 12/01/2025 and ends on 05/14/2026
Participants must be 18 years to 120 years old when the program starts.
Registration for this schedule starts on 12/01/2025 and ends on 07/09/2026
Participants must be 18 years to 120 years old when the program starts.
Registration for this schedule starts on 12/01/2025 and ends on 07/11/2026
Participants must be 18 years to 120 years old when the program starts.
Registration for this schedule starts on 12/01/2025 and ends on 09/24/2026
Participants must be 18 years to 120 years old when the program starts.
FACETING I: BASICS WITH DAVE MCGREGOR
In this class we will be learning the art of meetpoint faceting and exploring best practices using the instruction manual, Faceting 1: Learn the Fine Art of Gem Faceting, It’s Easy, by Tom Mitchell to create beautifully crafted gems. For the class fee each student will receive Tom’s instruction manual, choice of faceting rough for the first stone, a packet of 11 faceting diagrams from which to choose, a lint free cloth, an LED flashlight, a Sharpie pen, a heat sink cloth, a table of subsurface damage depths and other miscellaneous information. The instructor will provide pre-polish and polishing laps for students to use during class. Each student will be guided through the operation of the faceting machine, use of laps, dopping and transferring stones, and reading and using faceting diagrams. Discussion of website resources and the computer program, Gem Cut Studio is also included. Faceting machines are provided for use by William Holland but a student who has one may bring his/her own machine. Students are strongly encouraged to bring an OptiVISOR or equivalent magnification device. Each student should be able to complete 1 stone during the class and possibly two or three. Students may bring in their own rough if they so choose but nothing harder than quartz, a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Additional rough will be available for purchase. This is expected to be a week of fun creating a beautiful gem and a springboard for continuing your adventures in faceting.
Class Fee: $55.00
Est Materials Fee: $0+
Prerequisite: None
Dave McGregor
Dave McGregor is an engineer by trade. He enjoyed "gem hunting" for many years and took his first faceting class at the North Carolina State University craft center. He then took additional faceting classes at Wild Acres and William Holland. He purchased an Ultra Tec faceting machine and has faceted numerous varieties of stone designs. He is a member of the US Faceters Guild and hopes to encourage others to learn about faceting.
Please contact William Holland School of Lapidary Arts if you have any questions.