Justin K Prim 💎 The Gemcutters Craft 💎 Magus Gems
Hello and welcome to my channel. The videos you will find here are an expression of my passion for the art and science of gemcutting and the history behind it. Watch as I uncover the secrets behind the gem cutters craft as well as dive deep into the machines being used to cut gems around the world.
Currently, my scope of research begins in Europe in the late 1300's and extends all the way until now. As the channel grows, you will hopefully find a healthy mix of instructional faceting videos (reflecting my role as faceting teacher at the Faceting Apprentice Institute), gem cutting gear vids (reflecting my role as a gear nerd), gem analysis videos, and history-based videos (reflecting my role as a history nerd).
I hope you enjoy the videos and find what you're looking for. If I've left a question unanswered, please leave a comment and let me know. If you want to follow me in other places, click the social media buttons on top.
Justin K Prim
I was a guest on the FacetNation podcast this week! Check it out for some stories, some life advice, and some reveals for 2026.
4 days ago | [YT] | 2
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Justin K Prim
As we’re moving into the final phases of renovation, I wanted to say thanks to another one of our sponsors, @fralap.fr. FraLap is a Faceting Machine manufacturer here in France who’s doing some very exciting things. You’ve probably seen some of his machines on my channel, as I’ve been using his jampeg machine for the last few years and recently posted a video about his brand new machine that can be a jambpeg, handpiece, or mast machine, depending on the options. He’s got a lot of exciting things coming up and I look forward to more collaborations with FraLap in the future. Thanks so much for the support and helping the Museum of Faceting Technology come to fruition!
1 week ago | [YT] | 26
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Justin K Prim
As we’re reaching the last stages of construction for the new museum and school, we wanted to say thanks to some of the people that have financially supported the project so far.
Thank you so much to Kingsley North. This is our favorite lapidary supply company in America. They’ve been selling our books since the first day and I’m looking forward to doing some new collaborative projects with them this year. Thank you so much for your financial support on our new venture
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 22
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Justin K Prim
The Tucson show is almost here! I’ve got a packed schedule this year. I’m presenting two new talks plus an old favorite and I’m also participating in two panel discussions. In between all that, I’ll be at our booth (F2) at the 22nd street show with Facetron and Oak and Stone school. I’ll have books, lapidary stickers, and maybe even some new t-shirts. Come say hi!
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 17
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Justin K Prim
Check out my Tucson gem show seminar and party guide here: medium.com/justin-k-prim/tucson-after-party-guide-…
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 14
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Justin K Prim
Today is my 12 year anniversary as a gemcutter. The first stone I ever cut was a jade cabochon. Someone at the San Francisco Gem and Mineral Society (my local lapidary club) gave me the jade and showed me how to use the cabbing machines. This is the day that I entered heaven and I’ve been excited ever since.
1 month ago | [YT] | 112
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Justin K Prim
I just published Episode 37 of The Gemcutters Craft podcast and today, we’re talking to gemcutter and shop owner Bruce McLellan about Canadian gemcutting, running a rock shop, and making his own hand faceters to help people get interested in the art of faceting.
Bruce runs a lapidary shop called Mountain Gems in Barnaby BC, near Vancouver. I had the chance to visit him at the shop in 2022 to talk about how he get into the faceting community, what the rock hounding scene is like in Western Canada, how he started making his own entry level faceting machines and eventually how he opened his own own rock shop.
The podcast is only available to my Patreon subscribers, so if you'd like to listen to this episode and 37+ hours of previous podcast interviews, you can sign up for only $3/month at the link below.
www.patreon.com/posts/ep-37-bruce-147450120
1 month ago | [YT] | 4
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Justin K Prim
Online and In-Person faceting classes currently on sale at www.facetingapprentice.com. Sale ends at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve !
1 month ago | [YT] | 7
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Justin K Prim
Merry Christmas everyone
1 month ago | [YT] | 70
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Justin K Prim
In order to help raise funds for our renovation project, we’re having a holiday sale at www.facetingapprentice.com. All English and French One Day Workshops in Lyon are $100 off and all online courses are 20% off with the coupon code. Also if you want to donate to our renovation project, we can take funds via Wise (@magus5) or PayPal (www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/W9YUVU4GW2976). Buying books and gems from magusgems.com is also a big help. Renovation is expensive! Thanks everyone and happy holidays.
1 month ago | [YT] | 18
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