Justin K Prim

Yesterday a dream came true when we got to visit the Taillerie de Royat. This is a huge Gemcutting workshop and sales office that was founded in 1899 and catered to the affluent visitors of the local thermal spa. The workshop cut its last stone in the early 1990s and completely closed in 2004. Many of the the old machines are still there, as we discovered yesterday.

I have been researching the Taillerie and collecting memorabilia for several years, so it was incredible to be able to freely walk around for two hours and open all the drawers and discover all the secrets that remain inside. There is so much!! Half of a floor was the gemcutting workshop; 4 large grinding wheels in the style of Idar Oberstein, a long 20 person faceting bench, tools for jewelry, engraving, and so much more.

I didn’t take many photos because I shot a lot of video for an upcoming YouTube film about the Minerals of Auvergne with a big section about the Taillerie. Stay tuned! Thanks so much to Alexandra Geologic Garden for getting access and for taking half of these photos and thanks to Léa De Voyage En Canap’ 🌞 for being our guide.

Ps. The last photo is a giant pile of rough!

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5 hours ago | [YT] | 16

Justin K Prim

Here’s another new stone that’s going in the 3rd edition of The Secret Teachings of Gemcutting. The book contains 50 essential designs that are widely used in the gemstone trade today. One section of the book is rose cuts and another is a selection of historical designs. This design falls into both categories.

This design is called the V-Cut Rose and it’s an historical rose cut. I cut it from a beautiful teal Peruvian opal rough that I received as a birthday present from @bello_gems . Now it will forever be immortalized in the photo for the book.

If you don’t already have a copy of The Secret Teachings of Gemcutting, you can preorder one now. The book is absolutely essential to any gemcutter’s library. www.magusgems.com/products/the-secret-teachings-of…

2 days ago | [YT] | 35

Justin K Prim

One of the updates that’s we’ve made in the third edition of The Secret Teachings of Gemcutting is replacing all of the rendered images in previous editions with actual photos of actual stones. I cut this amethyst a few weeks ago for the historical design section and WOW was it challenging!

This and 49 other classic designs are in the book. You can preorder now at www.magusgems.com/products/the-secret-teachings-of…

4 days ago | [YT] | 72

Justin K Prim

The day many of you have been waiting for has finally come! The third edition of The Secret Teachings of Gemcutting is finally available for preorder!

The now classic gemcutting book has been thoroughly revised and updated. Every section is presented in both English and French, making this the first bilingual edition of the book.

In addition to numerous corrections and refinements, all of the cutting design renders have been improved, six gemstone photographs have been completely reshot, and the book features a brand new cover design.

This is the most polished and complete edition of The Secret Teachings of Gemcutting published to date and will be shipped in a hardcover edition from France in mid-October and is expected to arrive at your door around Halloween (October 31).

www.magusgems.com/products/the-secret-teachings-of…

6 days ago | [YT] | 70

Justin K Prim

We launched a brand new one day class today. If you’re curious about learning or just trying faceting in a Jambpeg, check out the details here; www.facetingapprentice.com/pages/jambpegcutting

1 month ago | [YT] | 24

Justin K Prim

Over the last couple days, I’ve been cutting a few test stones for a new in-person class that we will be announcing soon… a one week Jambpeg class 😲 Would you be interested in coming to Lyon for a week and learning a traditional technique for faceting stones??

1 month ago | [YT] | 74

Justin K Prim

It’s been over a year since I restored and modified this 100 year old faceting bench and I’m still completely in love with it. Every time I see it, it makes me want to sit down and cut a stone. I’ve just added a few upgrades: a magnetic phone holder on the right leg and two extra vintage drawers to holds extra tools and stones. I’ve got a big upgrade to my Jambpeg coming in a few weeks, but more on that later…

2 months ago | [YT] | 91

Justin K Prim

Thank you to the US Faceters Guild for sponsoring the Museum of Faceting Technology. They came in at the 11th hour, when we were discovering that we needed to invest a lot more money on the shelf lighting, and we’re so thankful.

If you’re a gemcutter and you don’t know the USFG, you should! Their organization does so much to promote the art and hobby of faceting, from throwing multi-day symposiums in Tucson and Franklin, to hosting faceting competitions, to publishing a newsletter, and much more. Check them out at www.usfacetersguild.org/ and become a member. Also, check out the USFG Facebook forum, which is one of the best.

2 months ago | [YT] | 37

Justin K Prim

National Jeweler just published a great article about the state of American gemcutting that features Jenna Sloane, Nadine Marshall, and I talking about cutting. Thanks so much to Lauren Mclemore for writing it.

nationaljeweler.com/articles/14968-state-of-colore…

2 months ago | [YT] | 45

Justin K Prim

Tomorrow, I’m filming my first video in the new faceting museum environment. I’ll be unboxing a brand new faceting machine, but which one will it be ????

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 45