Buying a Faceting Machine

You Produce the Final Product, Not the Machine

Over the years, I’ve bought for economy, looks, and, finally, what I consider technical excellence. You can get a lot of “bells and whistles” when you buy a faceting machine. However, one thing I’ve learned well is that, ultimately, it’s the person, not the machine, that controls the final product — a beautiful gemstone.

A good cutter can do a good job on almost any machine. A poor cutter will probably never do a good job, even on the best machines. As a judge for faceting competitions, I’ve seen proof of this many times. Remember, the machine “assists.” It doesn’t produce the final product. You do.

For many years, I demonstrated cutting at gem shows, including the big one at Tucson. I’ve had the opportunity to demonstrate and explain the operation of many faceting machines on the market today, as well as some now long gone. I always tried to match the machine to the person, taking into account their knowledge, experience, and skills. Many times I was able to let the person try out a machine. I also considered their ability to comfortably afford the product.

Ask Yourself These Questions

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