Resources for the Professional Lapidary

Gem pricing isn’t easy, and guidelines aren’t always fixed. Learn what factors gem cutters should consider to determine a fair price for their…

In a recent interview, Jeffery Bergman talks about his decades-long career as a sapphire expert and connoisseur and offers his advice for beginners.…

Curious about natural pearls? Hear what pearl expert Jim Grahl has to say about natural pearls and pearl jewelry design, plus his tips for pearl…

Richard Hughes has been a leading ruby expert for decades. Learn how he got started and his tips for newcomers to the world of rubies.

Opal expert Joel Ragan has worked with these gems for 45 years. Learn how he got started and his top tips for cutting opals and designing opal jewelry.…

Can you tell if gem rough is too expensive? Learn how to estimate rough gemstone value by considering your gem yield and the prices for your faceted…

What does it take to succeed at cutting and selling gemstones? Jeff Graham offers newcomers some advice on treating faceting like a business.

How much and how fast do you have to work if you want to make a living cutting gems? Jeff Graham has some advice for those who want to enter the business.…

Starting a jewelry business takes a lot of planning. Answer these questions about your inventory and services now and save yourself time and money…

Looking to sell in the niche market of rare and collectible gemstones? A good strategy for marketing and selling rare gemstones will put you in touch…

Selling lab-created cut gems can be quite difficult. Learn what makes this market hard to crack and the best ways to make money cutting synthetic…

How can a custom gem faceter compete with commercial cutting houses? Learn how cut stone sizes, gem quality, and expert cutting can make a difference.…

Showcase the amazing inclusions in minerals like rutilated quartz in a gemstone pendulum design. Learn how to facet these gems into stunning jewelry…

Back in 2000, The US Faceters Guild sent the following note to its members regarding mailing gems for competition. Since this information may also…

What can you learn about gem and jewelry marketing from other businesses? Tracking your inventory and requests for what you don’t stock is a start.…

Your prized gemstones deserve custom faceting. Learn the benefits of working with precision faceters and tips for starting your own jewelry project.…

The faceting process turns rough stones into finished gems. Learn the steps custom faceters take to create unique gemstones that tell a client’s…

Today’s custom gem cutters use faceting equipment for precision work and design inspiration. Take a look at the toolkit of the new lapidary renaissance.…

In the gem design stage of jewelry making, faceters evaluate a stone’s qualities. Learn how to choose a cut for a gemstone as unique as your personal…

A precision faceter can turn a rough stone into a story gemstone as unique as each client. Choosing the right rough is the first step in the design…

Follow these simple formulas for effective advertising. Engage your customers and translate the features of your gems and jewelry into appealing…

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions and thoughts on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See what a “master faceter” is in Just Ask Jeff: What is a Master?…

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions and thoughts on various topics on Just Ask Jeff. Figuring rough cost on Just Ask Jeff: How do I figure rough cost?…

Jeff R Graham, “Just Ask Jeff” talks about what is up with manufacturers’ declining business and the effects it causes like the lack of product support.…

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions on the gem rough market. Read more on some very important perspective to be aware of on the gem industry.

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions on various topics on Just Ask Jeff. See what his answers are to How does the supply of gemstones and rough actually…

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions and thoughts on topics on Just Ask Jeff. See what he does to succeed in the Gemstone Business: Invest and Cut.

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See his answers to Why is some rough stone like Topaz the same cost of cut stones?…

Just Ask Jeff: Carats vs. Grams? Which is best? Most people can count and are not going to pay more for a stone just because it is weighed in carats.…

Jeff R Graham on selling stones in Just Ask Jeff. See his take on I sold a stone to a jeweler and later found out he made a killing on it, Am I too cheap?…

Jeff R Graham share his thoughts on Just Ask Jeff. Read on to know how to be successful in the gemstone business by buying quality rough.

Jeff R Graham shares about commercial and rough stone prices. See his answers to Why does rough cost almost as much as commercially cut stones sometimes?…

Jeff R Graham share what his opinions and thoughts are on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See the basic rules for selling in this article.

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions and thoughts on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See what his opinions and answers are to What stones make money?…

The first thing you need to know is that making money faceting is not a very hard thing to do. Most people that learn to facet make some money.

Just Ask Jeff shares his frustrations on customer multiple orders and returns which is a common customer problems among rough dealers.

Jeff R. Graham shares his two cents on Dishonest People and hidden agendas” of some people that he had to have dealings with in the industry.

Jeff R Graham shares his thoughts and insights on the hassles of customer picture requests and why most dealers do not bother to send them.

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See what he has to say about The Gemstone Business – Some Stories and Observations..…

Jeff R. Graham covers the gemstone industry and says do not believe everything you hear. Just Ask Jeff shares his opinion on finding honest experts…

“Just Ask Jeff” gives his opinions and comments and detailed explanation on Buying Gemstones from shopping networks. Read on for more!

What do you need to know about starting a gem cutting business? These basic rules cover topics from buying and cutting rough to getting along with…

This covers some of the basics of the industry and developing good relationships. Read on about the basic business rules of buying rough.

Just Ask Jeff answers “Can I make money cutting that rough?”. Profit making from rough gems is an important issue for all who want to facet and make…

In South Africa, illegal mining is being put to an end with the compromise between government and big businesses.

This is a quick story about finding employment (a job) in the gem or jewelry industry. It explains why starting a store is likely not your best bet!…

A full and complete history of the lapidary arts, from 70,000 BC to present day. The origins of faceting, bruting, and carving.

A book review on “Gem Dealers Secrets”. It is always a treat to find a book that lives up to expectations and is entertaining to read. This is such a…