Megan D / is on Nostr

Hobby gemcutter, using Pixelfed to document my learning journey

Last Notes

2024-07-16 15:30:03

A video of the lab #sapphire moving from fluorescent light (blue) to LED (pink) and back. Please see my other post for still photos and stone details.
#lapidary #gemcutting #faceting
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/3781ba7d4-1bb9dc/ve0X3cYcNQve/evlRkBmFew4UYFUJe00Ag9GYys5LoTBlZZuTnSPf.mp4

2024-07-16 15:30:03

2024-03-18 12:30:02

I just faceted a Jolly Rancher!
Okay not really... it's just #nanosital, a synthetic material that comes in really fun colors like this "kryptonite" piece.
Spinny video will be in the next post due to Pixelfed currently not allowing both formats in the same post.
Design is Green Lion by Scott Laborie, 12.0 ct, 19.6 x 12.7 mm
#faceting #lapidary #gemcutting
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/062ac74bd-fb82c6/vcikiC8CTeZu/VjhNstpTdUne1jV79e0UFJpINTomW3YpbnIhSllV.jpg
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/062ac74bd-fb82c6/xu0Bt9f2grnH/svwEZxXe8xvX151lzzh5UEPJKTiPUexlKQIDSlYq.jpg

2024-03-09 14:48:48

March is the perfect month to cut my first #aquamarine and this one turned out really neat! I added frosted facets to the edges on the pavilion (aka bottom of stone, see third pic) to create the snowflake-like appearance when seen from the top. This is probably my first stone that is better shown with still photos instead of a video.
5.940 ct, 10.78mm
Design is Sparkle Six by Wayne Emery (with added frosted facets)
#faceting #gemcutting #lapidary
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/062ac74bd-fb82c6/t7Hx4wWAorMw/WUvM3aydw4lmbsqO8IyB35Ya0Z4iO8oIkSQnsOzG.jpg
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/062ac74bd-fb82c6/Qv2Kdgh36rjz/y34UbdkrOi327wENykrCLh1tc8NrH0Z9oGRLKv5i.jpg
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/062ac74bd-fb82c6/vAERQ0rpM3Fd/J6F3zMxoFN5XRUGY1ptzLJiMuJ4K2QWXldPvEImE.jpg
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/062ac74bd-fb82c6/AVjuAeUMKE94/rnLAJPsecTM5xAwJGZAn3wVPrsMyL42gkvdJ9MpC.jpg

2024-02-14 13:56:56

I've cut another stone! This design is called the Smith Bar (AKA pixel cut or Minecraft Creeper cut) and is much easier than it looks like it should be. The material is #amethyst, but I really want to cut it in something green next.
4.585 ct, 11.7 x 7.6 mm #lapidary #gemcutting #faceting
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/7c649620b-69b6c5/CPZETVsV1M0l/d1szyUXOlrniLI3IqKaobECHkplcrIqPy61xCIH8.mp4

2024-02-10 14:42:11

I finished cutting a lab #sapphire a couple of days ago. Red sapphire is also known as #ruby. This design was a little bit above my skill level, but I am overall happy with my final results and enjoyed the experience I gained from trying it.
7.7 cts, 12 x 9.3 mm, synthetic corundum
#gemcutting #lapidary #faceting
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/7c649620b-69b6c5/ziUoDvfupAfR/UVBGOEBG3mB3tqqzA07TBcpKVwXccsBD2SxNLWpS.mp4

2023-12-18 14:06:53

I hope someday pixelfed will let us include photos and videos in the same post - please see my other post for a video of the stone rotating 360 degrees and backstory.
The photos in this post are
1) A still photo of my faceted #amethyst
2) A photo of the material immediately before I began #faceting it
3) An example of other "low quality" amethysts that came in the bag that I believe I can facet (silver lines are sharpie drawn by me)
https://pxlmo.com/storage/m/_v2/582936355642345081/bc40e5d2a-3c51e6/gLycJDBOJQRE/3aLbXND9mqOLRKCwxIjIVjB5jvMsjLAB8gqrCdQW.jpg
https://pxlmo.com/storage/m/_v2/582936355642345081/bc40e5d2a-3c51e6/fTTWJ6ItUE8d/7rvMuUyBPWjsiApVIw9pmDqMDDdNFwJPM2XBnM4Y.jpg
https://pxlmo.com/storage/m/_v2/582936355642345081/bc40e5d2a-3c51e6/hxClujH2TGG2/RclAuneReFYYDpi9rAtrYv7q9WnzMcreQmSKhSGt.jpg

2023-12-18 14:06:53

2023-12-07 15:15:20

I think it's also important to own mistakes when they're made.
This is a 0.335 carat fire opal. While #gemcutting it broke free of the dop, causing several small chips and ruining my alignment. Luckily it's SO tiny you can't actually see how terrible my alignment is!
It was a good learning experience and I really love working with fire opal, it's such a beautiful hue.
#lapidary #faceting
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/bc40e5d2a-3c51e6/LTfRexlIrwVw/Uz6bwttjHiEZkCJxXt8LLpkrElWA0lq3Rluw9bjH.jpg

2023-12-05 18:04:41

I've been asked for a photo with something to scale to appreciate the size of the cubic zirconia I #faceted. Here it is against my hand. Too big for a ring? 🤔
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/bc40e5d2a-3c51e6/1pMwNWJIMkzb/7sm9CKtHK2KyfIXpMjLYNxNsF3AHMStHyXiLHz8F.jpg

2023-12-04 15:16:06

I cut my first cubic zirconia! This stone is my biggest yet, 14.13 carats. #gemcutting #lapidary
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/bc40e5d2a-3c51e6/9PcOcZUogtM3/BJnAntnrjl1aOaFLuULne4a5siy2MJNC8q82e9A4.mp4

2023-10-25 15:23:50

I cut my first #sapphire and WOW!! I definitely picked the right type of cut to make it sparkle! I'm also extremely happy with my facet precision, this is definitely a stone I'm proud to say I made.
#lapidary #gemstones
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/f1538e3aa-7b3151/bx3KCsCjoks9/SUOypbUGjWXL25qcsn5Y0X4Y8znVng5NE3vxkgCc.mp4

2023-10-15 13:05:32

I cut my first peridot! This one is 2.795 cts and I'm quite happy with my facets, although my girdle could use some slimming down according to my mentor 🤣. #lapidary #gemstones
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/f1538e3aa-7b3151/bse4kkWWL2Vj/a7q2GKRnbxB0uAOprKxn4GlEm3hOaJTU9QWr6jxA.mp4

2023-10-13 14:05:02

This is a rutilated quartz. I am actually not very happy with my cutting of this stone, my meetpoints were not very accurate and I accidentally knocked it off the dop once, making my alignment slightly off.
#lapidary #gemstones
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/f1538e3aa-7b3151/fCYDMNPk5lVk/gckdB3V9sprKDkeKQcs2Jh0GFKeAWf255XuX9APr.mp4

2023-10-04 14:00:55

I am learning to cut #gemstones and this is my first stone, a heavily included garnet. #lapidary
https://assets.pxlmo.com/public/m/_v2/582936355642345081/f1538e3aa-7b3151/E0nNLP0Jhuct/D2rbTVg23TrhR4EEFzE1AAY2u1P2tg8ZnWYG7FOs.mp4

2023-10-04 14:00:55