New Year

58-ct-rb-concave-flat-golden-beryl-11-081

5.8ct RB Golden Beryl, Concave & Flat facets

I am starting the Toveco blog as an extension of the Toveco Web site. The future blogs will be tailored to give interested mineral & lapidary people an entertaining & informative opinions about the Toveco crew endeavors. The blog topics follow the Toveco season. We wear a lot of work hats thru out the season. Below will give you an idea as what we will be blogging about.
January to early April, inventory, lapidary, sales work. Jewelry design and fabrication.
April to October, Mining, mineral & gem prep, sales shows.
October to December, gem rough sorting & mineral prep, Lapidary, jewelry design and fabrication.

So at this time of year the crew and I are gem & cabochon cutting. The Lapidary arts has become a major part of the hobby for us and physiologically important to us. Because working a New Hampshire pegmatite only about 10% of the specimens survive the extraction experience. So when a gem crystal is broken we now see & think about the future gem stones or cabochon not the bagged up mineral specimen.

I have recommended many times taking a gem cutting class. This training will do you no harm. Moreover, it could add another very enjoyable addition to your hobby. So if interested this is where to start.
Your locale mineral or lapidary club is the place to go too. As for me, the Concord Mineral Club, NH has two very good instructors (Bill Brown, Raymond NH & Howard Ewing, Nashua NH.). I have taken classes from both.
Is gem cutting for me?
You will be able to determine that quickly during your first class. However, if gem cutting does  not click try not to blow off the first experience. Try to cut at least one stone. By doing so you will obtain some basic gemstone & gem rough knowledge that will make you a better collector. Like finding out what gem really is.
Well that’s it for now
Later
Jim

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