From Gifted Rough to Finished Gem: Hand-Faceting a Brazilian Amethyst

Every gemstone has its own story, and this one is particularly special to me.

The amethyst featured in this project was one of three rough crystals generously gifted to me by Steve Moriarty of More Gems after I purchased my Ultra Tec VL Classic Analog faceting machine through him. It was a thoughtful gesture that I genuinely appreciated, and I wanted to honour that generosity by transforming one of those crystals into a finished gemstone worthy of its origin.

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Watch the Complete Workshop

This article follows the entire workshop exactly as it appears in the video, from the original rough crystal to the finished gemstone.

The Rough Crystal

The original Brazilian amethyst weighed approximately 28 carats.

Like many natural crystals, it offered several possibilities but no obvious solution. Before any cutting began, I spent time studying the crystal and deciding how to orient it in order to preserve the richest colour while achieving a balanced finished gemstone.

Every decision made at this stage would influence the final result.

Creating the Preform

The first stage was shaping the rough.

Using a 320-grit diamond lap mounted on the master lap, I removed excess material and created the basic outline of the future gemstone.

Once the overall shape had been established, I switched to a 500-grit lap, refining the preform and bringing it much closer to its final geometry before any actual faceting began.

Although this part of the process removes material quickly, it also lays the foundation for everything that follows.

Cutting the Pavilion

With the preform complete, it was time to begin faceting.

The pavilion was cut using a 600-grit diamond lap, where every facet was carefully established and brought to its correct meet points.

After all pavilion facets had been completed, the entire pavilion was recut using a 3,000-grit diamond lap.

This stage removes the deeper cutting marks left by the coarser lap while preparing every surface for polishing.

Only after every pavilion facet had been finished at 3,000 grit did I begin the final polish.

For polishing, I used cerium oxide on a Darkside lap, gradually bringing each individual facet to a bright, mirror-like finish.

Only when the pavilion had been completely polished did I move on to the next stage.

The Transfer

The gemstone was then transferred so work could begin on the crown.

A precise transfer is essential in faceting.

Any small inaccuracy at this point would affect the symmetry of the finished gemstone, so I always take my time during this stage before continuing.

Cutting the Crown

The crown followed exactly the same workflow as the pavilion.

The facets were first cut using the 600-grit lap.

Once every facet met correctly, the entire crown was refined again on the 3,000-grit lap, removing every remaining cutting mark.

Finally, every crown facet was polished individually using cerium oxide on the Darkside lap, producing the final surface finish and allowing the gemstone’s colour and brilliance to fully emerge.

Working through exactly the same sequence on both halves of the gemstone helps maintain consistency throughout the entire project.

The Finished Gem

After many hours of careful work, the original 28-carat rough crystal had become a finished gemstone weighing 5.50 carats.

Like every faceting project, there is a balance between preserving weight and achieving the best possible optical performance.

For me, beauty always comes first.

This gemstone will always remain special because every time I look at it, I remember how the project began—with an unexpected gift from Steve Moriarty and the opportunity to transform a rough crystal into something lasting.

Final Thoughts

One of the reasons I enjoy faceting so much is that every crystal presents a completely different challenge.

No two pieces of rough behave exactly the same.

Every finished gemstone represents hundreds of individual decisions, each one influencing the final result.

This amethyst is more than simply another finished stone.

It is a reminder of how generosity, craftsmanship and patience can come together to create something beautiful.

Workshop Note

The accompanying workshop video was recorded live during the faceting process and is narrated in Romanian, my native language. The transformation itself is primarily visual, while this article provides the complete story and technical context in English. YouTube subtitles and automatic translation may be available depending on your settings.