UNITED STATES FACTORS GUILD NEWSLETTER VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1, MARCH 2016 UNITED STATES FACETORS GUILD NEWSLETTER 1 UNITED STATES FACTORS GUILD NEWSLETTER VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1, MARCH 2016 ........................................................................................................................ 3 ...................................................................................................................... 4 .............................................................................................................. 5 ...................................................................................................................................... 6 .................................................................................................................. 6 .................................................................................................................................... 12 ........................................................................................................................................ 13 .......................................................................................................... 16 .................................................................................................... 18 ..................................................................................................................................... 21 ....................................................................................................................................... 24 ...................................................................................................................................................... 24 .................................................................................................................................................. 36 ..................................................................................................................... 45 .......................................................................................................................... 46 .................................................................................................... 48 ..................................................................................................................................................... 59 ............................................................................................................................................. 60 .................................................................................................................................... 62 .................................................................................................................. 63 ............................................................................................................ 64 ....................................................................................................................................... 64 ......................................................................................................... 65 2 UNITED STATES FACTORS GUILD NEWSLETTER VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1, MARCH 2016 USFG welcomes all new members! Adams, John, TX Bryan Gilles, NV Ian Orrell, AU Lloyd Addie, BC James Grace, WA William Phaklides, CA Elizabeth Allen, OK Karl Granzow, OR Mark Rampel, NC Quatian Allen, GA Robert Greenway, TX Fred Robb, ID Mikko Astrom, Finland Larry Hager, TX William Rodgers, SC Robert Asumendi, OR Jeff Hapeman, PA Johnny Roe, TX Robin Ballard, AZ Lita Hardy, SC Miriam Rogers, NC Carl Barthuly, MT Robert Hatfield, OH Gregory Rohde, TX Robert Bendelow, NC Kathy Howie, NC Bruno Ronsmans, Belgium Nola Bogie, ONT Dan Hunter, TX Gregory Russell, NC Ray Brandon, AZ Karen Isley, OR Richard Russell, WA Gary Braun, GA Lorraine Johnston, MD Don Sabie, AR Corey Brenner. ID Erik Jones, CA David Siemer, KY Roger Bright, AZ Scott Kelley, MI Melissa Smith, ONT Richard Brooker, WA Carl Kerstann, FL Sean Smokovich, CA Julie Callahan, UT Patrick Kleinkort, FL Christa Starr, CA Alan Charlton, UK Michael Knuth, TX Gjeret Stein, WI Steve Clay, AZ David Landry, MT Keith Stone, AR Samuel Coxson, NC William Lawrence, AU Henry Swan, TX Ron Davis, IA Nico le Roux, So. Korea Joseph Thompson, WA John DeMain, NC Kim Lembke, AU Katherine Tokar, NJ Tom Dershem, PA John McNamara, FL Joseph Trusso, NY Laurence Dodd. AU Jessica Markwell, AU Marie Tsacrios, NC Peter Eddy, GA Marek Mikolaj, Slovakia Catherine von Schroeder, GA Alex Edwards, NC Knut Moltu, , Norway Bill Wax, AZ Wayne Emery, IA Cleveland Murphy, FL Robert Wenning, AZ Beau Ewing, CA Jeff O’Malley, TX Dave Wester, WA George Fairclough, BC Helen Newman, WA Phillip Woods, MD Rose Galante, OR Carmina Orilla, CA Roger Wyatt, AZ Doug George, OR Dan Owens, VA Ben Yost, MI Jason Gieswein, TX Joe R. Navarro, CA Guillermo Glavis, CA Chris Nye, NH 3 UNITED STATES FACTORS GUILD NEWSLETTER VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1, MARCH 2016 Tom Maxwell First, I want to thank Will Smith for his due to the magnitude of the website leadership as our President for the past project, the SSC, and other interruptions. two years. As your new president, I look There are many things that we can do to forward to continuing on the path that has grow our organization but we need some been laid out, but it will be difficult to fill help to spread the work. his shoes. Our Constitution lists our purposes as (1) Second, I need to express my appreciation to promote the art, skill, and teaching of to Sue Lichtenberger and Jenny Clark for faceting; (2) to expand the knowledge of their hard work in handling the large natural and laboratory-made crystals; (3) number of new members and renewals as to develop and promote uniform rules for a result of the new website. We have had faceting competitions within the US and many positive comments on this long among other countries; (4) to sponsor or overdue project. Another big thank you to assist in managing competitions; and (5) Robert Asmundi and his team at RKA to serve as a national repository and Studio. Also, to Mark Oros, our new clearing house for faceting designs, newsletter editor, who has done an published materials, and general outstanding job taking the reins from information for faceters everywhere. Howard Bromeley. This is a big responsibility and we have The USFG-Tucson Faceters Frolic was accomplished a lot in the past two years another successful event. See the full under the leadership of Will Smith, the write-up in a separate report. officers, and board of directors. That being said, there is still much to do and it I would encourage everyone to consider takes time to achieve these goals. entering the 2016 SSC. A lot of time and Volunteers are needed to help the USFG effort was put into the new designs, most achieve these goals. If you are interested notably, the relaxing of the size tolerance in volunteering your time or talents, for the novice stone in an effort to attract please contact me or one of the other more entries. Entrants will receive a officers and let us know what areas you detailed evaluation of their stone that will would like to help out with. help improve their everyday cutting skills. Tom Maxwell Next comes projects for the coming year. President A number of committees were established [email protected] last year, but not much was accomplished 4 UNITED STATES FACTORS GUILD NEWSLETTER VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1, MARCH 2016 B. Diane Eames, GG May I introduce myself, Diane Eames, the between the jewelry industry and the new Vice-President. hobbyist cutters. Most jewelers are unaware there are gem cutters all around Way back in 1984, I got a job in a them. My training in gem cutting came wholesale fine jewelry showroom in The from the hobbyist cutters primarily, as World Trade Center in Dallas, TX. I this training is not offered in the jewelry loved the diamonds, but it didn’t take industry, which is odd. long for the colored gems to become my favorites. Since then, I’ve also worked So, why is a production cutter now an retail and corporate jewelry stores, and in officer in an organization that stresses a mom and pop store. After completing technical perfection in gem cutting, my Graduate Gemologist degree in 1999, through their competitions? Maybe it is to I spent some years appraising gems and bring the cutters and jewelers of America jewelry. Moving to Mason, TX, home of together for mutual benefit, or maybe I the Texas state gem, topaz, in 2005, got was the next person on the list. me into gem faceting. I do not know if I am the only classically trained fine Y’all will let me know what you want. jeweler to professionally cut gems, but I haven’t met another one yet. B. Diane Eames, GG Gems of the Hill Country Now that most of my work is gem cutting, Graduate Gemologist as I still work as a fine jeweler and (GIA) gemologist, it seems I sit on the fence Ingram, Texas 5 UNITED STATES FACTORS GUILD NEWSLETTER VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1, MARCH 2016 Please do not be shy. We would like to hear about your faceting journey, latest accomplishments, or why you have this passion for faceting. Please contact our Editor and let him know that you would like to participate in our quarterly member profile. We are ready to help you with telling your story, editing, and photography. Please send an email introduction to [email protected]. Larry Mattos and I really didn't have time to cut anymore. I was 12 years old in 1970 when I attended my Besides, how many belt buckles and bolo's can first lapidary class with my grandmother. We one