From Childhood Curiosity to Professional Gemcutter: My Journey Through the World of Gemstones
If you’ve recently discovered Magus Gems, welcome.
I thought this would be a good opportunity to share a little about who I am, how I became a professional gemcutter, and the winding path that eventually led me to build Magus Gems here in Lyon, France.
Discovering Gemstones
My love for gemstones began long before I ever touched a faceting machine.
I grew up in a region with a rich history of gem cutting. While the industry had largely faded by the time I was born, its legacy remained through local museums, collections, and stories that fascinated me as a child.
At first, my interest was focused on minerals and crystals. Like many collectors, I spent countless hours admiring specimens and adding new pieces to my collection whenever I could.
Those museums often displayed antique gem-cutting equipment. To be honest, I barely noticed it.
That changed when my mother took me to a live gem-cutting demonstration. I must have been around ten or eleven years old. Watching a rough stone slowly transform into a gemstone was mesmerizing. In that moment, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.
I wanted to become a lapidary.
Beginning a Career at Fourteen
At fourteen years old, shortly after middle school, I was fortunate enough to enter a three-year gem-cutting apprenticeship program in Geneva, Switzerland.
The training was intensive and highly specialized. By the time I was eighteen, I had already graduated and was working professionally as a gemcutter.
Looking back, it was an unusual path for someone so young, but I knew I had found the profession I wanted to dedicate myself to.
Today, almost 20 years later, I still feel incredibly fortunate to do this work every day.
Expanding Into Gemology
After completing my apprenticeship, I moved to Australia with the goal of improving my English and eventually pursuing further gemological studies with GIA.
Life had other plans.
While Australia was an incredible experience, my language progress wasn’t quite what I had hoped. Rather than forcing a path that wasn’t working, I adapted and decided to pursue the FGA diploma through Gem-A in French, studying in Canada.
That decision opened a completely new chapter of my career.
Gemology gave me a deeper understanding of gemstones, their formation, identification, treatments, and origins, and complemented my practical cutting experience perfectly.
Working in Geneva
After earning my gemology diploma, I returned to Geneva and spent another two years working in the gem-cutting workshop where I had trained.
I now had both gem-cutting and gemological qualifications, but I found myself wanting something more.
I wanted to explore opportunities beyond traditional manufacturing and see where the broader gem industry might lead.
At twenty-one years old, I realized I would need to look beyond Switzerland if I wanted to continue growing professionally.
An Unexpected Opportunity at GIA Bangkok
The turning point came after attending a gemological conference in Paris.
There, I met Vincent Pardieu and sent him my résumé, hoping to participate in one of his famous field expeditions.
What I didn’t know was that the GIA laboratory in Bangkok was looking for a gemcutter to join its research team.
A few months later, after obtaining my visa, I was on my way to Thailand.
Working at GIA Bangkok was an extraordinary experience. I spent three years assisting the research department, preparing samples, working alongside some of the industry’s leading gemologists, and visiting mining areas around de world.
It exposed me to gemstones from all over the world and gave me insights that few gemcutters ever have the opportunity to experience.
Building a Laboratory in Bahrain
After three years at GIA Bangkok, another opportunity appeared.
I joined the project to help establish a new gemological laboratory in Bahrain called DANAT.
It was an exciting challenge and a major professional step forward.
It was also during this period that I met my husband, Justin.
Those years were intense. We spent much of our time traveling back and forth between Bahrain and Bangkok while pursuing our respective careers in the gem industry.
The Pandemic and a New Beginning
After Bahrain, I hoped to continue my career in gemological laboratories.
Then the pandemic arrived.
Justin lost his position as a gem-cutting instructor with very little warning.
Like many people during that period, we suddenly found ourselves facing a great deal of uncertainty.
With few alternatives available, we decided to create our own business.
Looking back, it was one of the best decisions we ever made.
Creating Our Own Company
While much of the world was shutting down, we completed the paperwork and officially launched our company in Thailand.
What began as a necessity quickly turned into an opportunity.
Demand for gemstones remained strong. We sold many stones, continued building relationships with clients around the world, and developed new projects.
During this same period, Justin published his first book "The Secrets Teachings Of Gemcutting", which became a tremendous success within the gem-cutting community.
The challenges of the pandemic unexpectedly became the foundation for everything that followed.
Choosing France
After two years of lockdowns and restrictions, we decided to leave Thailand for a while.
Our original plan was simple: travel, visit family and friends, and eventually return.
Over six months, we traveled through France, Canada, and the United States.
What surprised us was that we didn’t miss Thailand nearly as much as we expected.
Instead, we found ourselves imagining a future elsewhere.
Eventually, we chose to settle in France.
Building Magus Gems
Today, we are based in Lyon, France.
Through Magus Gems, I cut gemstones for my inventory, perform recutting and repair work for jewelers and gemstone dealers, and continue pursuing my passion for exceptional gemstones.
Every stone I cut represents the combination of nearly two decades of practical experience, gemological training, and lessons learned from working across multiple countries and sectors of the gem trade.
What began as a childhood fascination has become a lifelong career.
Sharing Knowledge Through Education
Education has always been an important part of our work.
Justin now runs Faceting Apprentice, a gem-cutting school offering both in-person and online training for aspiring lapidaries around the world.
Together, we also continue to publish educational material, including The Historic Teachings of Gemcutting, a book dedicated to preserving and sharing historical gem-cutting knowledge.
Passing knowledge to the next generation feels just as important as cutting gemstones ourselves.
Looking Back
If someone had told the eleven-year-old girl standing in front of that live gem-cutting demonstration that one day she would:
- Become a professional lapidary,
- Earn a gemology diploma,
- Work for GIA in Bangkok,
- Help establish a laboratory in Bahrain,
- Travel the world through the gem trade,
- Publish books,
- Open her own business,
- Build a life around gemstones,
- and get married to another gemcutter.
I never would have believed them.
Being an entrepreneur isn’t always easy.
Neither is building a career in a niche industry.
But passion, persistence, and a willingness to embrace unexpected opportunities can take you further than you might imagine.
And for me, it all started with a single gem-cutting demonstration.
About the Author
Victoria Raynaud is a professional lapidary and FGA gemologist with more than 19 years of experience cutting gemstones. Based in Lyon, France, she specializes in precision gemstone cutting, recutting, and gemstone restoration. Through Magus Gems, she offers carefully selected gemstones, custom lapidary services, and educational content for collectors, jewelers, and gem enthusiasts worldwide.