Preorder
We are launching the preorder of our new book in December of 2024. We anticipate the book will be ready to start shipping in the summer of 2025. Those who preorder will recieve a unique hand numbered and signed bookplate mounted on the inside cover of the book.
Sampler PDF
If you'd like to download the Sampler PDF to see what the contents of the book are like and cut one stone now, you can download it here.
About the Book
The Historic Teachings of Gemcutting is a collection of gemstone cutting designs spanning 600 years of faceting history. 50 gemstone designs are presented here with full color photos, design information, cutting advice, and historical background. This collection consists of unique designs that we hand selected from the vaults of history. The book essentially tells the story of both diamond cutting and colored stone cutting, through the evolution of cut design. Also included are many unique cuts that have been lost or forgotten by history, including a selection of designs used on stones found in the Cheapside Hoard (from 17th century London). This is a truly one of a kind collection of historic designs that can't be found anywhere else. Each design is presented in two versions; a historically accurate version and a modernized version with optimized angles and proportions for modern jewelry.
Aside from the designs, the book includes over 30 pages of historical background on the history and process of gemcutting through the ages. This section contains valuable information about the development of the mixed cut as the most important colored stone design, as well as historical technical data on the development of laps and polishing techniques, and more.
The Historic Teachings of Gemcutting will be a useful reference guide for gemcutters and jewelers who want to explore antique designs for their gem and jewelery work, patterns that have a fresh look to 21st century eyes, but with a provenance and a story to go with them. This collection offers new ideas, new challenges, and time tested designs that will pair well with both antique jewelry as well as modern jewelry looking for a vintage feel.
This book is presented in an attractive perfect bound hardcover that will sit well on lapidary and jewelry studio desks and bookshelves. The book is presented in full color on premium paper to help the images pop and transmit the unique historical qualities of each gemstone design.
Back Story
This book is the culmination of over seven years of intensive research. Since 2017, I've travelled all over Europe, North America, and Asia to meet gemcutters, learn their techniques, document their stories, study their unique faceting technology, and internalize all of this data so that I could make a comprehensive and comparative study of faceting techniques from around the world.
This book is the second tangible expression of this massive undertaking (and the sequel to the 2021 book, The Secret Teachings of Gemcutting). Over many years and many miles, I've discovered, documented, and diagrammed these designs from museums, collections, and old books and documents, and I now present them in a concise and attractive volume.