What is Lapidary? A Beginner's Guide to Cutting Gemstones
You've probably admired a beautifully polished gemstone set in a piece of jewelry, but have you ever wondered how that stone went from a rough, unassuming rock to a gleaming cabochon? That's lapidary, and it's one of the most satisfying skills you can learn as a jewelry-maker.
What is Lapidary?
Lapidary is the art of cutting, shaping, and polishing rough stones into finished gemstones. The most common form taught in jewelry schools is cabochon cutting, creating smooth, domed stones (called "cabs," pronounced cab-uh-shon) that can be set into rings, pendants, earrings, and more.
What Stones Can You Cut?
Almost any stone can be cut into a cabochon, but beginners typically start with softer, more forgiving materials like turquoise, jasper, agate, and obsidian. As your skills develop, you can work with harder stones like labradorite, moonstone, and even opal.
What Equipment is Used?
Lapidary uses specialized equipment: trim saws to slice rough stone into slabs, grinding wheels to shape the cab, and polishing wheels to bring out the stone's natural luster. It's a wet process, meaning water is used throughout to keep the stone cool and reduce dust.
Do I Need Experience?
Not at all. Our Intro to Lapidary class is designed for complete beginners. You'll have full access to all the lapidary equipment in our studio during class. You can bring your own rocks (apple-sized or smaller) or choose from our selection. By the end of class, you'll take home one or two finished cabochons ready to set in jewelry.
How Does Lapidary Connect to Jewelry-Making?
Lapidary and metalsmithing (silversmithing) are natural partners. Once you've cut your own stone, you can set it in a handmade sterling silver bezel, which is exactly what our Combo Lapidary and Metalsmithing (silversmithing) class teaches. There's something uniquely satisfying about wearing a piece of jewelry that you made from scratch.
Ready to try it? Check out our lapidary classes and start your stone-cutting journey.
