01 · Faceting machines
A faceting machine is a precision bench tool used to grind flat, angled facets onto a mounted gemstone preform. Machines in common use share a small number of functional parts: a motor-driven horizontal lap plate, a vertical mast supporting a movable quill, an angle-setting mechanism at the quill's base, and an index wheel that controls rotational position.
Machines are typically classified by mast rigidity, stated spindle run-out, and angle resolution. Mast assemblies are either rigid (a single machined column) or flexible (a jointed arm); rigid masts are standard in the mid-range and above.
Angle mechanisms may be analog (detent with vernier) or digital (encoder with numeric readout). Index wheels are most commonly 96-tooth in North American practice; 64-, 80-, and 120-tooth wheels are used for specific cut designs.
Machines vary in price from approximately USD 2,000 for entry-level units to USD 12,000 for connoisseur-grade systems. Manufacturers represented in the catalog include Ultra Tec, Facetron, Polymetric, Mirage, and Gemmasta.
02 · Laps and polishing plates
A lap is a rotating disc mounted to the horizontal spindle of a faceting machine, against which the gem preform is held at a controlled angle. Laps are classified by bond, grit, and substrate; together these determine the stage of cutting for which a given lap is appropriate.
Cutting laps are typically diamond-charged sintered or plated discs in grits from 60 to 3,000 mesh. Pre-polish laps use finer-grit diamond (8,000 to 14,000 mesh) on resin, ceramic, or composite substrates. Final polish is performed on master laps charged with cerium oxide, tin-lead alloys, or fine diamond paste.
Common commercial product lines include the BATT series of tin-bonded laps, Ultra Lap adhesive sheets for master-lap use, and a variety of Crystalite, Dynasty, and Last Lap ceramic-matrix composites. Lap diameters in common use are 6, 8, and 10 inches.
03 · Dops and transfer blocks
A dop is a short rod to which a gem preform is adhered so it can be held in a faceting machine's quill during cutting. A transfer block is an alignment fixture that holds two dops in a known geometric relationship, so the stone can be re-mounted after the pavilion is cut and the crown side is exposed.
Dop sticks are manufactured in brass, aluminum, and stainless steel. Common end geometries are flat, conical, cup, and V-groove; these accommodate different preform shapes. A typical faceting setup uses a range of dop sizes from 3 mm to 12 mm in diameter.
Dop wax, epoxy, and purpose-formulated adhesives are all in common use; the choice depends on the stone species, the cutter's temperature preference, and whether cold-dopping is required for thermally sensitive material.
04 · Rough gemstone material
Rough is the term for uncut gemstone material as it leaves the mine or lapidary dealer. Commercial rough is sorted by species, origin, weight, and, for higher grades, by cutting yield. Material is sold by parcel or by single crystal.
Origin, treatment status, and weight are typically declared by the seller and are not independently verified by this catalog. Treatment conventions vary by species; heat treatment of aquamarine and citrine, for example, is standard and rarely disclosed as an enhancement on retail listings.
05 · Ancillary tooling
Ancillary tooling in a lapidary workflow includes measurement instruments (calipers, refractometers, balances), optical aids (loupes, microscopes, fluorescent lamps), and consumables (dop wax, cleaning solvents, polishing pastes). Categories 05, 06, and 07 on this site group these items by function.