What does a Lapidary do?

A lapidary is a master craftsman or woman who works with stones, gems, minerals, shells, and other hard raw materials to create designs and sculptures. He or she creates jewelry, fine art, and stand-alone decorative displays cutting, forming, and polishing metals. When practicing the trade, a lapidary employs a variety of motorized and hand tools, such as saws, sanders, and chisels. Professional lapidaries typically work in specialized shops, creating commercially available items as well as custom pieces for clients. Many hobbyists enjoy lapidary crafts, where they spend hours forming their own jewelry and decorative pieces.

Lapidary work employs a wide range of highly specialized tools and techniques. A tumbling machine, which looks and works like a miniature clothes dryer, can be used a professional to polish rough, jagged rocks. Rocks are lubricated and tumbled over one another, rubbing against one another and smoothing out rough edges. To achieve the desired smoothness, rocks may need to be tumbled several times over the course of a month or more.

To shape and sculpt materials into their final forms, lapidaries use delicate saws, knives, drills, and chisels. Many experts use new technologies and automatic tools to make the work easier and more precise. Some traditional craftspeople insist on carving pieces entirely hand, though many experts use new technologies and automatic tools to make the work easier and more precise. They usually draw templates for their designs and cut and sculpt using them as a guide.

Faceting, the process of grinding a series of flat faces onto gemstones to enhance their attractiveness and allow them to reflect light, is a specialty of many lapidaries. To ensure perfect results, most professionals use specialized faceting machines. To make each facet, a gem or mineral is attached to the end of a metal rod and lowered onto a grinding wheel. To ensure the proper angles, spacing, and depth of each facet on a gem, the operator must take meticulous measures. The procedure can take a long time; some finished gems have over 100 perfectly formed facets.

Anyone interested in trying their hand at lapidary work can look up information about local lapidary schools on the internet. Many schools provide opportunities for both hobbyists and aspiring professional craftspeople to learn the trade through hands-on instruction from trained lapidaries. The duration of the programs varies, but most last between six and three months. Graduates are given prestigious certificates as well as information on where to get minerals, tools, and jobs. Individuals can learn to create masterful, attractive, and highly desirable pieces with enough dedication and experience.