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Vargas Books & Diamond Cutting Books    Used Mineralogical Records

Descriptions of Gem Materials is the most complete reference on natural and man-made gem materials available for gem cutters, gemologists and all others with an interest in gemstones. It provides a basis for gem identification and prepares the cutter for what may be expected when cabbing, carving or faceting a particular material. It covers the physical and optical properties for 346 distinct natural minerals and 56 man-made gems, more than 550 gem materials in all. Included are complete sets of tables for hardness, specific gravity and refractive index and information on common inclusions for each mineral. A complete list of varietal, alternate and incorrect names is presented and the pronunciation and derivation of gem names is provided.

Descriptions of Gem Materials is organized by eight major sections: Section 1 - Natural Gem Materials, Section 2 - Man-made Gem Materials, Section 3 - Table of Hardness, Section 4 - Table of Specific Gravity, Section 5 - Table of Refractive Index, Section 6 - Glossary of Important Geological Terms, Section 7 - Index of Alternate, Varietal and Incorrect Names, and Section 8 - Bibliography of Selected References.

Diagrams for Faceting Volume I is the first volume in the set of three collections of faceting diagrams published by Glenn and Martha Vargas. Included are 160 diagrams that will produce at least that many different gems. Nearly 20 of these have variations that will produce another gem.

This book is divided into ten sections with each section including diagrams that have a close relationship. These are the step cuts, round brilliants, multifacet brilliants, mixed cuts and others. Within each section those that have further relationships are grouped together.

In general, the book starts with the very simple, moves to the more complex and ends with a section devoted to unusual shapes for faceted gems. The greatest part of the book is devoted to the diagrams that are popular, or those that stand to become popular. Nearly all diagrams have some accompanying text that gives a bit of history, or some hints on cutting. Each section, and some of the more unusual diagrams are introduced by explanatory text.

The diagrams include Section I The Very Simple; Section II The Round Brilliants; Section III Brilliants Without Pavillions; Section IV Brilliants Variations of a Circle; Section V Brilliants Other Than Round; Section VI Multifacet Brilliants; Section VII Step Cuts; Section VIII Variations on Geometric Forms; Section IX Mixed Cuts; and Section X The Unusual, The Domed Cuts, The Barion Cuts. Also provided are index transposition charts, a table of recommended culet and crown angles for nearly 200 facetable materials, and a glossary.
*We are the sole distributor for the Diagrams for Faceting books, Descriptions of Gem Materials, How to cut a Diamond and Recutting and Repairing Diamonds books. Please contact us about pricing on orders totalling 10 or more of these books.

Diagrams for Faceting Volume II is the second volume in the set of three collections of faceting diagrams published by Glenn and Martha Vargas. Included are diagrams from numerous designers that will cut over 150 different gems.

This book is divided into twelve sections with each section including diagrams that have a close relationship. These are Section I The Round Brilliants; Section II Ovals, Marquise, Cushions; Section III The Diamond Shapes; Section IV The Split Facet Technique; Section V The Pendeloques; Section VI Hearts; Section VII Triangles; Section VIII The Squares and Rectangles; Section IX The Pentagons and Stars; Section X The Hexagons; Section XI The Octagons; and Section XII Barions and Pseudobarions. Also included are Miscellaneous Diagrams from Ernst Wollert detailing square cushions and octagons.
*We are the sole distributor for the Diagrams for Faceting books, Descriptions of Gem Materials, How to cut a Diamond and Recutting and Repairing Diamonds books. Please contact us about pricing on orders totalling 10 or more of these books.

Diagrams for Faceting Volume III is the third volume in the set of three collections of faceting diagrams published by Glenn and Martha Vargas. Included are diagrams from numerous designers that will cut at least 133 different gems.

This book is divided into eleven sections with each section including diagrams that have a close relationship. These are Section I The Round Diagrams; Section II Ovals and Their Relatives; Section III Triangles; Section IV Squares, Rectangles, Etc.; Section V Pentagons; Section VI Hexagons; Section VII Heptagons; Section VIII Octagons; Section IX Nonagons; Section X Barions and Pseudobarions; and Section XI The Unusual Diagrams.

The inclusion of seven-fold diagrams (heptagons) and nine-fold diagrams (nonagons) is new to the authors' books. These are easy to cut diagrams that produce spectacular gems. Most of the complex diagrams in the unusual section will produce excellent gems. Some do not cut what might normally be called excellent gems, but instead are gems that are interesting. As a whole, the more complex diagrams are challenges to suit the advanced faceter.
*We are the sole distributor for the Diagrams for Faceting books, Descriptions of Gem Materials, How to cut a Diamond and Recutting and Repairing Diamonds books. Please contact us about pricing on orders totalling 10 or more of these books.

How To Cut A Diamond presents the fundamental basis for becoming a diamond cutter and a thorough exposition of the art of diamond cutting. It is strongly suggested before investing in machinery, equipment, tools or diamonds that the aspiring diamond cutter peruse this text thoroughly. An avid reader who makes a study of this text, and who is determined to become a diamond cutter, can acquire the necessary insight into the crystallography of diamonds and the highly specialized tools and techniques involved in cutting them. This text may also serve to profitably convince some colored stone faceters who are interested in cutting diamonds, but who are still unfamiliar with the complexities involved in the art of diamond cutting, that cutting diamonds may or may not be suitable for them as a hobby or vocation.

The text is organized into 12 chapters: I Tools and Equipment, II The Wheel - Its Preparation, Care and Use, III Cleaving and Sawing, IV Girdling or Shaping, V Proportion in the Diamond, VI Proportion Continued - Blocking Bottoms and Bolas, VII Grain in the Diamond - blocking The Four and Two Points, VIII Cutting a Three Point - Blocking and Brillianteering, IX Brillianteering of a Four and Two Point Diamond, X Cutting the Fancy Shapes - The Straight Edged and Free Form, XI Cutting the Ellipticals, and XII Brillianteering the Ellipticals.
*We are the sole distributor for the Diagrams for Faceting books, Descriptions of Gem Materials, How to cut a Diamond and Recutting and Repairing Diamonds books. Please contact us about pricing on orders totalling 10 or more of these books.

Recutting and Repairing Diamonds is written by Leonard Ludel, a third generation diamond cutter. He is the founder of the American School of Diamond Cutting and is the author of How to Cut A Diamond.

The author writes in his introduction, ..."As time passed it became clear that there were persons throughout the industry whose requirements transcended the cutting process and they were more inclined toward when to recut and how to salvage diamonds. Therefore this book was written in the hope that those who have an interest, can get a background, requisite to making decisions and judgments within the limits of knowledgeable parameters."..."At times there may seem to be more emphasis on the don'ts rather than the do's. That is not the intent of the book! Recutting can be a gratifying as well as a remunerative endeavor. It is the pitfalls in making quick and incautious moves without sober judgment that cause me to use this approach."

This book includes chapters on: Knowing when to repair and recut, Diamonds requiring a recut, Repairs - Recutting old and modern cuts, Repairing and recutting fancies, Specifics about weight, and a very extensive and thorough glossary.
*We are the sole distributor for the Diagrams for Faceting books, Descriptions of Gem Materials, How to cut a Diamond and Recutting and Repairing Diamonds books. Please contact us about pricing on orders totalling 10 or more of these books.

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