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Sam and Chloe weren’t supposed to take this class together. If not for a broken foot, they probably never would have met at all. That’s the thing about this craft. It doesn’t care how you found it. It just tends to keep people, and sometimes it brings the right two people into the same room by accident. Day 1, showing Chloe and Sam the cutting sequence in a computer model Two Different Roads to the Same Bench Chloe works in sales and lives right here in Pennsylvania. We met h

Left: a YAG cut in American meetpoint style. Notice the unique reflection pattern and the angular, faceted girdle. On the right: a hessonite garnet cut in a traditional trillion with a smooth rounded girdle. Both cut with precision. If you've spent any time reading about gemstones, you've probably seen "precision cut" used as a synonym for American meetpoint faceting. It's understandable — American style stones are stunning, and the cutters who work in that tradition are meti

A student story from Oak & Stone School of American Gemcutting --- Jason arrived at Oak & Stone School as a photographer and artist — someone already fluent in precision, composition, and the patient pursuit of beauty. But he came for something more than a skill. He was in the middle of rebuilding his home, rebuilding his creative life, and looking for a craft that could go deep with him. Something that demanded both the hand and the mind. Something that could change how he s

Michael Holmes, February 2026 After five years of attending the Tucson Gem Show as a visitor, this year marked a significant milestone: I finally stepped behind the booth as a vendor. Representing Oak & Stone School of American Gemcutting at the 22nd Street Show, Kim and I discovered that the view from the other side is entirely different—challenging, rewarding, and filled with connections I never expected. Michael and Kim, set up at the '26 Tucson Gem Show to do demos for cu

There’s something deeply enchanting about gemstones. They are a collaborative artwork between you and Mother Nature, polished to...

Our two brand-new Facetron faceting machines will be shipped this week. The timing couldn't be more perfect—we have our first student arriving on Saturday!