Introduction to lapidary – full day

Lapidary cutting shapes and polishes gems to reveal their colour, transparency and brilliance. This introduction covers the two main families of cut: the cabochon, a smooth, domed shape, ideal for opaque stones or stones with optical effects, and faceting, which cuts the stone into flat facets that play with the light.

The introduction is a private lesson: each slot takes only one booking, for one person on their own or for two people, with a programme adapted to the length chosen. The machines and tools are provided.

Introductory lessons take place on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, during French school term time (zone A, Clermont-Ferrand education authority), excluding school holidays, public holidays and grafting and permaculture course weeks. Choose your date and the number of participants in the booking calendar, then pay for your booking with your order. You receive a confirmation by email as soon as we receive your payment, then a reminder the day before.

• Times: 9:00 to 16:00
• Participants: One or two people, private lesson
• Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, during French school term time (zone A), excluding school holidays, public holidays and course weeks
• Location: At the farm, in Peslières, in Livradois-Forez; exact location given by email or by telephone
• Language: French
• Equipment: Machines and tools provided
• Booking: Online, from the day after tomorrow up to 6 months in advance
• Cancellation: Full refund up to 30 days before the lesson, 50% from 29 to 8 days before, no refund within the last 7 days; you may send a person of your choice in your place
• Withdrawal: No right of withdrawal: leisure activity provided on a specific date (Article L221-28 12° of the French Consumer Code)

Programme

Getting to know gems: hardness, cleavage, inclusions, colour orientation; safety and good practice in the workshop; cabochon: choosing the stone, marking out the template, rough shaping, shaping, sanding and polishing; faceting: basic optics, reading a cutting diagram, cutting the pavilion and then the crown; polishing the facets and inspecting the finished stone.