Bar Round 1

Design by Bob Keller

Novice stone for 2004 USFG competition

This is a novice stone and is not difficult to cut but does require some skill to do it well. I cut it in CZ and used 41 degrees for my pavilion angle. I did spend the most time on making sure I had the culet centered and the girdle facets equal. I then polished the girdle first after I sized it to 10 mm exactly. I then polished the pavilion and turned the stone over (transferred).

When I cut the crown I set the protractor on 60 degrees and followed the girdle line all the way around using a 600 lap, even cutting 24 & 72 at 60 degrees, I needed a very small adjustment on the cheater and went around again, it came out perfect this time so I made no further adjustments. Now I pre polished with a 1200, cutting my girdle to .3 MM. I use an old piece of jewelers saw blade to get the right size on my girdles by holding it against the girdle and looking through the 10X loupe. This time as you come around following your girdle line make sure you cut 24 & 72 at there proper angle of 42. Finish cutting in your 24 & 72 at 28-14-& 0 degrees and now go back and polish with the correct polishing compound for whatever material you selected. Here is were you may have to use your cheater and micro adjuster to put the meets in perfect. If you do a very good job hitting dead center with your culet and very good even girdle facets, you will find it very easy putting your meets together, if not you will have a hard time.

Art Kavan