Gemstone Recutting and Repair
A one week intensive in improving a gem's appearance through recutting
Details
* Supportive learning environment
* Recut and Repair 3 faceted stones without a diagram
* Small Groups
* Daily lectures and practical exercises
* All classes presented in English
* 5 day workshop (Monday - Friday, 9:30am-4:30pm)
* All machines, tools, and stones provided for the duration of the course
* Certificate of completion
* Students will take home the stones they cut
* Recut and Repair 3 faceted stones without a diagram
* Small Groups
* Daily lectures and practical exercises
* All classes presented in English
* 5 day workshop (Monday - Friday, 9:30am-4:30pm)
* All machines, tools, and stones provided for the duration of the course
* Certificate of completion
* Students will take home the stones they cut
Master the Art of Recutting
What do you do when a gemstone is chipped, broken, badly proportioned, windowed, poorly polished, or simply not living up to its potential?
Gemstone Recutting and Repair is a one week intensive workshop devoted to the skills needed to evaluate, redesign, repair, and recut existing gemstones.
Rather than following a predetermined diagram, you will learn to examine the stone in front of you, identify its problems and possibilities, and develop a cutting strategy that preserves weight while improving beauty, brilliance, color, and overall performance.
Whether you previously completed our Faceting Bootcamp or learned to facet elsewhere, this course is designed to expand your skills beyond cutting clean rough and teach you how to solve the more complicated problems encountered when working with existing gemstones. Over five days, you will complete practical recutting and repair projects that challenge you to work intuitively.
You will learn how to reshape damaged stones, remove chips and surface damage, improve poor proportions, and create or adapt designs to suit the material that remains. You will learn how to make informed decisions throughout the cutting process and develop the judgement required to turn a compromised stone into the best gemstone it can become.
Rather than following a predetermined diagram, you will learn to examine the stone in front of you, identify its problems and possibilities, and develop a cutting strategy that preserves weight while improving beauty, brilliance, color, and overall performance.
Whether you previously completed our Faceting Bootcamp or learned to facet elsewhere, this course is designed to expand your skills beyond cutting clean rough and teach you how to solve the more complicated problems encountered when working with existing gemstones. Over five days, you will complete practical recutting and repair projects that challenge you to work intuitively.
You will learn how to reshape damaged stones, remove chips and surface damage, improve poor proportions, and create or adapt designs to suit the material that remains. You will learn how to make informed decisions throughout the cutting process and develop the judgement required to turn a compromised stone into the best gemstone it can become.
Recutting In Theory and Practice
Successful recutting requires more than knowing how to place facets. The cutter must understand what is wrong with the original stone, what can realistically be improved, and what material must be sacrificed to achieve that improvement.
Throughout the course, practical cutting exercises are combined with gemology, optics, color theory, and design analysis to help you understand why a stone performs the way it does and how to improve it.
We will examine how proportions, pavilion depth, facet arrangement, refractive index, tone, saturation, extinction, windowing, and orientation affect the appearance of a gemstone. We will also study the aesthetics and optical behaviour of 25 classic cutting styles to understand how different approaches can improve or diminish brilliance and color. Particular attention will be given to preserving weight during a recut. You will learn how to balance the desire for optical improvement with the practical realities of working from an existing stone, where every adjustment comes at the cost of valuable material.
We will examine how proportions, pavilion depth, facet arrangement, refractive index, tone, saturation, extinction, windowing, and orientation affect the appearance of a gemstone. We will also study the aesthetics and optical behaviour of 25 classic cutting styles to understand how different approaches can improve or diminish brilliance and color. Particular attention will be given to preserving weight during a recut. You will learn how to balance the desire for optical improvement with the practical realities of working from an existing stone, where every adjustment comes at the cost of valuable material.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the workshop, you will be able to:
*Evaluate an existing gemstone and identify problems with its proportions, polish, symmetry, brilliance, and color performance
*Develop a recutting strategy that balances optical improvement with weight retention
*Repair chipped and damaged gemstones
*Reshape and redesign stones without relying on a predetermined cutting diagram
*Recut poorly proportioned gemstones to improve brilliance and reduce windowing or extinction
*Understand the optical principles that determine whether a gemstone performs well
*Analyse how different cutting styles influence brilliance, contrast, extinction, windowing, and perceived color
*Use GemCutStudio to evaluate and modify designs for recutting
*Develop the judgement and improvisational skills required to solve unexpected problems at the faceting machine
*Evaluate an existing gemstone and identify problems with its proportions, polish, symmetry, brilliance, and color performance
*Develop a recutting strategy that balances optical improvement with weight retention
*Repair chipped and damaged gemstones
*Reshape and redesign stones without relying on a predetermined cutting diagram
*Recut poorly proportioned gemstones to improve brilliance and reduce windowing or extinction
*Understand the optical principles that determine whether a gemstone performs well
*Analyse how different cutting styles influence brilliance, contrast, extinction, windowing, and perceived color
*Use GemCutStudio to evaluate and modify designs for recutting
*Develop the judgement and improvisational skills required to solve unexpected problems at the faceting machine
Who Should Take This Course
This workshop is intended for experienced faceters who want to develop practical skills in gemstone recutting, repair, and restoration.
It is particularly useful for cutters who want to work with damaged gemstones, poorly cut commercial stones, old or worn gems, and stones whose original proportions or cutting style prevent them from reaching their full potential.
The course is also designed for faceters who want to become less dependent on diagrams and develop the ability to make informed cutting decisions directly at the machine. Gemstone Recutting and Repair teaches you how to analyse a problem, develop a solution, and execute that solution while preserving as much of the original gemstone as possible.
Prerequisites
Prior faceting experience is required. Students must already be comfortable with the complete faceting process, including rough examination, preforming, dopping, cutting, meetpoint faceting, and polishing.
The course assumes competence in these foundational skills and builds upon them. Students who do not yet have this experience are encouraged to begin with our Faceting Bootcamp. Gemstone Recutting and Repair is taught on handpiece style faceting machines, although students with experience using other types of faceting machines are welcome.
The course is also designed for faceters who want to become less dependent on diagrams and develop the ability to make informed cutting decisions directly at the machine. Gemstone Recutting and Repair teaches you how to analyse a problem, develop a solution, and execute that solution while preserving as much of the original gemstone as possible.
Prerequisites
Prior faceting experience is required. Students must already be comfortable with the complete faceting process, including rough examination, preforming, dopping, cutting, meetpoint faceting, and polishing.
The course assumes competence in these foundational skills and builds upon them. Students who do not yet have this experience are encouraged to begin with our Faceting Bootcamp. Gemstone Recutting and Repair is taught on handpiece style faceting machines, although students with experience using other types of faceting machines are welcome.
2026 Course Schedule
(All classes are taught in English)
August 24 - 28, 2026, Lyon, France, Seats Available
October 26-30, 2026, Brooklyn, NY at Brookyln Metal Works
October 26-30, 2026, Brooklyn, NY at Brookyln Metal Works
Your Instructor
Justin K Prim is an American gemcutter and author. He has been cutting gemstones since 2013 and has trained under professional cutters in the United States, France, England, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Switzerland. To support his work as a gemcutter, he has attended gemology programs at GIA and AIGS. He has travelled around the world to various gem producing regions to learn about rough and has visited mines in Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Europe, and the Americas.
Justin previously taught faceting at the Institute of Gem Trading in Bangkok as well as teaching gemology courses at AIGS in Bangkok. He's written two books on gemcutting, The Secret Teachings of Gemcutting, and The Historic Teachings of Gemcutting. Aside from teaching and writing, Justin also gives talks around the world about faceting techniques and history.
To see Justin’s work, check out his Instagram profile: @justinkprim
Justin previously taught faceting at the Institute of Gem Trading in Bangkok as well as teaching gemology courses at AIGS in Bangkok. He's written two books on gemcutting, The Secret Teachings of Gemcutting, and The Historic Teachings of Gemcutting. Aside from teaching and writing, Justin also gives talks around the world about faceting techniques and history.
To see Justin’s work, check out his Instagram profile: @justinkprim
