Beginning a hobby in lapidary is fun and challenging. Although, many hobbyists may have gotten their start with an old fashioned rock tumbler in the garage, the days of the noisy tumbler have evolved into high-tech, low-noise, sonic rock tumblers, precision faceting machines, vibrating laps, grinding wheels, and slab or trim saws. These tools are what beginning hobbyists grow into after getting their feet wet at the low cost end of the spectrum in the lapidary hobby.
The good news is that getting a start in lapidary can be affordable for beginners and allows lapidaries to choose how much time to invest in the hobby. Lapidaries can, of course, start at the beginning with a rock tumbler and rough gemstones, or bypass it completely and buy already tumbled stones. They can then move on to perfecting faceting, cabbing or carving skills, or mounting stones in jewelry findings.
Creative Lapidary
Some people find it easier to buy stones that are already finished and then use those to create unique jewelry. There are numerous places to buy jewelry findings for a ready to set stone, allowing the creation of beautiful necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and more. With enough practice, many people become proficient enough to create items that can be sold.
When people think of lapidary, they generally think of rocks and gemstones, but there are other aspects to the hobby as well, such as creating wire jewelry or designing a setting or faceting layout. It is genuinely surprising how many directions one can take in the hobby once they become involved in lapidary.
For real creativity, advancements have been made for people wanting to create their own jewelry from scratch. Silver, Gold, and Bronze clays have been developed that allow a complete design to be molded and patterned from scratch, placed into a kiln for several hours, and the finished product is revealed after the clay has burned off, revealing a one-of-a kind ring, pendant, brooch, or whatever one can imagine and shape.
How to Get Started in Lapidary
A good place to find tips and information on getting started in lapidary is by connecting with a local rock collecting group. Connecting with other hobbyists in a group setting can allow a beginner to ask questions and receive valuable answers. Subscribing to a lapidary magazine is another good source of information and can provide excellent tips for people just getting started in the lapidary hobby.
Tools and supplies are easily obtained either online or through mail-order companies for most projects. Other resources for obtaining project material can be found through rock shows or, if inclined, going out and digging for gems and minerals at some of the pay-to-dig mines located throughout the country. In some cases, gem gravel can be ordered from the mines, allowing hobbyists to find something truly unique to feature in their work.
Lapidary is perfect for someone who is able to devote a good amount of time to learning the hobby. It takes practice and patience, but is an extremely rewarding hobby allowing the lapidary to tap into virtually endless creative ideas in order to bring a vision into existence. Consider the art of lapidary and start a new hobby today.
Beverly Hill - Beverly is an outdoor adventure writer who owns and maintains Northwest Florida Outdoor Adventure.
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