Prior to our heading south to Antsirabe, we visited the government run gemmology and lapidary school that was created several years ago with the assistance of Tom Cushman, Charles Carmona and several others. The school was recently moved into the building shown in the above photo. As our way of contributing back to the industry, we are considering sponsoring students who can not afford to go through the program on their own. As a rough estimate, it costs only US$400 for one student / per month for the lapidary section. This is not including room and board for the term though.
***and as a special note: Nancy Schuring of Devon Fine Jewelry has set up a special non-profit corporation to assist with funding for local Madagascan students interested in the gem or jewelry trade. Nancy, and the Devon Foundation, can be contacted here: 201-848-8489***
A photo showing the general set up in the faceting section. There was also a typical lapidary and gemmological area as well.
On one side of this room there was a series of Imahashi style dual set-up faceting machines. They use six inch laps driven on a pulley system - so they all run at the same speed. Each table consists of four faceters running off one central motor, powering both ends with students on each side, opposing each other. Each 'machine' has two platforms pointed toward the center-driven platen.
Here's a close up of one student. They are all trained to use loupes in lieu of the typical magnification visor used by many North American and European faceters.
Found this photo interesting.... seems they also use the software, 'GemCad', developed by Robert Strickland of Texas.
Oh yea.... for you gem cutters out there, they are primarily dopping with wax. I know... no one asked.
huh? wait justa second. I didn't get that last comment. You can dop with something other than wax? Really? I'm going to have to grip to my mentor about this one, I bet he's holding out on me.
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