2026 Franklin Faceting Symposium
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2026 Franklin Symposium Presentation Schedule
July 23-25, 2026
All presentations will be in the Depot Room unless otherwise stated and are subject to change.
Faceting Classes
Beginning and All Skill Levels
Tuesday, July 21 & Wednesday, July 22–8:00 am-5:00 pm
(Note: This class starts one day before the symposium.) Faceting Class presented by Tom Mitchell in the south dining area near Jack the Dipper (ice cream) The faceting class is only for those that registered & signed up. $195 for 2 days. You must be a USFG member to take this. Bring your own machine. Up to 6 people.
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One-On-One “Performing Gem Repairs”with Roger Dery. See Roger in the Vendor’s room to set an appointment with him.
| July 23rd Thursday Hours–9 am-6 pm | |
| Sales Area Open – 9am-5pm | |
| Location: Depot Room • 9:00 am-10:00 am– Welcome Session, USFG President • 10:00am-10:15 am Break • 10:20 am-11:10 am— Keith Harrigill & Ron Snelling—Reverse Engineering a Faceting Cut/Diagram Part 1 • 11:10 am-11:20 am-Break • 11:20 am-12:10pm– Keith Harrigill & Ron Snelling—Reverse Engineering a Faceting Cut/Diagram & Connecting with Jewelers- Part 2 • 12:10 pm-1:35 pm – Lunchtime and Time to Visit Vendors • 1:35 pm-2:25 pm— John Campbell & Cari’ Fifield—The Magic of the Trim Saw & To Preform or Not Preform • 2:25 pm-3:15 pm- Break • 3:15 pm-4:05 pm– Mark Oros—Cutting a Doorknob Quartz (Zoom) |
Revolving Demo/Hands On activities: Lap Charging, Trim Saw Tech, Gem Cad Lessons, Machine Maintenance, Gem Rough Evaluation/What’s Wrong, Polishing Help Location: South Dining Room near ice cream “Jack the Dipper”9:30 am-1:25pm Larry Mattos—Fantasy Cutting Demo and hands on guidance. (Lunchtime after session for participants)1:35 pm-3:15 pm—Michael Holmes—Gem Cut Studio support. Bring your laptop with GCS software downloaded.3:15pm-4:05pm– Roger Dery—Polishing with Cerium Oxide Party Central: 11:20am-12:10pm—Doug Augspurger—Polishing Tips |
| July 24th Friday Hours–9 am-6 pm | |
| Sales Area Open – 9am-5pm | |
| Location: Depot Room • 9:30 am-10:20 am– Leslie Heyden-Geurts—Faceted Gems: From a Jeweler’s Perspective • 10:20 am-11:10 am—Michael Holmes: Learning Gemology in Bangkok • 11:10 am-11:20 am-Break • 11:20 am-12:10pm—Dave Woolley: History of an Engineering Geologist and Finding Unique Gems • 12:10 pm-1:35 pm –Lunchtime and Time to Visit Vendors • 1:35 pm-2:25 pm— Dan Lynch: A Gemcutter’s Handbook Review• 2:25 pm-3:15 pm- Break • 3:15 pm-4:05 pm– Meg Berry: Extraordinary Gemstone Creations (Zoom) • 4:05 pm-5:10 pm—Networking Activity • 5:10 pm-5:40 pm Receive Stones for the Prettiest Stone Contest. • 5:40 pm- 8:00 pm Prettiest Stone Contest & Pizza Party. |
Revolving Demo/Hands On activities: Gem Cad Lessons, Polishing HelpLocation: South Dining Room near ice cream “Jack the Dipper”9:30 am-10:20am Roger Dery—Charging Metal Laps 10:20-11:20–Roger Dery: Dopping with different waxes. (Participants can choose to bring own wax and transfer fixtures, but not required.) 1:35pm-5:10 pm Larry Mattos—Fantasy Cutting Demo and hands on guidance. Location: Party Central |
| July 26th Saturday Hours–9 am-4 pm | |
| Sales Area Open – 9am-4pm | |
| Location: Depot Room • 9:00 am-10:00 am— Dan Lynch: Cut a gem in 1 hour demo presentation • 10:10 am-11:00am Panel Discussion: (Roger Dery, Dan Lynch, Michael Holmes, Doug Augspurger, Tom Mitchell) • 11:10 am-11:50 am – Arya Ahkavan—(Zoom) TBD • 11:50 am-12:20 pm—Final Comments–USFG President • 12:20 pm-2:00 pm Lunch • 2:00 pm-3:00 pm—Drawing for Raffle Prizes • 3:00 pm-4:00 pm—Final Sales with Vendors |
Location: South Dining Room near ice cream “Jack the Dipper”
10:00-11:00—Evaluating Gem Rough for Faceting—Cari’ Fifield |
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