Exciting Raffle Announcement – Win an UltraTec V5 Digital Faceting Machine!

Exciting Raffle Announcement – Win an UltraTec V5 Digital Faceting Machine!

We’re thrilled to announce an incredible giveaway at the 2025 Franklin Faceting Symposium, happening July 24–26 at The Factory in Franklin, NC!

One lucky attendee will take home the UltraTec V5 Digital Faceting Machine—the gold standard in precision faceting. This exclusive raffle package includes:

UltraTec V5 Digital Faceting Machine

Integrated lamp

Premium transfer fixture

Total retail value: $6,294!

️ Raffle tickets are just $20 each (limit 10 per person)
Tickets sold in person only

Drawing Saturday Afternoon at the USFG Symposium
You must be present to win – no exceptions

All proceeds go directly to USFG in support of faceting education and the advancement of this remarkable art.

Don’t miss your chance to win this top-tier machine and be part of an unforgettable event. We can’t wait to see you there—and good luck to all participants!

2025 Franklin Faceting Symposium — Presentation Schedule
The Factory, Franklin, NC
️ July 24–26, 2025
All presentations will be held in the Depot Room unless otherwise noted. Schedule subject to change.

️ Thursday, July 24 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

️ Sales Area Open: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Depot Room)

Depot Room Presentations

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Welcome Session – USFG President

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | John Campbell – Metal and Copper Laps

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Michael Holmes – Gem Cut Studio: Designing a Simple Gem from Scratch (Bring laptop with Gem Cut Studio installed)

12:30 PM – 2:00 PM | Lunch Break & Vendor Visits

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Cody Rosenberg – From Broken to Brilliant: How Glass Faceting Transformed My Life

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Mark Oros (Zoom) – Fantasy Faceting Quartz Challenge

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Doug Augspurger – A Conversation About Meet Points and Competition Polish

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Roger Dery – Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Faceters’ Edition
(Vendors welcome to participate and donate prizes)

South Dining Room (Near “Jack the Dipper” Ice Cream)

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Faceting Class – Day 2 with Tom Mitchell
(Bring your own machine = Pre-registration required)

️ Friday, July 25 | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

️ Sales Area Open: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Depot Room)

Depot Room Presentations

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Ron Snelling (UltraTec) & Cindy Hine (Facetron/Facette) – Maintaining Your Faceting Machine + Q&A

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Justin Prim (Zoom) – Emeralds Through Time: History, Sources & Cutting Art

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | John Campbell – Intermediate Gem Cut Studio Tips & Tricks (Bring laptop with Gem Cut Studio installed)

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break & Vendor Visits

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Dan Lynch – Sunstone & Sapphire: Finding, Mining, and Faceting

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Michael Holmes & Roger Dery – Starting & Running a Meet Point Faceting Seminar

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM | John Campbell & Carl Eleazer – Faceting Laps: A Short History + Q&A

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Peter Torraca (Zoom) – Cutting Gem Rough with Softer Mohs

5:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Round Table: Your Best Faceting Tips & Tricks
(Facilitated by Cari’ Fifield; Includes Prettiest Stone turn-in)

6:10 PM – 8:00 PM | Prettiest Stone Contest & Pizza Party

South Dining Room (Near “Jack the Dipper”)

8:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Faceting Skills Seminar – Michael Holmes & Roger Dery
(For experienced faceters – BYO machine)

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Fantasy Cutting Demo – Larry Mattos

️ Saturday, July 26 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

️ Sales Area Open: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Depot Room)

Depot Room Presentations

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Ron Snelling & Mark Oros – Starting a Faceting School

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Mark Oros (Zoom) – Doublets and Galaxy Gems

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Lunch Break

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Keith Harrigill – Intarsia with a Faceting Machine

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Final Comments – USFG President

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Raffle Prize Drawings ️

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Final Vendor Sales

South Dining Room (Near “Jack the Dipper”)

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Fantasy Cutting Demonstration – Larry Mattos

Note: Be sure to check updates on-site for any last-minute schedule changes. We can’t wait to see you there!

Bring your Family – The Factory

where the Symposium takes place (meeting rooms) is also

a giant arcade! And hey – kids love rocks!