Lapidary

The art of cutting and polishing stone

Workshop & Courses

Lapidary is the art of cutting, shaping, and polishing stones and gemstones. At the Cape Town Gem & Mineral Club, our workshop is the heart of our creative community — where members transform rough rock into beautiful cabochons, spheres, and faceted gemstones.

Our clubhouse in Bothasig is equipped with a range of professional lapidary equipment, available to all members during workshop hours. Whether you're a beginner learning to cut your first cabochon or an experienced faceter, our community of makers is here to help.

Our workshop features a range of equipment for members:

Cabochon machines — For shaping and polishing flat-backed stones
Sphere machines — For creating perfectly round stone spheres
Faceting machines — For cutting precise geometric facets on gemstones
Slab saws — For cutting large rough rock into workable slabs
Trim saws — For precise cutting of smaller pieces
Grinders and polishers — Various grit wheels for progressive smoothing

All equipment is maintained by our experienced workshop team, and new members receive training before using any machinery.

Want to Try Lapidary?

Join the club and get access to our workshop equipment, informal courses, and a community of passionate lapidary artists.

Become a Member

Lapidary

Workshop Equipment

Informal Courses

Open Workshop Hours

Want to Try Lapidary?