AFG 2020 Faceting competition

[FlashGP]

Hi All,

After 12 months of work and anticipation, we presented the competition schedule for the Australian Facetors' Guild 2020 Annual Faceting Competition Schedule to the AFG's muster last weekend.

We are trying to expand interest in the competition and have included two optional sections in Open division.  Makky, you had better finish your concave cutter because we have included a pretty little concave cut design I made based on the Bar Round 1 cut.  It's actually a mixed concave, flat facet paillion designed to lift the brilliance of the stone.

The other new feature is what is becoming known as the Open Challenge.  We set a design based on a drawing I did of a stone cut by Ron Young.  The challenge is that the cutter has to create his or her own cutting diagram and instructions and submit them with the stone for judging.  20% of the marks are presented in relation to the cutting diagram. 

We had a couple of trial runs and made up our own judging sheet for the cutting diagram.  The sheet is different to the sheet for the international Challenge.  Check it out.

I am still waiting for the AFG Webmaster to post update the AFG Competitions page, he may still be travelling home from Casino.  Here's a link to the Competitions page if you wish to have a look at the schedule when it is posted.
 https://afgl.wildapricot.org/competitions.

In the meantime I have put a copy on my silver smithing web site.  Here's a link to that page.
https://sites.google.com/site/homesilversmith/faceting-information/afg-2020-annual-competition
I'll take it down a little while after the AFG site is updated.

regards
Gordon

[MakkyBrown]

Very nice Flash, how did the turtle shell turn out?

[FlashGP]

Very well.  Peter Stringfellow test cut it as my concave was still a concept at the time.  He cut a stone about 6 or 7mm.

Now I have my concave working I plan on cutting it in amythest after I finish a couple of stones I am cutting for my wife.  I can't enter the competition.

I added the concave facets on the pavillon to the design I cut my daughter in tormalike, a 10mm stone.  Her stone sparkles beutifully and I like the design in larger stones.

I hope you will enter, especially the 2 optional sections.  I would like to see them gain a little traction and invigorate the comp.

Regards
Gordon

[MakkyBrown]

Hi Flash,
Would I be eligible to enter having not entered the junior or intermediate sections previously?
I am also happy to offer a copy of my book to use as a prize if you want.CheersMB

[FlashGP]

Hi Makky,

Yes.  The rules stop a person entering novice if they have won novice, intermediate or open in that group on a Level 3 comp or Gemboree. Same goes for intermediate, but only if have won intermediate or open.

  There is no restriction on open except for the competition committee and anyone involved in judging the relevant group.

 This is a level 3 (National) comp.  If you have won open in level 2, but nothing in level 3 or 4, you can enter as novice, intermediate  or open in this comp.

Technically, if you have won novice in group 8, round brilliant, but not in groups 9 (step cut), 10 (mdoified brilliant), or 11(fancy), you must enter intermediate or above in group 8, but can also enter novice in groups 9 to 11.

The thing is that to take out a trophy, all 4 of your stones need to be in the same division, so a win in group 8 novice usually means the competitor enters intermediate in the other 3 groups as well.

Thank you for the offer of a book for a trophy.  I'll have a chat to the committee about the late addition of another trophy and PM you

Regards
Gordon

[FlashGP]

We are pleased to announce that the updated competition schedule for the Australian Facetors’ Guild Limited’s (AFG’s) 2020 Annual Faceting Competition is now available at the following link.  https://facetorsguild.com.au/page-18120   

From the AFG website (https://facetorsguild.com.au/) the menu selection is Events -> Competitions -> AFG National 2020 Competition.

The schedule has recently been updated to include the recently added Gemstone Faceting Designs Trophy for the Open Challenge (section O.10.6).  Makky Brown has generously pledged a copy of his book Gemstone Faceting Designs as a trophy for the competition.

This is the first time the Open Challenge has appeared in an AFG Competition and it is specifically designed to test a broader range of skills than our usual faceting competitions.  Competitors are required to make up their own cutting instructions using one of the computer aided design packages (e.g. Gemcad, Gem Cut Studio, etc) to suit a set design, then cut it.  20% of the marks are allocated to the cutting instructions which must be submitted with the finished stone.

The other relatively recent addition to the competition is section O.10.5, which is a concave cut design.  Both the Open Challenge and the Concave cut section are optional, meaning that entrants do not need to submit entries in those two sections to have a chance at willing the Open Champion – Quality Gem Rough Trophy.

We encourage entries from competitors at all skill levels, in particular entries to the two new sections, the Open Challenge and the concave cut. 

Entry to the competition is a great way to improve a cutter’s skills through the valuable feedback the entrant’s judging sheet provides.

Keep an eye on the AFG’s forum at the following address for updates or answers to questions.
https://facetorsguild.com.au/forum 

Happy Faceting