Hi! I'm Don Laufer, the owner of Headwaters Lapidary. It's not a real dirty job but still someone has to do it. After all rocks are not gems until after they have been cut and polished. I was twelve in 1966 when I was taught how to cut my first cabochon but after that I was pretty much on my own with only an old washing machine motor, a sanding and polishing head and an aluminum pan and foil as a splash shield. And as crude as it was, I was cutting gems! Now with over fifty years experience and numerous saws, grinders, polishers and faceting machines I'm teaching others what I've learned in hopes to carry on and expand the art of cutting gem stones.

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My professional career began when I was in high school and I worked part time at Lapidabrade Inc.,  a rock shop in Havertown, Pa.. Later, I learned diamond cutting in New York city before going to California where I earned my Graduate Gemologist title at the Gemological Institute of America in 1980. Now, for over fourty years I have been doing lapidary trade work for P.G.I.   near Pittsburgh, Pa.. Headwaters Lapidary is now a full time business of mine and I have been teaching the lapidary arts for over fifteen years. It has been an interesting and rewarding career so far and lots of ideas to grow on. 

Keep on cutting, Don

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