Warwick Lapidary Club was formed, in July 1967, to afford people interested
in rocks, mineral and gemstones, the means of socializing with others
of like minds, and to plan a future for the hobby in Warwick.

Club membership generally numbers above 50, including out of towners from all over the Downs.
Memebership is open to anyone over 12 years of age.

The club rooms are set up with equipment and machinery (lap wheels, cutting, grinding, faceting,
polishing, silver work etc) to enable members who attend work sessions to work at their favoured
projects. Instruction is provided in all areas including gemstone cutting (faceting) and silver
jewellery making. Since establishment the club has been run entirely by volunteers.

Our occasional fossicking trips take members throughout Queensland and often interstate.
Other lapidary clubs are visited when traveling and friendships are often formed from this interaction.
We have a good time!




























Some like to take this process further, carving away all of the rock to reveal it's beauty in
all three dimension, perhaps just for display. Or they may want it as a piece of jewellery.
A stone can be cut into a 'Cabochon', a stone flat on the bottom and cut and polished to a dome
shape on top - perfect for a ring or broche.

By carving the cabochon without it's flat back, that is, rounded on all sides, you'll have a beautiful
piece suitable for a necklace or a bangle, or any number of jewellery items.
These can be set in 'findings', a ring or broach setting to which a stone can be set, either by glue, or
held in place by the metal of the finding.









would you like to learn to facet gems? learn faceting

learn a little about mineralgy