Oregon Field Guide

Meet the man who makes Oregon sunstones sparkle

By Jule Gilfillan (OPB)
May 4, 2023 1 p.m.

For Oregon’s state gemstone, it’s all in the faceting

Ever wonder what makes a gemstone sparkle? It starts with the way a crystal reflects and refracts light. Gemstone cutters must choose a design with the right angles for that stone, so that light passes through, bounces back to the top and catches the eye of the beholder. Karl Ziltener of the Columbia Willamette Faceters Guild shows us how he turns a raw Oregon sunstone into a glittering jewel.

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