What ULTRA TEC Faceting does

ULTRA TEC Faceting, legally ULTRA TEC Manufacturing, Inc., is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer of precision faceting equipment for the lapidary industry. Founded in 1965 by aerospace laboratory technician Howard Stanley and reorganized under aerospace engineer Joe Rubin in 1972, the company designs and builds all of its machines and components in-house at its Santa Ana, California facility using computer-controlled machining—no castings are used, and ball-bearing construction replaces bushings throughout to deliver assured accuracy and repeatability. The product portfolio spans the flagship V5 Classic (Digital $5,590; Analog $4,990), the entry-level VL Classic (Digital $4,490; Analog $3,890), and specialized lines including the FANTASY Machine ($4,498) for concave and fantasy cuts, and the GLASS TEC Machine ($7,499–$7,999) for glass cutting. Ancillary revenue comes from accessories, upgrades (Rotator Kit, Oscillator Kit, Digital Angle Dial Kit, Premium Sliding Transfer Fixture), consumable lapidary supplies (laps, dops, polishing compounds), and training materials.

The company sells direct-to-consumer through its own e-commerce storefront with worldwide flat pricing and FOB Santa Ana shipping, supplements online sales with an annual presence at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society Show, the USFG Faceting Symposium, and the USA FACETERS Show, and supports a network of dedicated regional representatives. The end customer base is a long tail of professional faceters, serious hobbyists, and glass artists purchasing individual machines at premium price points. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 band, ownership has remained with the founding family for over fifty years with no external investment, and the company makes no disclosures on revenue.

ULTRA TEC's strategic positioning rests on 60 years of brand recognition, a dominant presence in competitive faceting circles (with ULTRA TEC users predominant among faceting competition award winners since the 1970s), and continuous engineering improvements developed in-house. Its expansion moves are incremental rather than transformational—broadening the install base downward via the VL line, extending into glass cutting via GLASS TEC, deepening attach revenue through V5 accessory kits, and building a content-and-training ecosystem (SomeTimes Newsletter, Video Showcase, Library) to nurture hobbyist demand.

Name

ULTRA TEC Faceting

Legal name

ULTRA TEC Manufacturing, Inc.

Website

https://ultratec-facet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ULTRA TEC Faceting is a family-owned US manufacturer, founded in 1965 and based in Santa Ana, California, that designs and builds precision faceting machines (V5, VL, FANTASY, GLASS TEC) and accessories in-house for professional gem cutters, serious hobbyists, and glass artists worldwide, selling direct via its e-commerce store, gem shows, and regional representatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lapidary Equipment / Precision Faceting Machinery

NAICS

Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541)

akta.pro primary industry

Glass Fabrication & Processing Services (Cutting/Edging/Drilling/Polishing) (IMADAHAI)

Keywords

• Precision faceting machines
• Gem cutting equipment
• Lapidary machinery
• Concave faceting tools
• Fantasy cutting equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Ana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Faceting Machine Sales: Sale of precision faceting equipment including V5 and VL models in both digital and analog configurations, as well as Fantasy and Glass Tec machines. One-time capital equipment purchases with worldwide pricing.
2. Accessories and Supplies: Sale of lapidary accessories including laps, dops, polishing supplies, dop wax, and machine upgrades. Consumable and replacement parts for ongoing faceting operations.
3. Training and Educational Materials: Sale of training resources, books, and instructional materials including the Fantasy Cutting Book and various instructional guides.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ULTRA TEC Faceting manufactures and sells precision faceting machines for the lapidary industry, including the V5 series (Digital and Analog), VL series (Digital and Analog), the FANTASY Machine for concave and fantasy cuts, and the GLASS TEC Machine for glass cutting. All components are machined in-house at the Santa Ana, California facility using computer-controlled machines, with ball-bearing construction and a proprietary Digital Angle Dial (DAD) system for accuracy and repeatability. The company also sells supporting accessories, consumables, and training materials to professional gem cutters, hobbyists, and glass artists worldwide.

Product overview

ULTRA TEC Faceting is a manufacturer of precision faceting equipment for the lapidary industry. The product portfolio centers on three main faceting machine lines: the premium V5 series (available in Digital at $5,590 and Analog at $4,990), the entry-level VL series (Digital at $4,490 and Analog at $3,890), and specialized machines including the FANTASY Machine ($4,498) for concave/fantasy faceting and the GLASS TEC Machine ($7,499-$7,999) for glass cutting. The company offers comprehensive accessory lines including Rotator and Oscillator kits ($448), the Digital Angle Dial upgrade kit ($1,085), traveling cases ($1,295), and lapidary consumables such as Laps (BA5T, BATT, DARKSIDE) and polishing supplies. All machines are manufactured in-house in Santa Ana, CA using computer-controlled machines with precision machined components and ball bearings. The company has been in continuous operation since 1972, celebrating 60 years of excellence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• V5 Classic Faceting Machine (Digital) ULTRA TEC's flagship faceting machine featuring a Digital Angle Dial (DAD) for digital angle readout, designed for serious hobbyists and professional gem cutters. Built with all-machined components and ball bearings for assured accuracy and repeatability, and available in Right- or Left-hand configurations.
• V5 Classic Faceting Machine (Analog) Analog version of ULTRA TEC's bestselling V5 faceting machine, offering the same precision engineering with traditional analog angle dialing for faceting gemstones. Priced at $4,990 and available in Right- or Left-hand configurations.
• VL Classic Faceting Machine (Digital) Entry-level digital faceting machine with the Digital Angle Dial (DAD), offering precision faceting capabilities at a more accessible price point ($4,490) for hobbyists and professionals.
• VL Classic Faceting Machine (Analog) Entry-level analog faceting machine providing professional-grade faceting precision without the digital angle dial, suitable for beginners and budget-conscious faceters. Priced at $3,890.
• FANTASY Machine Specialized machine for fantasy and concave faceting, allowing faceters to create unique and innovative gemstone cuts with concave facets and fantasy designs. Priced at $4,498.
• GLASS TEC Machine Larger glass cutting machine designed specifically for cutting and shaping glass materials for artistic applications, stained glass work, and glass sculpture, distinct from gemstone faceting equipment. Priced at $7,499–$7,999.
• Rotator Kit for V5 Mast Accessory kit for the V5 mast enabling rotation capability during faceting operations, available in Right- and Left-hand configurations. Priced at $448.
• Oscillator Kit for V5 Mast Accessory kit for the V5 mast enabling oscillating motion during faceting, designed for right-hand machines only. Priced at $448.
• Traveling Case for V5 Faceting Machine Protective traveling case designed for transporting the V5 faceting machine, targeted at well-traveled faceters. Priced at $1,295.
• Premium Sliding Transfer Fixture Premium upgrade from the standard transfer fixture, featuring a sliding mechanism for enhanced gem transfer operations during faceting.
• Digital Angle Dial Kit (DAD) Digital upgrade kit providing precise digital angle reading for faceting machines, enabling more accurate angle setting on compatible machines.
• Lapidary Supplies Range of consumable lapidary supplies for ongoing faceting operations, including Dops (6 types), Laps (such as BA5T Lap at $349, BATT Lap at $299, DARKSIDE Lap at $159), and Polishing Supplies (8 types).
• Training Resources Training materials sold to customers, including the Fantasy Cutting Book, the Gem Cutters Handbook by Dan Lynch, video library, and downloadable manuals for the V5, VL, and Fantasy Machine products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 years of continuous operation with family ownership
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Faceters Paradise StoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFaceters Paradise Store in Tucson is mentioned in video content as a place to see ULTRA TEC machines and products. David Smith of Faceters Paradise conducts interviews at ULTRA TEC's TGMS booth.
• Tucson Gem & Mineral Society (TGMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerULTRA TEC exhibits at the main event - the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society Show - annually in January/February. The TGMS show is key to ULTRA TEC's lapidary product plan and has been for over 20 years.
• US Faceters Guild (USFG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerULTRA TEC features at the USFG Faceting Symposium held during Tucson Gem Shows. The company supports faceting education and competition through this partnership.
• USA FACETERS ShowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerULTRA TEC features at the USA FACETERS Show, more recently added to their Tucson event program.
• Local Faceting ClubsminorOthersThe company references local faceting clubs as a resource for new customers to expand their skills, though no specific clubs are named.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Graves Company: Graves Company is a US-based manufacturer of precision gem faceting machines and accessories, including the Graves MK-1 and related models. It is the closest direct competitor to ULTRA TEC in the precision lapidary faceting machine category, serving hobbyist and professional gem cutters.
• Diamond Pacific Tool Co: Diamond Pacific Tool Co manufactures the GemStorm faceting machine and a broad line of lapidary equipment including cabbing machines, grinders and polishing wheels. It competes directly with ULTRA TEC in faceting machines and overlaps in lapidary accessories and consumables.
• Facetron: Facetron is a manufacturer of gem faceting machines focused on the hobbyist market, offering units comparable to ULTRA TEC's V5 and VL line. It targets professional and hobbyist faceters with similar precision-machined equipment in the same product category.

Broad incumbents

• Covington Engineering: Covington Engineering manufactures a broad range of lapidary equipment including grinders, polishers, saws, and faceting accessories. As a long-established US lapidary equipment maker, it overlaps with ULTRA TEC in the wider lapidary workflow even though its faceting-specific product depth is more limited.
• Barranca Diamond: Barranca Diamond manufactures lapidary saws, grinders, and polishing equipment primarily for rock and mineral hobbyists. It is a broader lapidary incumbent that addresses an adjacent step in the gem-preparation workflow where ULTRA TEC's faceting equipment is used.
• Raytech Industries: Raytech Industries is a US manufacturer of lapidary tumbling, vibratory finishing, and gem-cutting equipment. It overlaps with ULTRA TEC in serving hobbyist gem cutters and lapidaries with precision cutting and finishing equipment.
• Lortone: Lortone manufactures rock tumblers and lapidary equipment for hobbyist markets. While focused on tumbling, it serves the same faceting/lapidary hobbyist customer base that buys ULTRA TEC machines, making it a relevant adjacent peer.

Regional players

• Inland Craft Products: Inland Craft Products manufactures lapidary equipment including saws and grinders primarily for the US hobbyist market. It serves similar customers to ULTRA TEC but with a product line focused on slicing/preparation rather than final faceting.

Emerging players

• CabKing: CabKing manufactures cabochon (cab) cutting and lapidary equipment marketed to hobbyists and small jewelry makers. It targets an adjacent but distinct segment of the lapidary market, with product overlap on the broader gem-shaping workflow that complements ULTRA TEC faceting machines.

Others

• Kingsley North: Kingsley North is a major lapidary supply retailer and distributor carrying faceting machines, rough material, and consumables from multiple manufacturers including ULTRA TEC. As a channel/distributor peer it represents an indirect ecosystem relationship to ULTRA TEC's direct-to-consumer go-to-market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ultratec_facet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ULTRA TEC Faceting