Jewellery Making
This lens is about making jewellery, specifically how to set gems and cabochons yourself to make unique jewellery. It also focuses on where to find gems of various types and settings that can be used by beginners and experts alike.
Lens Image: Based on Blue diamond jewelry by Kathy Reed
Lens Image: Based on Blue diamond jewelry by Kathy Reed
Contents
Tools
Pliers and Tweezers
The methods of gem setting I have highlighted on this lens can be achieved with a pair of tweezers and long-nosed pliers. No additional tools are necessary to get started.
If you intend to take up gemsetting as a hobby, more complicated sets and specially designed versions of the basic tools are useful, especially when working with small or uniquely shaped stones.
If you intend to take up gemsetting as a hobby, more complicated sets and specially designed versions of the basic tools are useful, especially when working with small or uniquely shaped stones.
Beadalon 7-Piece Tool Kit Zip Pouch, Econo
Amazon Price: $10.94 (as of 06/03/2012)
List Price: $14.99
All you need to get started.
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Types of Stones
Faceted stones
Cut Gemstones.
These are precious or semi-precious stones cut to show off their brilliance and colour. They are what most people think off when jewellery is mentioned, and are what this lens focuses on setting. When you are learning I would suggest sticking to semiprecious, simulated or lab-created stones. These look good but are a lot cheaper to work with if you are worried about making mistakes!
Cabochons
Making Cabochon Jewellery
Polished Opal Gemstone
Buy This Allposters.com
The settings and methods described on this lens will work with cabochons as well as faceted stones.
Finding Loose Stones
Cut and Cabochon
Rather than out all the details on this lens, I have done several dedicated lenses on finding stones suitable (and cheap enough) for beginners to work with. Choose the gem you are interested in, and have a look!
How to Set Gems
Snaptite settings
Demonstrated with iolite
This is probably the easiest way to make jewellery. Snaptite settings are designed to simply click the stone into place with pressure. Put the stone face down, put the setting over it and push. Just be careful the stone doesn't fire off across the room - cabochons in particular are prone to it.
My demonstration stone for this is iolite, also called the water sapphire.
My demonstration stone for this is iolite, also called the water sapphire.
Backset settings
Hidden prongs and topaz
Backset settings have prongs the fold across the back of the stone, allowing mistakes to be hidden when the piece is worn. Easy to use, these are probably my favourite setting to work with. From the front they look like a bevel setting, with a ring of metal aroudn the edges of the stone.
I'm using topaz for the demonstration stone with this lens. It isn't just affordable, it comes in a range of colours and you can achieve almost any look with the right stone.
I'm using topaz for the demonstration stone with this lens. It isn't just affordable, it comes in a range of colours and you can achieve almost any look with the right stone.
Prong settings
Demonstrated with Garnets
A prong setting, where prongs fit over the edges of the gem to hold them in place, is one of the most common types of setting. It can be tricky to use for beginners, especially if you use a large stone, but with a silver plated setting and lab created stones mistakes can be afforded.
Wrap-tite wire settings
Round the edge of the stone
Wrap-tite or channel wire settings are a thick wire setting that has a groove round the inside that fits around the edge of the stone. Most commonly used for cabochons, they can also take faceted stones.
Other ways to set gems
Outside the scope of this lens
There are other ways, not covered by this lens.
Bevel settings These lap over the edge of the gem to hold it in place. For a beginner it can be difficult to keep the stone level and the edging even. Also as you are working on a surface that will be visible on the finished product, you need to be careful not to leave marks.
Wire Wrapped Irregular or naturally shaped gemstones can be wrapped in wire to make jewellery. This isn't a method I use, so I will leave it to the experts.
Beading Beading is an artform and discipline in its own right, rather than gemsetting, so it isn't covered here.
If you would like to learn more about setting gems, a lot has been written about it, but there should be enough on the linked tutorial lenses below to get your started.
Bevel settings These lap over the edge of the gem to hold it in place. For a beginner it can be difficult to keep the stone level and the edging even. Also as you are working on a surface that will be visible on the finished product, you need to be careful not to leave marks.
Wire Wrapped Irregular or naturally shaped gemstones can be wrapped in wire to make jewellery. This isn't a method I use, so I will leave it to the experts.
Beading Beading is an artform and discipline in its own right, rather than gemsetting, so it isn't covered here.
If you would like to learn more about setting gems, a lot has been written about it, but there should be enough on the linked tutorial lenses below to get your started.
A Useful Lens?
Rate or Digg it here
If you would like to rate this lens then you can do it here (Squidoo members only). If you want to join squidoo to rate lenses, or write some of your own click here.
or
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Precious Stones
Sapphires, Rubies, Emeralds, Diamonds
While these would normally not be recommended for a novice, due to cost, cheaper stones are available. Good effects can be achieved affordably by using simulated or lab-created stones, or simply small and less clear natural gemstones.
These lenses cover where to find precious gems once you are ready to try them.
These lenses cover where to find precious gems once you are ready to try them.
Pre-made jewellery
Buy semi-precious stone jewellery ready-made
If you would prefer just to shop, here are a few lenses with pre-made semi-precious stone jewellery from Amazon and other locations.
Have your say
Leave your views
This lens is designed as an index to my jewellery-making lenses. If you'd like to see more, or have any settings that I haven't covered and you are interested in, please let me know.
This is the place to have your say!
-
-
Image_Girl
Jan 5, 2012 @ 2:24 pm | delete
- As the daughter of a gemstone factor .. i really appreciate this!
-
-
-
wcjohnston
Nov 6, 2011 @ 7:59 pm | delete
- Great Lens,I love gems, I have always wanted to design a set with 'hot pink saphires' for my wife.
Wedding Photographer Bristol
-
-
-
karmicchristian
Oct 28, 2011 @ 11:47 am | delete
- Very informative and thanks for sharing this here! :)
-
About the lensmaster
This So Crafty page written by
tirial
Aviation, IT, History, Gaming, I'm interested in just about anything! I made the Squidoo Top 100 Club in June 2009. I have three fiction books in print... more »
Create something new! Show off your work! Time to get So Crafty!
Connect with So Crafty
This author recommends...
-
Using Ice Resin to Create Jewelry
I recently started using Ice Resin for making my steampunk pendants. I previousl... -
How to Make Beaded Chain Earrings
Would you like to make your own earrings -- but can't manage those pesky head pi... -
Making Jewellery with Amethysts and Wraptite settings
This lens is about using Wraptite, sometimes called "tension wire", settings to... -
Loose Iolite Gemstones
Iolite, or the Water Sapphire, is a beautiful pale blue stone that changes colou... -
Iolite Jewellery Making - using snaptite settings
This lens focuses on making a piece of jewellery using Snaptite settings (a type... -
Loose Amethyst Gemstones for Jewellery Making
Where to find affordable Amethyst gemstones for making your own jewellery. The l...
