Setting Gemstones in Wrap-Tite Findings

This week's jewelry making technique are our new instructions for how to set gemstones in our new Wrap-Tite findings. The Wrap Tite findings come in one loop and two loop versions in both 6mm and 4mm sizes allowing making pendant earrings like the ones shown at right and also allowing graduated gemstone earrings and pendants. These settings aren't as positive as some of our other gemstone settings so we don't recommend making bracelets out of these findings, but they will work well in earrings or as the center-piece in a necklace. The findings are essential a concave loop of silver that holds the widest part of a gemstone, the girdle. Once the gemstone is in the proper position, we use our round nose plier to squeeze the "neck" of the finding between the small loop and the big loop in the finding. Squeezing the neck of the finding causes the finding to tightly grip the gemstone and makes the setting more permanent. We used a piece of 16 gauge wire to preserve the shape of the small loop in the finding while we were squeezing the neck of the finding. Our instructions for this technique show how we did this.

Setting gemstones in these Wrap-Tite findings is now quite as easy as using our low wall bezel findings. If you are making a jewelry item with just one gemstone, the low wall bezel finding is better and more permanent. When making a connected chain like the earrings shown here, the Wrap-Tite findings are the only option. For beginners, the low wall bezel finding is more appropriate. For more experienced jewelry crafters, these findings work very well.

Please click here to view our free instructions for making earrings using Wrap Tite findings.

For more free jewelry making instruction and design, and all your jewelry supplies, visit WigJig - jewelry tools, jewelry wire, beads, and more!