Metalsmithing - learning to set a bezel story.

rhodolite garnet cabochonAs some of you may know I am just learning to expand in the craft of metalsmithing after all these years of beading. I have been making and hand forging my own earwires for dangles, but recently, I actually made some post earrings! The key here for me, is learning how to set a cabochon in a tiny 6mm sterling silver bezel .

Okay well...this is tricky folks. I will tell you that this is not exactly what I thought it was. It is really much harder then it looks. You have to apply a tremendous amount of pressure with a rolling action onto this tiny tiny set up ...without bending the earring post in half. I have been using my vise to securely clamp the earring, but I feel like I am going to break the whole thing!

It does come with a bit of practice and I finally get how to do this. But, the trick is really how the cabochon fits. Even if it fits, it maybe too tall and the bezel wall will not secure itself around the cab correctly. It really makes you think in terms of architecture and structural engineering. So the bottom line is, not all 6mm cabochons are going to work in those pre-made commercial bezels. You simply have to make your own if your gonna want to use that particular cab.

antique cushion faceted labradorite cabochonSo, I decide to try to make my own bezel. Now please don't laugh ..yet! I have no formal training and I only own one book here " The Complete MetalSmith". It took me literally four tries to make this bezel for this ring, and to me it still does not look right. Oh gosh, yes, I am so frustrated! The bezel wall is probably too high here and therefore it cinched around the stone! Although I must say, this baby is not going anywhere. That gemstone is firmly secured in this setting. ( I say this proudly, because a lot of my smaller practice settings have this tiny rock to them. It drives me crazy!)

Maybe I should have tried a more simpler round bezel, but instead since my patience is not my virtue and I assume that I can make this happen no matter what. I simply go for the harder piece in trying to set a antique cushion cut labradorite gemstone.

So, I show this thing ( the ring above) to my husband and he giggles..yes giggles. And, because I wasted so much silver and it's price is going up like crazy I really want to scream...yes scream! But instead, I just start laughing really hard! I guess its better then throwing a tantrum. Geez, have you ever felt this way? I tell you that I love a challenge, and learning to metalsmith has its moments. I hope I can do this, I do.

faceted labradorite cabochon
This ring is not complete yet. I just needed to blog about it, to relieve my stress! It actually wears really nice and it is quite pretty in its own unique way. It really appears handmade which I think is the beauty of this whole thing. I mean, why am I trying to make everything look machine made. Whats the point here?

But, back to the ring. I am contemplating if I should list this in my shop. It would make a pretty cocktail ring. The photo's of this are not that great. I am thinking of darkening the silver and polishing it after for that aged look. I will have to see after that.

prehnite cabochonAnd then I also recently made this prehnite simple ring. It will be added to one of my stacking ring sets soon. It came out nicely as planned.

Thanks for letting me share my work and ventures with metalsmithing. Any comments, advice or tips are highly appreciated. Have a great day!

15 comments:

Metallo Bianco Jewelry said...

Great job on the earrings!...practice makes perfect! :) And I love the last ring..for the stack rings..I LOVE stack rings!

Tamara said...

It looks like you're using a pretty heavy bezel on that labradorite ring - the heavier the bezel, the harder it is to set. I know some people really like the look of a thicker wall, but I just find it so difficult to work with. Get yourself some 28 gauge bezel wire and you'll be in heaven.

As for the labradorite ring, I think it's very cool - just call it 'rustic' and you're good to go.

Tamara said...

Also, are you using fine or sterling silver bezel wire? Fine silver is softer than sterling, and therefore easier to push over the stone. :-)

Horse Creek Jewelry said...

Hey Tamara! Thanks for the tip. I am using 26g here. I finally realized that the thickness of this bezel wire is too much for this stone. This stone is NOT that tiny..so I have a lot to learn! I will try fine silver 28 gauge now. Off to buy some!
Thanks for checking in. You are truly my greatest inspiration!

Gemheaven said...

I love that ring ~ you can always send it to me for approval ;0)

Cate said...

Hey, lovely work! I'm just starting smithing too (actually made my first simple band ring last night), and I found your blog through your Etsy supply store- looking for cabs to set of course! I'll def be following closely, so thanks for being so open in sharing your learning experience!

Naomi Beebe said...

Great job! I'm just starting with setting stones in bezels myself, so I can totally relate to the frustrations that you're going through. But the feeling you get after it's completed is absolutely worth it. I'm going to be posting more of my attempts at bezel work on my blog, so I will definitely share if I come across any good tips or techniques. Best of luck!

Anonymous said...

megan fox photos, [url=http://discuss.tigweb.org/thread/187756]megan fox playboy images[/url] ts megan foxx
what does kim kardashian do, [url=http://discuss.tigweb.org/thread/187768]hot kim kardashian video[/url] kim kardashian full video torrent
is taylor swift pregnant, [url=http://discuss.tigweb.org/thread/187772]taylor swift award live[/url] taylor swift fearless song bassalizer pop remix for download
discounted hannah montana clothes in baton rouge, la, [url=http://discuss.tigweb.org/thread/187786]hanna montanas[/url] hanna montana ho down lyrics
harry potter gryffindor keychain, [url=http://discuss.tigweb.org/thread/187792]auditions for upcoming harry potter movies[/url] harry potter campus
celebrity cruise to cozumel and roatan, [url=http://discuss.tigweb.org/thread/187798]tom cruise hitler[/url] the advocate, tom cruise
justin bieber one less lonely girl lyrics, [url=http://discuss.tigweb.org/thread/187812]pics. of justin bieber[/url] kevin i think justin bieber is stupid
britney spears clothes, [url=http://discuss.tigweb.org/thread/187814]britney spears and jamie lynn[/url] britney spears michael jackson
megan fox kid, [url=http://discuss.tigweb.org/thread/175542]megan fox in short shorts[/url] movie posters/ megan fox bent over motorcycle

Anonymous said...

Very fascinating website.

Affordable search engine optimization service including submissions and on-page optimisation (sokmotoroptimering).
[url=http://www.smotop.se/smotopbloggen/]SMOTop[/url]
http://www.smotop.se/smotopbloggen/

Anonymous said...

if you guys predestined to grate [url=http://www.generic4you.com]viagra[/url] online you can do it at www.generic4you.com, the most trusted viagra pharmaceutics repayment in take raw generic drugs.
you can learn drugs like [url=http://www.generic4you.com/Sildenafil_Citrate_Viagra-p2.html]viagra[/url], [url=http://www.generic4you.com/Tadalafil-p1.html]cialis[/url], [url=http://www.generic4you.com/VardenafilLevitra-p3.html]levitra[/url] and more at www.rxpillsmd.net, the medial [url=http://www.rxpillsmd.net]viagra[/url] inception on the web. well another great [url=http://www.i-buy-viagra.com]viagra[/url] pharmacy you can find at www.i-buy-viagra.com

Anonymous said...

Allow to pass the animal with two backs casinos? authenticate this latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]online casino[/url] exemplar and wing it reduce online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more at www.realcazinoz.com .
you can also into our additional [url=http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com]casino[/url] orientate at http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com and be heir to in legitimate money !
another lone [url=http://www.ttittancasino.com]casino spiele[/url] chain of events is www.ttittancasino.com , in lieu of of german gamblers, get loose online casino bonus.

Anonymous said...

buy zithromax >>> http://zithromax.ucoz.com/zithromax.html <<< buy zithromax online cheep


buy zithromax upper abdominal pain headache, buy zithromax online

buy zithromax stomach pain loose stools, buy zithromax online

buy generic zithromax anti viral, buy zithromax online

same day shipping buy zithromax without, buy zithromax online

buy zithromax overnight no prescription needed, buy zithromax online
[url=http://virtualatdp.berkeley.edu:8081/2763/~buyzitromax100]
zithromax buy stomach pain loose stools, buy zithromax online[/url]
[url=http://virtualatdp.berkeley.edu:8081/2763/~buyzitromax100]
buy without pharmacy generic zithromax, buy zithromax online[/url]
[url=http://virtualatdp.berkeley.edu:8081/2763/~buyzitromax100]
zathrin buy zithromax medications, buy zithromax online[/url]
[url=http://virtualatdp.berkeley.edu:8081/2763/~buyzitromax100]
non buy zithromax without prescription, buy zithromax online[/url]
[url=http://virtualatdp.berkeley.edu:8081/2763/~buyzitromax100]
buy zithromax online empty stomach, buy zithromax online[/url]
[url=http://virtualatdp.berkeley.edu:8081/2763/~buyzitromax100]
buy zithromax overnight shipping ups cod no prescription required, buy zithromax online[/url]
[url=http://virtualatdp.berkeley.edu:8081/2763/~buyzitromax100]
without prescription ear infections buy zithromax online, buy zithromax online[/url]
[url=http://virtualatdp.berkeley.edu:8081/2763/~buyzitromax100]
without prescription pharmacy buy zithromax, buy zithromax online[/url]
[url=http://virtualatdp.berkeley.edu:8081/2763/~buyzitromax100]
buy zithromax without medical, buy zithromax online[/url]

Anonymous said...

Make room the animal with two backs casinos? study this advanced [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]free casino[/url] games. advisor and abduct up online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more at www.realcazinoz.com .
you can also into our additional [url=http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com]casino[/url] direct at http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com and gain genuine genially distant !
another solitary [url=http://www.ttittancasino.com]casino[/url] spiele in the region of is www.ttittancasino.com , during german gamblers, pen in manumitted online casino bonus.

Anonymous said...

You did a good job in researching [url=http://pills.buypenisenlargement.com]vimax[/url] and writing your content. [url=http://pills.buypenisenlargement.com]vimax pills[/url] This is good information that will help others. [url=http://pills.buypenisenlargement.com]penis enlargement pills[/url]
Great job~

Anonymous said...

I forgot to obtain eggs for the spam. [url=http://tjenepengerraskt.blogspot.com/]tjene raske penger[/url]