Hi. I want to purchase this wonderful cameo (see picture below post) but it's already set in a frame. But the thing is, I want to use it as a pendant. There's no hole on top. How do I turn this into a pendant? Do I need to do some soldering? If so, how? In addition, can you recommend some tutorials for setting cameos and cabochons? Thanks in advance. Happy holidays! :)

Hi & welcome to the forum!

I can't tell how large the cameo is or what it's made of, so...  My recommendations would be to wire wrap the thing in the style of the frame OR consider seed beading around it.  I have no idea what your background experiences are so I don't know what skill sets you have or want to acquire.  But I don't believe that soldering is an option since you'd have to heat up the entire piece. 

If you don't want to wire wrap an elaborate frame, then do a simple prong setting where all the mess is behind, only the prongs show at 4 or 6 places in the front, & the bail comes up from the "prong man" in the back.  Good luck!

sher

The prong setting sounds like a good option. So I need to buy a prong that's bigger than the frame right? That's huge. Because the cab itself measures 40x30.

Ummm...  Actually, you need to pick up a book or course on basic wire wrap, esp. w/ square wire.  But it sounds like maybe you're not ready for that option. 

If it's a true oval, you might be able to get a ready mount in your size that has a gap so it will fit around the setting.  You maneuver the piece into the mounting, then gently squeeze it closed.  It should have a bail built in near the gap at the top.  I've gotten smaller ones from Rio Grande in the past, but there must be other suppliers as well.  The mounting is concave on the inside to form a bezel around the exisitng mounting [which I assume you're leaving on].  Happy hunting!

sher

Here is an example of a setting from Tripps that may be similar to what Flame Goddess described.

 http://www.tripps.com/store/product_detail.htm?Picture=141-655&cart=119919882432774

Another option is to epoxy a bail onto the back of what you have.  I buy stones from Blue Heron Gems and I know that they have an option that could probably meet your needs.  Click on the link to their ebay store from their main website.  www.blueherongems.com  They have what they call their Beader's Delight available in their ebay store.  This might be the easier and cheapest option for you.  I'm sure that John and Patty would be able to help you.  They also cut some wonderful cabs.

I hope this helps and Happy New Year!

Chris

Another possibility is to drill a hole in the upper edge and put a jump ring through it. Then all you'd have to do is just put a chain through that and you'd have a very neat, clean piece. It looks like there's enough room to get a thin drill bit in there with either a dremel or a flex-shaft. It looks like the frame is made of some sort of base metal so it probably wouldn't be hard to drill a hole in it.

 you can use a glue-on bail - it has a flat pad and a loop on top. this has got to be the easiest way to go.

If the pin's still intact and horizontal, you could use a brooch-to-pendant convertor.

They look like this:

 

You slip the pin through the small tube, and close the pin. Instant bail.

Rio Grande sells them in their Bails and Enhancers Section, but they're available other places too.