Stones and stone setting

Faceting Machine on eBay

Bentiron — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:12:00 GMT

Want to start faceting? Here you go: http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-SAPPHIRE-FACETING-UNIT-MACHINE-EXCELLENT-MUST-SEE_W0QQitemZ290351018343QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item439a44f167&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

fuser — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:21:38 GMT

Hi All...

Does anyone out there have any idea how to drill holes in just plain (and gorgeous...one of a kind) stones? They are naturally tumbled from the ocean beaches on Cape Cod. I've been collecting yellow and white beach stones since my family started vacationing there in 1967.

Thanks!

Betsy

Heat treating corundum

cloudhale — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:18:46 GMT

I collected some corundum (ruby/sapphire) at a gem mine this summer. I would like to cab set or wire wrap them and incorporate them into some of my jewelry. I have been tumbling them, but they still look greyish and not that exciting - definitely not "gem" quality, although if you look close there is almost an irridescent quality. I have seen stones like these look neat, but I am wondering if they were heat treated? I know that sapphires are usually heat treated to bring out the blue color. So.... can I put my corundum into my kiln and heat treat them? What temperature? How long? Quick cool or slow cool? Will they explode and damage my kiln? Any advice would be great!

Thanks,

Tina

How can I test red coral to see if it is dyed?

dressagewoman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:03:23 GMT

Is there a good test? I inherited some red coral heishi beads from a friend. She's pretty sure they are natural, but can't guarantee it. I don't want to misrepresent them, is there anyway I can tell?

Opal Stone Setting

vikki.v — Wed, 20 May 2009 08:29:36 GMT

Hello, I am new to jewellery making - Please can someone help me to set an opal stone. I know how to bezel set, but my problem is that the cab stone is not flat on the bottom.. the edges are rounded and it is very slightly domed at the bottom if you know what I mean - so not sure how I would go about setting such a stone. The stone is oval in shape.

Can anyone please explain how I would set this to look like a bezel setting and please let me know any tips on NOT breaking this opal stone :)

Thank you very much

Vik

best place to buy gemstones

Aspin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:41:15 GMT

I have ordered from both firemountain and rio. Any other suggestions?

claw making set

alfeze — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:54:20 GMT

I thought it would be interesting to get a little help with making claw settings and got a set similar to:

http://www.contenti.com/products/stone-setting/410-785.html

for my birthday. But it didnt come with any form of instructions. I wondered if anyone had used such a set and whether there is any advice that can be offered? I have various books (including Tims) which do show how to make the settings manually, and am wondering how to make best use of the tool in this process... or whether it was actually a waste of money to get these sorts of kits?

thank you

Anne

What flavor of turquoise is best?

dressagewoman — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:02:18 GMT

OK, so I know dyed chalk turquoise is not turquoise at all, and I THINK I know that natural turquoise pretty much has to be stabilized to be used in jewelry. So far I have tried to buy from well established suppliers that I trust to label stuff appropriately and have purchased either "stabilized" or "Zachary Process" beads and cabs.

Which is "better"? What do most buyers prefer? I know I'd feel sort of cheated if I knew the color was dye, but while the Zachary Process leaves very little residual trace of processing, it does intensify the color. OTOH, I understand some "stabilized" turquoise may get a little color help in the stabilizing resin.

Is there a way I can tell for myself if color has been altered during stabilization? I'm not sure I want to take on lapidary in addition to everything else I'm doing, but is it also possible to buy natural turquoise and stabilize it, or is that too much of a an industrial process?

Base metal prong settings

Kenem Bijoux — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:44:11 GMT

Hello,

I'm working on a piece of jewelry that I will be made up of Swarovski stones. As the piece will require several hundred stones that will be prong set I'm looking for prong settings made from base metal (no silver or gold) , and that will be soldered together. So, no stringing holes on the sides. Because the requires so many settings I'm definately not up to making them myself. Does anyone have a source for base metal prong settings that would work with Swarovski crystals? In advance, thank you for your help.

Kenem

Take care of your precious jewels and ornaments

sumi — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:56:16 GMT

Diamond is the hardest substance known to man.

Bridal sets in diamond, should always be worn with much care, keeping in mind the crowd and the occasion, for they may easily get displaced or even lost.

Before storing diamond jewelry, check on all sides for any loose stones. If there are any loose prongs or chipped stones, bring them to us for a check or repair.

How to clean your jewels

First take a shallow bowl and mix a little household detergent in warm water.
Place your jewels in the bath for a few seconds and gently brush with a soft old toothbrush.
Then transfer them carefully to a wire tea strainer or a sieve and rinse under running water.
Pat dry with a soft cotton cloth immediately. Your jewels will glitter like new now.
While cleaning any jewel in the warm detergent bath, avoid harsh fibres, household scrub or coarse powder. Use only a mild household detergent.

For more details visit http://www.ansjewelry.com/jewel_information.aspx

does anyone cut gemstones?

Aspin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:06:52 GMT

Lets say I buy some Mexican fire opals and want them cut into 5 by 7mm cabachons. Is there a place that will do that?

advice

effididi — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:50:17 GMT

i am new memner here

i wish to but to my wife diamond with fair price

where shell i start?

where shell ibuy it online?

thx in advance

effididi

Stunning & Rare Golden Star Rutilated Quartz

gembeads88 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:56:56 GMT

I just found a wonderful website and they have a lot of very unique and rare gemstone beads and fancy pearls, especially, they have the golden star rutilated quartz and cat's eye rutilated quartz round beads, it is really so stunning, enjoy it: http://www.stunninggemstones.com

Bridal Jewelry and the Dress

smartneil — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:24:20 GMT

We all know that a bride to be practically spends twenty years preparing for her wedding before she even knows who the groom is; the impression that she dreams of is how gorgeous she will look on her wedding day. Every modest detail is taken care of and is carefully deliberated before making the all important wedding decisions.

"The Dress" being the foremost part in her dreams, the wedding gown, her day, her style. The selection of the wedding gown is one of the most vital items a bride to be must decide upon. The dress no matter what the style should always be a selection that the bride to be feels elegant and beautiful in. The selection of the wedding gown should always remain fun and as stress free as possible, buy what makes you feel beautiful.

Now that the dress has been chosen, its now time to decide upon the bridal jewelry. Bridal jewelry is the second most important item of consideration. The bridal jewelry that the bride to be decides upon should coordinate with the wedding gown she has selected to wear for her big day. Keeping in wits the style of your dress, the bridal jewelry selection must be made with as careful of attention to detail as when choosing your wedding gown. The bridal jewelry chosen by the bride should finish off your look and bring the entire collection together.

Design Wedding Band

smartneil — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:38:45 GMT

Today, there are a countless styles of design wedding bands available in the market niche to choose from, like hammered design bands, braided wedding bands, paisley bands, and some other unique designs.

The type of design to choose for your wedding band is a completely personal selection. There is nothing scientific or practical in selecting a design for wedding bands other than deciding what type of design you like.

The only practical consideration you need to make is to understand that trends are never stable and you will be sporting and gazing at the design hopefully for a lifetime. The other consideration is in deciding whether you will wear your ring on a daily basis and what kind of wear and tear your ring can safely sustain. This usually depends on the type of work or career or regular hobbies.

Is there a simple test for these beads?

KipperCat — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:40:20 GMT

My Mom often bought jewelry lots at auctions. Years ago she gave me a lovely strand of graduated pink beads that she thought were pink quartz. I had always assumed they were acrylic. The other day I tapped one on my teeth and it seemed like glass. Can you tell I'm totally ignorant here? Is there some simple way I can tell what these beads are?

Thanks for any suggestions you can give me.

Bead stores in miami

lizzylo — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 06:37:26 GMT

Hi there! My uncle is about to travel to miami for a few days and he's gonna stay at the 33132 zip code zone. He offers me to buy some semi precious stones for me. Do you know a good store in that zone where he can find semi precious stones in rondelles, briolettes, etc? I'll really appreciate the info.

Thanks in advance,

Liz

Looking for bezel finding.

Hope H — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:16:39 GMT

Hi everybody,

I am looking for a sterling silver bezel finding that has a profile like a "U" and/or a "V". It is used primarily on cabs with a thin edge(girdle) and is especially good for setting the cab with a "cinch" setting. Can anyone tell me who might sell such a finding. I have seen a plain one with a "U" profile and one that was more of a "V" with some design along the edges.

Hope

Wedding Rings: Celebrate Your Marriage

smartneil — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:26:10 GMT

There is a huge arrangement of design wedding rings that are accessible online today, and allotment the one that will be with you for a lifetime is an alarming assignment. Not alone are there artful factors to buck in mind, your design wedding ring holds additionally acceptation to your life. It is an attribute of your adulation for the being that you married, and you should select the ring that you feel best captures the aspect of these feelings.

The design ring you accept for your wedding should be aggregate that you feel your adulation to be – unique, beautiful, adored and durable. And while there are a huge array of styles and ring settings accessible at all certified online jewelry stores, the amount appearance of an absolutely admirable design abide the aforementioned behindhand of the appearance of design ring you aces to bless your wedding ceremony. You will hopefully abrasion this ring for the blow of your life, so accept an appearance that seems around-the-clock to you. The ambience you accept is an amount of your own claimed taste, but the design in your wedding ring should attach to the standards set for a diamond. The characteristics of an admirable design are accepted as the four Cs – carat, color, accuracy and cut. Behindhand of the appearance of design wedding rings that you and your accomplice choose, the four Cs will consistently comedy an important role.

why don't they make 'fire stone cabachons'?

Aspin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:01:46 GMT

I checked many places on the internet and Rio but all fire stones are faceted. Maybe there is somebody that makes them. Any info?

Diamond Rings- An Overwhelming Expression of Love

smartneil — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:39:28 GMT

Do you know what could be an exotic way of winning the heart of your lovely lady this Valentine? Diamond ring as gift could be one of the most exotic and sentimental way of reminding yourself of the vows of togetherness that you at no point of time would want to stray away from. This is indeed an ultimate expression of love where the diamond ring would speak just a bit more than words. This is a way of re-emphasizing how much your love is loved in spite of the ups and downs that life would probably take you through. In fact diamonds autograph a new beginning in one’s life where you could look forward to some of life’s choicest experiences where love, happiness and goodness would be remarkably bounteous!

Cameo Setting

RibbonsNLinks — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:57:28 GMT

I want to take a Cameo OUT of a ring and turn it into a pendant. What is the best way to remove the cameo?

Is there a glue that will keep the shine on a cubic zirconia stone?

alfeze — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:59:58 GMT

I'v tried a couple, one that I use for glass and one of the 2 part mixers - the strong one. I think the metal in the setting is copper... it looks very pink so I tried painting the inside of the setting to match the outside of the setting - silver. But when I use the glue the stone goes dull. I'm just trying to make something useable again for a friend. Its not an expensive piece but I dont wnat to make a hash of it either. Although a stone present is better than a stone missing... I just wondered - is it possible to do what I am trying to do or should I give up?

Appreciate any ideas.

Anne

How To Set A Bullet Cabochon

AMcA — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:24:48 GMT

I recently received a hit on my website from someone searching for instructions on how to set a bullet cabochon. I have written a short set of instructions and posted it on my blog - please have a look and let me know your opinion.

http://fireandhammers.wordpress.com/tutorial-1-bullet-cabochons/

If you have any suggestions on how to improve or clarify anything, please add a comment.

Faceted gemstones & Epoxy & Fired PMC

Tsubaki — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:44:41 GMT

A question from a newby. I want to secure a 3 - 5 mm genuine, faceted gemstone to a PMC pendant. What is the best method? I am thinking that I will make a small depression in the PMC using a small drillbit, apply epoxy and then the stone. Will the epoxy be visible through the stone? And if epoxy is the best agent to use, what type of epoxy? Grateful for any advice!