icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Jan 7, 2019 8:06:15 GMT -5
Hi guys. I picked up this amazing plume malachite cab at the gem & mineral show the other day. It's cut well, but was an expensive stone and I'm hitting a wall trying to figure out what kind of setting to make. I don't want just plain, but because of it's size I can't add too much to the sterling part. And it's got the dreaded corner, ugh, I hate those. Any ideas how this would best be set? Also, it has to be set the way I'm holding it, that's how it looks the best. Thanks!
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Post by fernwood on Jan 7, 2019 8:22:53 GMT -5
Such a beautiful find. Consider making a simple setting, but with the pointed end at the top? No wire wrapping, but only silver smithing, to highlight the rock. Do not want to distract from the beauty of it.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 7, 2019 8:44:56 GMT -5
How about a hidden bail?
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Post by toiv0 on Jan 7, 2019 9:44:07 GMT -5
I like rockjunquie idea, Just a clean line around it. It would float on the wearer.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 7, 2019 15:21:12 GMT -5
I like doing hidden bails, especially on larger pendants. Here's what I usually do — I drill four holes and insert the twin bail wires so that they protrude slightly inside the setting. place four pieces of solder against the protruding ends and heat the setting from below. Then take a bur and remove the ends. The holes are drilled at or close to the wire's gauge. If a hole is a slightly too big, just push the inevitable swarf from the drilling into the hole. Multiple operations but it's easy to do.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 7, 2019 15:37:19 GMT -5
... I'm hitting a wall trying to figure out what kind of setting to make. I don't want just plain, but because of it's size I can't add too much to the sterling part. And it's got the dreaded corner, ugh, I hate those. Any ideas how this would best be set? Also, it has to be set the way I'm holding it, that's how it looks the best. Thanks!
I see that the very top of the cab has some of the "scalloping" pattern sometimes seen in malachite. One thing you could do to add some interest would be to extend the backplate slightly above the pendant and saw it into a scalloped edge, tapering down toward near the start of the sides.
As for the corner. this is what I would do. After cutting the bezel strip, mark the center of the length. Then cut a very gradual, symmetric "V" cut from the top of the bezel. The low point will be at the point of the bezel. Go as low as you think you need. That way it should go down easy with little force at the point with no extra metal showing any evidence of pinching or poor fit. As an alternative to cutting down the bezel strip, it could be carefully filed down after soldering.
It will look great and still protect the point.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Jan 7, 2019 19:29:33 GMT -5
Such a beautiful find. Consider making a simple setting, but with the pointed end at the top? No wire wrapping, but only silver smithing, to highlight the rock. Do not want to distract from the beauty of it. It doesn't look right the other way up. The way I'm holding it looks much better. And no way I'm wire wrapping it. Thanks for the suggestions, tho.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Jan 7, 2019 19:30:43 GMT -5
How about a hidden bail? I love this design! but I don't want a hidden bail, the span at the top need something to take your eye away from it. We're getting there! Thank you.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Jan 7, 2019 19:32:08 GMT -5
I like doing hidden bails, especially on larger pendants. Here's what I usually do — Awesome idea! But I don't have a drill or a burr I drill four holes and insert the twin bail wires so that they protrude slightly inside the setting. place four pieces of solder against the protruding ends and heat the setting from below. Then take a bur and remove the ends. The holes are drilled at or close to the wire's gauge. If a hole is a slightly too big, just push the inevitable swarf from the drilling into the hole. Multiple operations but it's easy to do.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Jan 7, 2019 19:34:46 GMT -5
... I'm hitting a wall trying to figure out what kind of setting to make. I don't want just plain, but because of it's size I can't add too much to the sterling part. And it's got the dreaded corner, ugh, I hate those. Any ideas how this would best be set? Also, it has to be set the way I'm holding it, that's how it looks the best. Thanks!
I see that the very top of the cab has some of the "scalloping" pattern sometimes seen in malachite. One thing you could do to add some interest would be to extend the backplate slightly above the pendant and saw it into a scalloped edge, tapering down toward near the start of the sides.
As for the corner. this is what I would do. After cutting the bezel strip, mark the center of the length. Then cut a very gradual, symmetric "V" cut from the top of the bezel. The low point will be at the point of the bezel. Go as low as you think you need. That way it should go down easy with little force at the point with no extra metal showing any evidence of pinching or poor fit. As an alternative to cutting down the bezel strip, it could be carefully filed down after soldering.
It will look great and still protect the point. Thank you, the last time I tried to work a point I broke the stone! I will try your way instead of crying a lot.
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Post by lpl on Jan 8, 2019 12:39:17 GMT -5
Yes I really like the hidden bail idea, but here's something that I did a while ago. I cut a nice pear shaped pietersite cab that looked better oriented like your stone. It's a touch smaller than your malachite, but not much. I framed it in square wire and added an accent stone. Maybe you could do something similar? Really nice malachite! I'll look forward to seeing what you do with it!
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Jan 9, 2019 6:46:48 GMT -5
Yes I really like the hidden bail idea, but here's something that I did a while ago. I cut a nice pear shaped pietersite cab that looked better oriented like your stone. It's a touch smaller than your malachite, but not much. I framed it in square wire and added an accent stone. Maybe you could do something similar? Really nice malachite! I'll look forward to seeing what you do with it! Wow, that's killer! I might try that modified a little.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jan 12, 2019 14:26:10 GMT -5
That pietersite/lapis piece is killer. love the design.
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