I feel badly that these pieces aren't egg pendants-

[Cathy at the Beach]

I would love to be keeping with the holiday...however they aren't.

I made these pendants yesterday and today..just came in from my studio through windy- sleet- hail and SNOW! its godawful out there.....

this first pendant is the one I posted about yesterday -- the one I wrecked the paua shell. I removed the bezel and shell and was just about to solder a claw setting to add a lab grown sapphire- when I took a better look and decided to leave well enough alone. You can't see the bezel very well against the dark lampwork glass- but it isn't perfect.-- The 2nd one is a pink lampwork cab and a rose quartz. You can see the bezels better on those. I would like to improve on them. I still struggle to get a really smooth edge- I wonder if anyone has suggestions? (I use a bezel rocker and then some setting tools I made....still problems)

Thanks for any help offered!

cathy

16801681

[bustagasket]

I am very inexperienced with stone setting so i am afraid i cannot help you with any tips, but i just wanted to say that i really liked your designs and so glad that you left the shell in, it has a lovely colouring:)

[MuranoSilver]

I think both are beautiful....the second one has some ovoid about it so perhaps you could call it
"Easter Grows through Rose Tinted Specks" ;)
I love asymmetrical shapes & the balance you've achieved with them :Y:
nic x

[Cathy at the Beach]

Thank you both. Su-- the shell is GONE. I ruined it. They don't like to be touched with a polishing wheel...it almost seemed like it melted. It was below the dicro glass cab in the first image..where the little leafy bit of silver is at the bottom...it would have looked good- but too late now.

Nic...its is kinda eggy isn't it! After looking at the magnificent easter bunny pin I was wishing I'd thought of SOMETHING!

[bustagasket]

Thank you both. Su-- the shell is GONE. I ruined it. They don't like to be touched with a polishing wheel...it almost seemed like it melted. It was below the dicro glass cab in the first image..where the little leafy bit of silver is at the bottom...it would have looked good- but too late now.


lol Der. sorry i am such a thick wit!

[Gemma]

Love them Cathy.
Can't help with the bezel probs though. They're a million times better than anything I've achieved!!

[Dennis]

Bezels do not necessarily need to be perfectly finished. I think they should be just in harmony with the stone, so it's horses for courses.
Anyhow, since you ask, the next thing is to get a needle file with one flat surface and a medium cut. The flat surface is used to file the top edge of the bezel lightly,over and over until you are satisfied. It does not matter much which pattern of file you use, but the edge next to the stone needs to be ground and polished to avoid marking it. Even so soft stones remain vulnerable.
As you gain experience you will become more and more picky and try different shapes of files. After filing you can try lightly burnishing with a well polished metal burnisher, or the side of a scriber, or just use a finer cut file. Hope this helps, Dennis.

[Dennis]

As an after thougt I attatch some recent onyx ear studs.The offcuts weren't the same size, so I added some textured metal to make them similar. The piont is that the edges of the bezels are rough, just as the saw left them but burnished wth the side of a scriber point. I hope this complements the crystal surface of the onyx.http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/images/editor/attach.png

[Gemma]

Like those Dennis. The rough bezels look great. Looks like you've spent a long time getting them like that!!