Help: "dome-shaped glassy thing"?

[Emerald]

These might be better than moonstone (and certainly clearer)

Gemstone Cabochons - Clear Quartz

Or look for a buff top glass cab - these often look like they have a frosted backing, but once the epoxy is in place they go completely clear. They're designed to magnify. Manchester minerals used to have them, but I'm not sure if they only have oval now.

thats what i would use and have.

[mochiandmocha]

great, and the customer seems pleased. He asking about waterproofness though... Would bezel+stone be enough to stop water from sipping under the stone (there will be a little hollow cavity with the embossed design), or what else could we use? Clear bead glue?

[MuranoSilver]

Turn it back to him.
No a gemstone on the top would not stop water ingress (he'd have to be careful) so he can either have.
1) A resin dome - chemically sensitive (no jewellery dip) and will scratch ~ but water resistant.
2) A gemstone dome, more scratch resistant but water can get in.
3) A gemstone dome with glue or resin between + bezel set
the benefits are it's water resistant AND easier to set,
the disadvantage is it could discolour longer term.
Option 3 should also cost more, let him decide then there's less comeback for you because you've told him the pros & cons up front
Nic x

[mochiandmocha]

Great!

Little note on your post, though
"he can" NOT "have" the first 2 options as I have no idea how to do that ahah! So it'll be the third, which I thought would be best when I pictured myself making that ring! ^_^
Just out of curiosity and for self development (^_^), do you nedd special equipment to make a resin dome? HOw the heck is it done....?

Thank you so much anyway for all the help!!!

[MuranoSilver]

You just by doming resin - mix the two resins and pour it in,
right to the top. Let it dry about 24 hours & add a bit more.
It natually forms a low dome
Nicx x

[Carl Martin]

Be nice to see the finished piece.

[mochiandmocha]

So what do you recomment for the stone? I've looked at moonstones but are they transparent enough? Has anyone used a transparent, glass-like stone?

[Emerald]

Mochi and Mocha both George and I have mentioned suitable stones above??

[mochiandmocha]

oopsie so sorry about that, thanks

edit: I just realised I actually have been on these sites this morning... Monday morning is taking its toll...

I'm afraid the quartz doesn't look completely transparent on their pic, so Idon't know.
As for glass I've found countless clear glass cabochons on ebay, but they all had "gold foil back." George says that it disappears once the epoxy sets. Does that mean we have to fill cavity under the cab with epoxy, is the epoxy crystal clear as well?

other edit:

just bought those on ebay:


Got a syringe of epoxy glue in my cookson basket.

Maybe I've actually moved forward this morning after all !!

So now what I'm thinking is make the ring in PMC, put a bezel strip around where the cab will be so that shrinkage of the PMC still leaves exact room for the cabochon, then fill with epoxy glue, put the cab and finish with the bezel for extra strength. That way he'll have waterproof + strength! Now all that's left is... to make it...
We'll definitely show you pics when we move forward!