Setting gemstone slices

[Ksenia]

Dear all,

I am really new to jewellery making and would really appreciate if you could share your experience and knowledge on setting gemstone slices, especially those ones in rings.

I have some irregular shaped tourmaline slices which I would absolutely love to turn into rings/ earrings and I particularly like the type of open back bezel setting which just seems to frame the stone. I have been researching books and internet but I really struggle to find a tutorial or just any advice on how to achieve this effect.

I would really really appreciate any advice, thank you!

Here is an image for the reference of what I used as inspiration.

[Dennis]

Well, you have chosen a difficult task because slices are very fragile and soon dry out to the point of falling apart.

I would say that they are unsuitable for rings, but for pendants on short chains, where they are unlikely to get hard knocks, they can be mounted with bezel strip, trimmed to be about 4.0mm wider than the slice, the ends soldered and a jump ring added.

The slice can then be inserted and both sides set with fingers and then burnishers, taking care not to crack it.

If standard bezel strip turns out to be too narrow, then strip cut from 0.3mm fine silver sheet, can be used. Dennis

[Ksenia]

Well, you have chosen a difficult task because slices are very fragile and soon dry out to the point of falling apart.

I would say that they are unsuitable for rings, but for pendants on short chains, where they are unlikely to get hard knocks, they can be mounted with bezel strip, trimmed to be about 4.0mm wider than the slice, the ends soldered and a jump ring added.

The slice can then be inserted and both sides set with fingers and then burnishers, taking care not to crack it.

If standard bezel strip turns out to be too narrow, then strip cut from 0.3mm fine silver sheet, can be used. Dennis

Dear Dennis,

Thank you very much for your advice, I really appreciate it!

In regards to the ring in the example picture , would the bezel be made from a thicker metal and then a bearing wire would be soldered to the bottom to support the stone and allow the metal to be burnished over the top?Or there is another way to achieve it?

Kind regards,

Ksenia

[Dennis]

Yes I think there will be a back plate with a bezel, but it's just a pretty picture. Not something of practical use. Dennis.

[Ksenia]

Thank you very much, Dennis! Really appreciate it!

[josef1]

I think you can stabilise it with resin. I remember watching this a while back but Im no expert on slicing stone