Hey, Corkie here 👋 I’ve been spending a lot of time at my bench lately, filming little tips along the way—I hope you find this one helpful! I made this tapered bezel from tubing using a 17° bezel block. The top was true, but the base? A bit wobbly.... more
Polishing a Hammer-Set Bezel 🔨💎 One of my favorite things to make is a thick bezel, and hammer setting is the way to go when you’re working with heavier bezels or harder metals like 14k gold. Hammer setting locks that stone in tight, but the real... more
One of the things I found really tricky when I was first starting out in jewelry making was understanding how high my bezel should sit above the stone. I’ve made every mistake: too short, too tall, uneven, all of it. Following these simple guidelines... more
This is an awesome technique, as shown by jeweler @earth_to_chandra for not getting a stone stuck in a bezel. Simply thread some floss underneath the stone (in this case she is creating a setting for a unique piece of elk ivory) then you have... more
Jewelry teacher @midnightpacific modified a tool to get the job done - “I made a new custom stone-setting tool and finally got a perfectly snug fit on this bezel. 👌🏽 Phew! The stone was a tiny bit loose and I couldn't get the brass bezel tight enough... more
Love this post from jeweler @ksjewellerydesigns which has some great stone setting tips - “I have started to set the labradorite cabochon in my latest Sea Life Pendant and thought I would share some of my 'trusty' bezel setting tools! Firstly, I... more
Here is a genius way to cut your bezel wire from @seaneckel.jewelry he wrapped 3m painters tape around the wires once he got a perfect fit around the stone, this supported the wires while he sawed through them for a nice clean cut! -“Had to do minimal... more
If your bezel has a cutout on the back and you are using Jett set or something similar to hold it, it's hard to keep the plastic from oozing up into your bezel cup and raising your stone higher than it should be. Here is an awesome tip from @elleyo... more
Here is a simple tip when soldering bezels that can save you TONS of hassle from @jewelryinstructor “When you get the bezel just the way you want it, mark the top with a Sharpie marker to be sure you solder it on your backplate right side up! Nothing... more
Let’s discuss some bezel setting solutions! @beachyandcreepy needed to raise her stone inside her setting (instead of making the bezel shorter) and decided to solder a wire coil inside to elevate the stone! What’s your technique? Let’s discuss! Thanks... more
Here is one solution for stamping your hallmark or metal type on your piece without bending it from @morrisonmaestudio -“I try to stamp before I put the bezel on the backplate. But that isn’t always possible. More often I will find a dapping punch... more
If you can see light, it isn’t right 😂 an easy way to check your seam prior to soldering is to hold your piece up to a light. In the first image I could see that I needed to sand my piece and/or my bezel, in the second image I checked again and I can... more
Here is another tip to help you get inside a tight space while bezel setting from @kayinemmetals - “I use a watchmakers knife! It's super thin and can be used to wiggle the bezel fully closed! This is one of my favorite tools since my work is very... more
Here is a tip for trimming excess material around a bezel from @nancyhoytjewelry - “The curve on the old style cuticle scissors are perfect for cutting away excess metal close to a bezel! thought I’d mention it.. just cuz using them makes me happy.... more
Here is a game changing method for setting small diamonds from @sarahmcguirestudio - “I use a miter jig to hold thick-walled tubing in place while I cut a seat and set the stone. You can then adjust the height of the bezel accordingly and saw it... more
Here is a tip for getting your bezels smooth like BUDDAH from @lejewelrydesigns -“After using a hammer handpiece, there will be a lot of marks and scratches. To remove the marks and scratches, without scratching the stone, use pumice wheels. They... more
Here is a fabulous production tip from @danaantoniadesigns when managing multiple bezels - "Today I had an ah-ha moment as I’m working my way through what I call a “Bezel Marathon” - I always find myself in this position the week before I have a... more
Amazing tip to keep your stone from shifting when you start to set it from @aimeesutanto - "Handy tip when bezel setting: use a skinny length of blu tack to temporarily hold it down, preventing it from jumping out during the initial stage of tapping... more
If you need a tool to open a set bezel, here is a step by step guide to make your own from @williamcobbjewelry - “Start with a pair of hemostats (an inexpensive surgical tool) I first had to flatten the jaws by removing the teeth. Then blunted the... more
Today I posted my first ever, step by step tutorial on the Society blog! In it I show you how to create this ring which has a gorgeous American Mined Turquoise cabochon from @riogrande 😍 For today’s tip I wanted to talk about some considerations for... more
