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[Felicia]

A couple of days ago, there was a question of slab thickness/ cab shape. I think I promised pictures. Shape/doming may be dependent on slab thickness, so it's necessary to use what you have, and make the dome shape according to the best use of the stone. Sometimes you cut it yourself and the choice is yours, taking function into account. Just make sure the bevel is good for setting in the bezel. As you can see, a variety of shapes work. I like to keep earrings light weight, so they may be thinner/flatter. Or do something different like the higher domed and flat top blue quartzite. If you have acquired or made thin, low dome cabs that won't take a bezel well, prongs or wire wrap may be an excellent option.
IMG_20200426_153037.jpg (234.86 kB . 959x912 - viewed 521 times). Enjoy the work, create!

[hummingbirdstones]

Nice work, Felicia, and a good display of cab thickness!

[Opal Mike]

I love the way you guys have an intimate understanding of these things... Australian Jewellers are generally not lapidaries, and lapidaries are not jewellers, hence there is often a massive disconnect between the two.

Felicia has highlighted yet again what a wonderful resource the American lapidary industry is, and it’s massive influence in shaping and driving jewellery trends and in the use of so called semi precious stones.

I love this post!

Mike

[Felicia]

Started in lapidary, took up the metalworking to get  settings to fit the stones, and got interested in silver work for itself. Would like to work in gold, but...

[Opal Mike]

Yeah the gold price is getting out of orbit lol. If you can work with silver, gold is dead easy! You could try a bit of both. We (I really mean Jenni), is currently working on a new range of sterling silver shank, 18k gold bezel opal doublet rings. They look great and the bezels only use a gram or less in the 18k..

You could do it with your stuff...just have to get the low fire scale 925. It kinda works because you can just mill out the 18k into your bezel wire...and snip off what you need...very little waste.

Some material looks great in a gold bezel, and the contrast looks good too..you could also try different textures on the plate work (silver) to further enhance the gold bezels..

Mike

[Felicia]

I've been thinking about doing that for a coober pedy opal I have, and including small  London blue topaz cab with it, may add a small 3rd stone, too. Won't be milling out anything, no rolling mill, (sigh).