Online Distance Learning Course
Bezel Set Cabochon Stone Setting
£75

All of our online distance learning courses run as private Facebook groups. This is the only way you will be able to access the course content. After completing your registration you will be directed to the private Facebook group where you can request to join. We will accept your request as soon as possible.

Stone setting is a huge subject. Many of the stone setting techniques have a deep rooted heritage in the traditional jewellery making and silver-smithing industry. Many of these traditional techniques can be adapted and applied to working with metal clay very successfully too.

There are a vast number of methods and techniques that can be applied to set different stones. The methods you choose are determined by the size, cut and shape of the stone to enhance the stone into an attractive design.
This course will focus in on four options for setting flat back cabochon stones into bezel settings. The two projects by no means, exhaust all the options on stone setting but will help the beginner to intermediate enthusiast on their journey to exploring stone setting. There are options to work using both soldering and non-soldering techniques.
This amazing course has been split into two pre-recorded videos lasting more than two hours. It is an advanced class - you will need a good level of experience of working with metal clay.
Each of our courses are assessed for suitability and difficulty levels
  1. Suitable for the absolute beginner with no or very little experience with silver clay
  2. Suitable for the beginner or improver, with some basic foundation skills
  3. Intermediate level - having some experience but ready for the next challenge
  4. Advanced class - you will need a good level of experience of working with the material
  5. Master class - A good to high level of experience required
This course is assessed as a level 2/3 or above course.
For a fraction of the cost of joining Tracey at her studio you get full detailed instructional videos & support documents as well as live interaction with Tracey for full support & to ask her any questions you might have. We also encourage you to post pictures of your achievements & chat with other group members. This course offers amazing value for money. You can join this course at any time.

Please note that you will be added to the group manually. You cannot download this course yourself

What is Covered

  • Designing and create your own scratch foam texture plate
  • Creating a bezel from fine silver flat pancake wire. This option does not use any soldering techniques
  • Embedding a bezel into silver clay
  • Setting the stone with a rub over setting
  • Creating a bezel with gallery wire with pattern repeat matching
  • Prong setting the gallery wire
  • Using bezel cups with two options for setting; a soldering and non-soldering option
  • Creating linked chains in metal clay
  • Creating components and embellishments
  • Firing procedures
  • Patina, Polishing and finishing

What You Will Need

Materials

  • Silver clay
  • Paste pot
  • Syringe
  • 3mm wide fine silver bezel wire
  • Fine silver or sterling silver gallery wire
  • Silver solder
  • Scratch foam
  • A little polymer clay
  • 8mm & 6mm Sterling silver jump rings
  • Fine silver bezel cups (corresponding size to the gem stones)
  • Gemstone cabochons of your choice
  • Moorish Earrings - 8mm amethyst with corresponding bezel cups
  • Opal Essence Chain - oval opal triplets 4mm amethyst & 6mm opal triplet cabochons both with corresponding bezel cups

Silver Clay Tools

  • Work surface such as a large tile, piece of Teflon or plain glass
  • Roller – small rolling pin
  • Assorted sizes of spacer bars or a deck of playing cards
  • Badger Balm Olive oil or Cool Slip
  • Water brush
  • Water pot
  • Tissue blade
  • Craft knife
  • Textures: wallpapers are my favourites
  • Needle tool
  • Rubber tip tool
  • Water spritz bottle
  • Mechanical pencil
  • Rubber block
  • Tube cutters – available from our online store
  • Cling wrap
  • Wet wipes
  • Kitchen roll
  • Small click-lock box to store clay
  • Plastic shot glasses
  • Files
  • Templates - optional
  • Cookie cutters
  • Tweezers
  • Narrow lolly stick
  • Sanding grits, or papers or sanding plate
  • Tracing paper
  • Bezel pusher/burnisher
  • Steel block
  • Wooden dowel
  • Small hammer
  • Ball end tool
  • Scissors
  • Cutter pliers

For Torch Firing/Soldering

  • Fibre brick
  • Butane gas torch
  • Butane gas
  • Cross lock tweezers
  • Assorted solder easy, medium, hard
  • Safety pickle
  • Quench bowl
  • Safety goggles
  • Solder pick

For Kiln Firing

  • Long tweezers
  • Heat proof gloves

For Polishing

  • Brass wire brush
  • Washing up liquid and warm water in a bowl
  • Optional other polishing equipment, polishing wheel, JoolTool, Dremel with radial discs or by hand with 3M wet and dry papers
  • Soft cloth and polish
  • Liver of sulphur as an option for patina. Other products are also available
  • Two Small glass or ceramic pots for Patina and bicarbonate solutions
  • Bicarbonate of soda

You will be encouraged to post pictures of your work and Tracey will give you ongoing feedback. You will also be able to join in the discussion with other group members. You will be able to pick up heaps of experience from each other.
Please note that if you want to sell any jewellery that you make using silver clay, then in the UK you are legally required to add your hallmark to any item weighing 7.78gm or more. Further information is available in the Hallmarking page.

You can email me at tracey@craftworx.co.uk or call me on 07961 883115