Tag Archives: druzy agate

smithing – creation of a gemstone and sterling silver pendant

It’s always a joy to see other people’s creative techniques. I have written before here and here about the process of silversmithing, and I thought you might like another little insight into this world.

First, the drusy gemstone (from my never-ending collection!) and a rough design sketch. I’ve already created the bezel (the metal that wraps around the stone) in this picture, bending a straight strip of metal (like the one pictured) around the stone.

The next step is preparing the backing plate. He’s some sawing and filing in action.

After filing, comes emerying.

And laying out the component parts to see how it will look. The balls of silver are made by heating some little pieces of silver until they melt – the molten silver naturally gathers up into a sphere. It’s fun stuff!

I emery the back of the bezel flat, so that the join between the two pieces of metal will be exact and the solder will flow correctly.

Then it’s time for a bit of heat.

I love how from this dirty blackened thing comes an object of beauty!

Into a solution of sulphuric acid to remove all the oxidization etc.

While the piece is pickling, I create the bail (the part from which the pendant will hang), and a little plate stamped with my maker’s mark and ‘925’ to show the piece is made from sterling silver.

Those are soldered onto the piece, then it’s back in the pickle and after that, a rinse off.

After a good clean-up, with lots of emerying down to a fine grade, I mount the piece on a wax dop so that i can set the stone.

My engraving ball comes in super-handy here!

Some time with my chasing hammer, and the stone is set.

And finally, the finished piece!

If you like this pendant, you can see more of it here in my shop.

Grey Drusy Agate Ring

I love all the cabochons I source, but once in a while I come across a cabochon that I just can’t part with. This grey drusy agate is one of those.

I love this ring, and I’ve been wearing it nearly every day!

If you’d like a custom made gemstone ring of your own, check out my gemstone collection, and let me know which one you love the most!

Lapis Lazuli Oblong Cabochon Pair

The gorgeous dark blue lapis lazuli gemstone cabochons shown here are 24mm long. They are available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring, pendant or earrings for you.

Lapis Lazuli has been mined in Afghanistan for over 6,000 years. It is believed to be good for communications and good judgement, for enhancing memory, and to attract success.

Drusy Agate – Dark Silver Titanium Coated Round Cabochon

The dark silver drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 20mm diameter. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you. You can read more about what drusy agate is here.

Agate is traditionally believed to help you to discern truth, improve memory and concentration, increase stamina, prevent insomnia and ensure pleasant dreams, enhance personal courage, protect you against danger, and provide a calming influence.

The titanium coating is applied to the natural drusy stone using an environmentally friendly process called Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) that uses only electricity to deposit a thin coating of titanium, silver, gold, cobalt or other high-grade natural metal. Treat this titanium druzy as you would an opal or pearl. A mild soap and water rinse will maintain the color and clarity of the optical surface of your druzy for a lifetime.

Reserved – Drusy Agate – Caramel Cream Oval Cabochon

Please note: This stone is reserved for a lovely client.

The caramel cream drusy agate oval gemstone cabochon shown here is 32mm long. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you. You can read more about what drusy agate is here.

This drusy cabochon has possibly been dyed. You can read more about gemstone treatments here. In order to keep your drusy looking good, it is recommended that you do not get it wet or expose it to sunlight for prolonged periods. Your piece can be cleaned using a soft silver polishing cloth.

Reserved: Drusy Agate – Pale Pink Titanium Coated Oval Cabochon

PLEASE NOTE: This stone is reserved for a lovely customer.

The pale pink drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 25mm long. You can read more about what drusy agate is here.

smithing – creation of a teardrop shaped gemstone and sterling silver ring

I love seeing other people’s processes, and I thought it was time to give you all another look into what goes on in my workshop. I have blogged before about how I create one of my signature big chunky rings, and I thought it was time to examine that process again. Here’s how I do it!

Firstly, an appropriate width strip of sterling silver sheet .6mm thick is selected.

This is curved by hand using a pair of half round pliers to fit the gemstone.

Next, the strip is cut to approximately the right length on my bench peg using my jeweller’s saw, leaving a small extension for soldering against.

In this video, you see me prepare and apply the borax, position the solder (not usually quite so fumbly, I had a bit of stage fright!) and solder the bezel together.

Once the metal is cool, it goes into the pickle to be cleaned. An explanation of pickle can be found in my previous blog post.

I trim the excess bezel metal away from the solder join.

I check to make sure the bezel is a good fit.

I emery the bottom of the bezel so that it is completely flat and will make a good join with the base plate.

I select a piece of 1mm thick sterling silver sheet to fit the bezel.

I solder the bezel to the backing plate. Here you see me applying the paillons of solder with borax, and soldering the join. Then it’s back to the pickle.

After rinsing and drying, a bit of a check to see how it’s looking!

Now, I saw the excess metal from around the bezel setting.

After filing the edges of the bezel setting, I start creating the ring shank.

Using the appropriate width of 1.2mm thick sterling silver plate, I bend the shank to the right shape and size.

I trim the shank to the right length.

I hammer the shank with a mallet to get it perfectly round (this shot is for explanation only, I actually have the mandrel hard up against the bench to absorb the force when I’m really hammering the ring!).

Emerying the inside of the shank with my flex drive makes life easier.

After more filing and emerying, I stamp the inside of the shank with my maker’s mark and 925, which marks the metal as being sterling silver (the 92.5% is the fine silver content).

I solder the shank to the bezel setting assembly.

Then it’s time for plenty more filing, and coarse to fine emerying to bring the ring close to it’s finished state. (Zen or tedium, you decide!)

Next, I head over to my trusty engraving ball to set the stone.

Plenty of gentle hammering with my setting hammer later…

And my work, bar some tidying up, is done!

There it is, a beautiful drusy agate ring. I do so love what I do!

Reserved: Drusy Agate – Silver Grey Titanium Coated Oval Cabochon

Please note: this stone is reserved for a lovely client.

The silvery grey drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 25mm long. You can read more about what drusy agate is here.

Reserved – Drusy Agate – Absinthe Green Oval Cabochon

This gemstone is reserved for a special client.

The absinthe green drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 31mm long. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you. You can read more about what drusy agate is here.

This drusy cabochon has been dyed. You can read more about gemstone treatments here. In order to keep your drusy looking good, it is recommended that you do not get it wet or expose it to sunlight for prolonged periods. Your piece can be cleaned using a soft silver polishing cloth.

Grey Titanium Coated Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

I was very happy when Bek asked to make this stunning piece of drusy into a bespoke ring for her.

The sparkle is wonderful, and the ring is a great one for every occasion!

If you’d like your own ring, you can choose your favourite stone from my gemstone collection, and I’d love to create it into something lovely for you!

the silver forge

jewellery handcrafted by ruthie gray