Bezel block

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi,

I understand that with a round hole bezel block you form a cone
before you put it on the block to be punched. With a square or
triangle bezel block, is there a basic shape that you want to form
the bezel into before it is punched?

Thanks,
Chris

2 
I understand that with a round hole bezel block you form a cone
before you put it on the block to be punched. With a square or
triangle bezel block, is there a basic shape that you want to form
the bezel into before it is punched?

There have been quite a few cooking examples, so I will use one in my
answer too. There are 2 basic ways to make creme anglaise, - one is
to combine eggs and cream and cook it to consistency using
bain-marie, and second is to dispense with bain-marie and do it on
open flame. The later is faster than former, but requires greater
skills.

The same situation exists in using bezel blocks of other shapes than
round. It is possible to always start with round cone of the same
circumference as intended bezel and gradually forcing this round
cone in smaller and smaller dies of required shape achieve proper
bezel. It is reasonable way to go except it takes longer than direct
approach. Another problem is that there are size limitations. Bezel
blocks in large sizes are almost impossible to find and once found,
the price can be a surprise.

Second approach is to construct bezel of required shape and use bezel
block only for perfecting the shape. It is faster, but requires
knowledge of how to make a pattern, which would yield required shape
once folded.

Leonid Surpin