Bezel Setting Druzy

Jewelry Discussion
1

I am feeling like a bull in a china shop when I set druzy! Is
there anyone out there who has been bezel setting druzy? I have
experimented with the bezel height to see if that will help but,
I still see those tiny little crystal pop off as I am trying to
close down the bezel. Should I try a bezel a tad higher then the
druzy and not close the bezel all the way down? I will try
setting it from the back but that will not work with every
design. If anyone has experience setting these lovely sparkling
stones I would appreciate any hints you have to offer. Thanks,
Eileen

2

Eileen, My partner and I have been setting drusy for a time.
We have found that cutting the drusy at an angle (bit wider at
back of stone) allows for the finished sides, especially black
onyz and silver onyz to be shown off nicely And you do not have
to bezel to the crystal. However on lighter color drusy and
where the matrix is not pretty and a contrast like the onyx you
have to carefully bezel just up to the crystals and roll
carefully…Gary in Redding, Ca.

3

Eileen - I bezel set drusy - I, too, love those stones! I
usually make the bezel as usual or vary the height (sorta
sculpted) to conform to the stone. Then I use 330 epoxy as you
would with a pearl. I push over the bezel slightly so there is
no gap showing, but the stone is really held in by the epoxy. I
usually don’t lose any of the crystals this way. If there is a
better way, I hope someone will tell us!! Gini in St.
Petersburg (where the humidity is still higher than the temp)

4

Eileen, This is a stone that lends itself to Fine wire wrap. Very
classic tightly joined wire just one wire wider than the width of
the stone, move the backmost wire to support the stone in the
rear in four equi-lateral locations, and then in the front
laterally opposing and minimally. No twists or curlicues.

If you prefer, you can make a solid back, loosely braid wire,
solder the curves to the back, and then bring some of the outside
braided wire over the druzy randomly to hold it on the back.
Teresa

5

Hello Eileen! Your solution is most probably easiest to solve by
some slight adjustments in your design. Druzy crystals have nice
shapes and multi colors to work with. When you look at your
intended design use less metal to set the stones. Find two or
three key points to hold the stone in an interesting way;
aesthetically.

These are artsy gems, appealing to a fairly narrow crowd but
with interest for all who see them set creatively. Use 18k for
setting advantage, and salability. When you see a risky position
for a partial bezel; use a piece of 24k soldered in. You can
border your seam with white gold wire to highlight the
transition from 18 to 24k.

Anyway try and get away from complete bezels with risky stones.
Especially for earrings and pendants; good opportunity for
creativity.

			Tim
6

Interesting question. I do not set druzy stones, but I would
assume that glue would work better than bezel. With glue, you
could set the stone without damage. Most of the druzy that I’ve
seen has been in cast settings. I’m a silversmith, and make my
own bezels. I’ve never bought a druzy. They scare the heck out
of me.

7

All, Drusy is a lot of fun. As a stone cutter I try to cut
the stone with a level girdle and a flat back. Yes there is a
lot of waste this way, but the trade off is a fine piece of
jewelry. Stones should be cut to fit into jewelry, or the
metal smith should design a specific setting to hold the
diffficult stone. Waxing in a stone and casting the mounting
usually yields a stronger more durable mounting.

Gerry

8

Yes, druzy is a challenge to set, but not impossible. You can
even purchase druzy that only has crystals in the center of the
stone, meaning the polished base comes up quite high on the
stone. That way you cand pound your little heart out without
much problem. Otherwise, if the stone has crystals covering the
intire top, try to “inlay the stone”. You can fabricate the
bezel then file and fit it so the bezel sits just below the
crystal top. I usually file the top edge down a little too,
that way the bezel will push over without a lot of work. I use a
rounded punch to carefully push the metal around the stone.
However you decide to set the stone, really examin it first.
Does it need a bezel that goes all the way over the stone? I
have set some more delicate peices that I believe do, even in
pendants. Good luck, and don’t give up on druzy material, it’s
really fun once you get use to them!!!

Katrina

9

I usually file the top edge down a little too,
that way the bezel will push over without a lot of work. I use a
rounded punch to carefully push the metal around the stone.

This works for me, too. But I like using a modified toothbrush
handle for a pusher – won’t mark the metal and it’s safer for
the crystals should you brush them in setting. Speeds up the
job, too.

Just cut an old toothbrush handle off at the base of the
bristles and smooth the end and sides, rounding the edges a bit.
(Learned this long ago from Tim McCreight’s book "The Complete
Metalsmith)

HTH
Pam Chott, in hot, very humid, monsoony Mesa, AZ
@Pam_Chott
www.silverhawk.com/ex99/chott

10

Ok, all you druzy lovers out there! Please enlighten this soul
as to where I might obtain these beautiful stones. The only ones
I have run across have been dyed in horrifying and atrocious
colors :frowning: Thanks in advance my e-mail is :
@lisa_marie_carrell

11

HI: If you are interested in blue druzy I have some I would let
go of, also hope to find some carnelian druzy this year. I have
a couple hundred pounds of graveyard point agate.
RINGMAN JOHN HENRY

12

For all the natural druzy lovers out there, we cut druzy. It
takes us about three to four weeks to do a batch because of the
cleaning process, then it is ground to shape and the sides are
polished. I have some in the final stages now and should be
ready by weeks end and posted to our web-site. If you have any
questions, please feel free to e-mail us at @gggemswcr We
also cut the cab-tops or buff top stones i.e. faceted
pavilions (bottoms) and cabbed tops.

Gerry&Marty

13

Lisa

To my knowledge, black druzy is usually colored. (Anyone, feel
free to correct me if I am wrong.) The source I go to for druzy
is JD findings, Jordan is involved on the Orchid forum. I think
they have excellent quality and can well match specific sizes and
styles of cuts. I don’t know the price range you were looking
in, but the inexpensive, “deals” that I have seen in druzy look
there price.

Katrina

JD Findings
jdfindings@mindspring.com
(201)541-4160
1 Grand Ave. Office #2
Englewood NJ, 07632

The aslo have a wide variety of other stones. I get moonstones and
ameythst from them as well.

14

kbarnett, there is a type of black druze that is natural. It is
actually clear quartz druze over psilomalene (a tungsten oxide,
I think?) it can be any shade from coal black to light grey,
depending on the thickness of the quartz deposit. that dk. grey
druze with the rainbow iridescence is coated with titanium to
give it that look - kinda interesting, if you can get it cheap,
but still a fake stone. Druze comes in so many really great
colors, why bother? (my cat,“Druze” is named after a piece of
stone the same exact color of calico she is.) if you would like
to aquire stone contact me at @sunspirit
later, mark