Findings for student stone setters?

Jewelry Discussion
1

Greetings! Can anyone help me find some silver or basemetal findings
for students in a stone setting course? I am looking for some 4
prong rings with places for baguttes on the side, also some princess
heads and maybe a pearshape. Rio is pretty limited and stuller and
hoover have very little other than gold. I guess I could always have
them fabricate the heads frome base metal, there is nothing like
spending 5 hour on 5 cents worth of metal.

wayne werner

2 
Can anyone help me find some silver or basemetal findings for
students in a stone setting course? I am looking for some 4 prong
rings with places for baguttes on the side, also some princess
heads and maybe a pearshape. Rio is pretty limited and stuller and
hoover have very little other than gold. I guess I could always
have them fabricate the heads frome base metal, there is nothing
like spending 5 hour on 5 cents worth of metal.

Last time I tought a class needing such, I purchased some “live”
settings in gold, or made up a couple samples myself. rubber molded
these, then spent an afternoon injecting waxes and cast up a whole big
batch in bronze and silver for the class. All in all, I spent a day at
it, but that provided all the parts needed for the whole class. The
models I made were deliberately crude, so the kids would also get some
training in things like cleaning up a casting, filing things straight
and to specified dimensions, etc, in addition to just setting work.

Also recall one cool model I saw used like this in one class.
Consisted of a sort of cube shaped frame work, with each face
presenting a different type of setting problem. Flat plate for single
stone bead set plate, drilled in a single row for a bead set row,
marked but not drilled for multirow pave work, four prongs on one
side, channels to be set on another, etc. The things were perhaps 3/8
or 1/4 inch across, and were cast in bronze or something. Just an
idea. Do it once, make two or three rubber molds for speedy
injecting, and let the students help with injecting and spruing,
etc…

cheers

Peter

3

Wayne

I am teaching my students on the very same item you are looking for,
send ME your address. I will send YOU in return a ring for a 5 MM
Princess with two tapered baguettes. It’s a real easy item to set. I
will even send you some CZ of the center stone to match up later
with also some shoulder stones. Maker a rubber mold of it and your
are in better shape than begging for something in the future. Us
teachers, MUST unite…My setting book also describes in full how to
set Princess stones w/baguettes…

“Gerry Lewy” teaching Gem Setting in Toronto Canada.

4

You should try Tripps Inc. They have a lot of silver settings, but
most are easy mounts. I have always had good luck with them, Janine
in Redding CA

5

Try Loren Castings on the web. They do lots of styles that are
traditionally done in gold, but will do every piece in their
selection in sterling also. Kinda slow tho.

Ed

6

Blaine Lewis at New Approach School had some models cast in a special
brass alloy that resembled the feel of gold. I don’t know if he
sells them or not.

7

Hi Wayne,

Greetings! Can anyone help me find some silver or basemetal
findings for students in a stone setting course?

Have you tried www.tripps.com?

They may not have base metal, but they have a wide selection of
sterling.

Dave

8

Dear All,

We use a few die struck sterling crowns in some of our diamond
setting courses. We also solder them in our repair courses. Open base
as well as peg are available through the Newall Co. In Chicago. I
believe bulk prices are available. You have to ask for them. Their
web site is www.newallmfg.com.

Best Regards

Todd Hawkinson
Instructor
Minneapolis Community & Technical College

9

Wayne,

Give Stuller a call and ask for Brett in Stone Setting. Stuller uses
base metal castings to train their novice stone setters. Maybe they
would sell you a few?

Good luck,
James S. Cantrell CMBJ

10 
Can anyone help me find some silver or basemetal findings for
students in a stone setting course?

Wayne - why dont you teach a casting class first then you could have
the students make thier own findings out of one of rio grande’s fine
non gold/ silver alloys rings heads bands etc. best regards goo

11

IJS has bezel cups in nickel and red brass. All item numbers will
begin with 12A- for nickel and 15A- for the brass.

–Dan - IJS

12

I usually try to make all my own settings. There is a cool little
jig FDJ sells, and Im sure others do as well, for making prong
settings. The rest I wing it. Figure I can save by making my own, and
increase my skills as well.

Daniel