I’ve searched the wonderful Orchid archives but haven’t found this specific question asked or answered so I thought I’d float it out
there to see what’s what.
I would like to get a good hands-on book focused on gem setting,
something for the intermediate teach-yourself crowd.
The ideal book would have step-by-step stone setting diagrams such
as those that Oppi provides on pages 615 and 621 of “Jewelry Concepts
and Technology” (1985). Detailed setting fabrication procedures such
as Alan Revere offers in a few of his chapters in “Professional
Goldsmithing” would be most welcome.
Contemporary designs are fine but by no means preferred. In or
out-or-print, both are good. Any suggestions?
Many thanks, for this and all things Orchid that have gone before
it, Trevor F.
The BEST book I’ve seen by far, is the one I am currently reviewing
for some of the trade magazines. It’s an new one by Robert Wooding
called the “The Diamond Setting Manual” - ISBN 0961354550. Most of
you are aware that he has written half a dozen other books on stone
setting (plus all the video tapes:), but this is absolutely his best
work!
I will have my complete review posted to the Orchid forum in a few
days…
The Diamond Setting Manual
Robert R. Wooding
Hardcover: 233 pages
Publisher: Dry Ridge Company; (January 2002)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0961354550 /ganoksincom-20
Brian P. Marshall
Stockton Jewelry Arts
Add Book Info
Diamond Setting Manual by Robert Wooding is pretty good. (we do sell
it). Blaine Lewis’ great video ‘workshop in a box’ is excellent and
he’s working on more of them. And rumor has it Alan Revere may be
coming out with something useful in the foreseeable future… best
Charles
Charles Lewton-Brain/Brain Press
Box 1624, Ste M, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2L7, Canada
Tel: 403-263-3955 Fax: 403-283-9053 Email: @Charles_Lewton-Brai1
A fairly new book, The Rings Book,by Jinks McGrath. Krause
Publications. It is available from Amazon at a reduced price. I love
her books as they self explanatory and easy to follow. Hope you
like it, Louise
The Rings Book
by Jinks McGrath
Price: $17.47
Paperback: 128 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.41 x 9.34 x 6.70
Publisher: Krause Publications; (January 2003)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0873495438/ganoksincom-20
I too have been looking for a good book on stone setting, for 35
years!
There are only a few books out there at all. But with due respect
for the authors, I have not found a setting book with the clarity,
quality and professional that I want, in the form I want
it. So a few months ago I began a series on Stone Setting in JCK
magazine. Four installments have appeared so far, focused on bezels
and tube setting. The fifth in the series is about Basic Prong
Setting. It comes out in October and has seventeen of the best close
up color photos I have seen on this subject. The text and
explanations break down the difficult steps into sub-steps with
detailed and photos.
As Charles Lewton-Brain mentioned in his note on this subject, I am
compiling these JCK installments into a book, which is at least a
year or more down the road.
In the meantime, I am working on Professional Setting Repair, which
should be out next year. This is the second in my repair series,
after Ring Repair. It covers the repairs that bench jewelers are
asked to do such as: resetting, retipping, repronging, rebuilding,
exchanging heads, etc.
If you are a subscriber, look for the October issue of JCK. And, if
you have any feedback on this subject or suggestions about ongoing
setting articles, please let me know. Alan
One of the better books out there is The Art of Diamond Setting by
Ray Schow. This book is for bead and bright cutting and covers basic
bead raising, tool preparation and basic layout for plate setting
diamonds. There are many very good close up shots which show the
intricate details of many of the setting techniques used in this more
complicated setting style. It is a very good book in setting and
walks you through easy projects to quite complex projects with
multiple beads per corner. If you want to learn this style of
setting or improve your techniques this is a good resource.
I hope this helps.
Phillip Scott G.G.
Technical Support & Sales
Rio Grande
1-800-545-6566
I wanted to thank all of you that contributed to the Gem Setting
book inquiry. Based on that feedback I’ve ordered a couple of the
Robert Wooding books. I’d also pre-order Mr. Revere’s upcoming book
on the subject if I thought he’d take my money. His other books are
amazing!
Trevor, Thanks very much for the kind words on Orchid.
Please send me your mailing info so that I can make sure to let you
know when the next books are available: Bench Tricks - projected for
mid 2004 Setting Repair - mid to late 2004 Stone Setting - 2005