Does anyone on the list work with Montana? I just discovered that I
have a large piece I’m cutting up and would like to find someone who
is accustomed to setting this stuff to ask some questions of. I
might also be interested in a collaboration.
Derek Levin
Derek, I no longer do a lot of metalsmithing, but in the past I made
a lot of fabricated jewelry out of silver and gold using Montana
Agate. There are two best ways to show off the beauty of this agate.
First you must polish off the back of each cabochon. For a pendant
either set the stone in an open back bezel or polish the metal inside
the bezel to a mirror. In a ring polish the inside of the bezel to a
mirror. Both metalsmithing techniques will allow the pattern of the
agate to best be displayed. I have sold many pieces of agate set in
this manner. Enjoy your stone. Agates like those found in Montana
are truly beauties of the Earth.
Gerry Galarneau
Does anyone on the list work with Montana?
http://www.carolinaartisans.com/shop/montana.htm
This is the URL to a piece in my “Past Works” collection from my Web
site. I formed a piece of square sterling wire to the outside
dimensions of the stone, and soldered it closed with hard solder.
Then I formed, and soldered closed, some fine silver bezel wire to
fit the outside of the square wire ring, and soldered the two
together with medium solder. I then soldered that bezel assembly to
the subsequently fabricated bracelet shank, and set the stone. Voila.
As you can see, the supporting bezel ring doesn’t show, and the
relatively transparent stone seems to float in the bezel. Of course,
a similar process can be used to create a ring or pendant with the
same bezel assembly.
Several jewelry artists (or artist jewelers) at my show this weekend
had significant amounts of Montana agate, beautifully and
artistically cut, many set in gold. A couple years ago I stocked up
on some exquisitely cut Montana agates from Tim Roark Imports, from
Atlanta. I’m not sure who the cutter was, but they’re wonderful
stones!
Thank God for SiO2! 
Dave
Dave Sebaste
Sebaste Studio and
Carolina Artisans’ Gallery
Charlotte, NC (USA)
dave@sebaste.com
Does anyone on the list work with Montana? I just discovered that I have a large piece I'm cutting up and would like to find someone who is accustomed to setting this stuff to ask some questions of. I might also be interested in a collaboration.
Derek, Montana agate is one of my favorites and I’ve cut and
polished a lot of it and I’d be glad to answer your questions.
e-mail: @Jim_Hoyle phone 760/726-9123