Adding some Razzle to your Dazzle – Incorporating Gemstones in Jewellery Making
by: Adam Hunter
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The first thing to do is to decide exactly what kind of piece you want to create. Once you have decided on that, you can then narrow your field of choice down regarding shape and size. If you are making a broach with an inlay gemstone setting, a cabochon of any precious or semi-precious gemstone can easily be fitted into a corresponding blank mounting. A popular combination is silver and turquoise, giving a beautiful finish for a budget price.
Most silver and gold findings can be bought from jewellery suppliers. Good suppliers will also carry a range of gemstones that are designed to fit their selection of mountings. To use gemstones in your jewellery making, you need only a few simple tools and a lot of imagination. If you’re really serious about gemstones, you can purchase the uncut stones and build up your workshop to include tumblers, polishers, diamond-tipped drills and other jeweller’s tools to create your own, unique results. If you are intending to produce a quantity of gemstone jewellery, the initial outlay of equipment will soon pay dividends, as the uncut gemstones are far cheaper than the cut ones.
Semi-precious gemstones can also be bought as beads, combined with delicate silver spacers and created into beautiful, elegant jewellery. A particular favourite is the deep blue azure of Lapis Lazuli with its golden flecks and shimmering iridescence.
Creating stylish and unique jewellery is far easier than you think. By incorporating gemstones into your designs, you can even make birthstone-specific jewellery for a particularly individual gift. Each zodiac sign has corresponding gemstones, most of which are relatively common and fairly cheap. Even the more expensive stones, such as emeralds and sapphires, can be cheaper than you expected, especially if you choose a stone that is perhaps of a lower quality, but has its own raw beauty.
The important thing to remember when venturing into the world of gemstones for the first time is to shop around. There are plenty of suppliers in the market, and there are bargains to be had, particularly if you are willing to do a little work on the stone yourself. Don’t be afraid to experiment – if you’re not happy with the results, you can always dismantle the piece and incorporate the gem into a different setting or even a completely different design.
Gemstones never go out of fashion, so take a look around jewellery fairs to pick up inspiration and ideas for your own work, and in no time you’ll be adding your own, unique gemstone designs into your jewellery making.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/profile/adam-hunter-2945.html
About the Author
Adam Hunter – E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of jewellery making supplies from over 10,000 products including gemstones, gold and silver wire, jewellery findings, tools, precious metal clay and gold and silver sheet - gold, silver, platinum and palladium plus technical information for jewellers, jobbers, designer, craftsmen, artisans and students. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Adam Hunter E-commerce Marketing Manager Tel(DDI): +44 (0) 121 212 6491 E-mail: adam.hunter@cooksongold.com
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