Jewelry Lovers

Other jewelry findings

Ear-rings findings These are made for pierced and unpierced ears. Check that ear wires are made of sterling silver or gold to avoid inflammation of delicate ear lobes. Drop ear-ring findings usually incorporate a loop onto which bell cap and stone can be threaded direct, but you can add jump rings if you wish to give extra ‘dangle’ and length.

Obviously, you will wish to spend time and care on selecting stones that look as though they belong together as a pair, but remember that no two stones are ever identical: compatibility of size, shape and colour should be your aim.

Ring mounts The majority of ring mounts have adjustable shanks which can simply be squeezed together to fit any finger. But sterling silver and 9ct. gold ring mounts are available in specific finger sizes. They need not be very costly and a silver ring with a flat pad can make an extremely handsome and durable mount for displaying a tumbled stone.

Cufflinks Like ear-rings, cufflinks require compatible stones.

Because cufflinks take a lot of wear, it is particularly important to bond the stones very firmly. Scratching the surface of both stone and pad with a carborundum stone before cleaning and bonding ensures that the adhesive has a good surface to grip on (modern knife sharpeners are usually made of steel but if you have an old fashioned one it is undoubtedly made of carborundum). Some decorative mounts have lacy filigree edges which can be sent over the stone with jewelry pliers for extra security.

Tie pins, tacks and clips Tie pins and tacks nearly always have a small round flat pad; and tie clips have a long narrow flat pad onto which a stone or row of stones can be mounted.

Chain bracelet and necklets. These can be bought ready made or can be made up by yourself. Trace chains consist of links joined at right angles to each other. In a curb chain each link is twisted through 90° so that the resulting chain has a ‘flat look’ finish. Chains can be bought purpose made for attaching pendants or hanging stones with bell caps and jump rings, or for threading directly through the gap between a flat stone and a leaf bail. A 68.5cm (27in) chain will slip over the head easily and is therefore a closed chain of links. Anything smaller than a 61cm (24in) chain will include a fastening.

Alternatively, buy a length of chain and a fastening and make the necklet or bracelet yourself. Try to purchase the exact length required. If you have to shorten a chain either open a link (as described for jump rings) and detach the unwanted extra length, or cut through closed metal links with silver shears. Never attempt to do the job with scissors as this will damage both the chain and the scissors.

The most commonly available and simplest type of clasp is a bolt ring. Fit this spring loaded catch to one end of your chain, and a jump ring — onto which the bolt ring can engage — to the other end. Bracelets and bangles. Like cufflinks these are subject to a lot of wear, so it is advisable to use a carborundum stone before applying adhesives. The most usual kind of bracelet mount consists of flat pads joined by links. The pad can be of various shapes and there are usually six to eleven of them. Obviously the greater the number of pads, the more trouble it will take to assemble a set of stones of similar shape and size in harmonizing colours. Occasionally you will find a bracelet mount with several chain links between each pad so that dangling stones can be interspersed with pad bonded stones.

Bangles are usually adjustable wide metal bands with a single large pad. Avoid pads with raised edges unless using chippings or a bought cabochon stone.

Pendants Basically there are two types of pendant findings, the simple and the ornate. The purpose of a simple pendant is purely to show off a stone. A claw setting falls into this category. So does a small pad which will be completely concealed by the stone.

But the majority of pendant findings are cast mountings and highly decorative in their own right. Available in every imaginable shape and design they incorporate a pad or pads on which a stone can be mounted to complete the ornamentation.

Brooch mounts can be simple pin backed pads on which a stone or stones can be mounted, or fob brooches (usually in a bow shape) with a loop from which a bell cap and stone can be hung; or decorative cast mounts which incorporate a pad or pads for bonded stones.

Always ensure that a brooch pin is positioned to be above the centre point of your stones—this will avoid the stone tilting forward in an unattractive way. Remember too that looking at the back of the brooch, the pin should always point to the left. Most types are available with a safety catch.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Findings for tumbled stones part 3