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Creating Cones for Faceted Stones
Make your bezel stand out! The tapered bezel (or cone-shaped) setting can be used as a bezel, and can also be filed and carved into any number of custom prong designs from wide, narrow, to rounded, and odd numbered – your imagination is the only limit!
This class will cover how to measure, cut, and fabricate a cone to transform it into a tapered bezel setting. After practicing the basic shape, David will demonstrate a variety of methods for altering this versatile setting to cut out interesting prongs. Once students have completed samples, they can pursue a project that incorporate settings into finished pieces – and, of course, set the stones! Expect to complete one finished piece during the semester.
Meet the instructor
David Baird has been making jewelry for nearly four decades. He received his bachelor's degree at the Evergreen State College, and his MFA from The School of the American Craftsman at Rochester Institute of Technology. He also has a GG (Graduate Gemology certificate) from the GIA.
David sells his work nationally and has taught classes and workshops for at least 30 years around New England including Metalwerx, DeCordova Museum School, and Lexington Arts and Crafts Center. More recently he has been developing specialized jigs to make bench processes easier for his students. The Directed Open Studio courses at Metalwerx are led by David because of his vast knowledge about the many facets of metalworking.
Over the past 15 years, David has expanded his repertoire to include lapidary cabbing and carving. He now devotes his time between two studios, both lapidary and jewelry, taking on commissions by request. His studio is located at the Waltham Mill Buildings, near Metalwerx where still he teaches regularly.
Materials & Tools
There is a $25 materials fee for this class that is payable upon registration. The materials kit includes copper and sterling silver sheet, as well as various faceted stones for setting.
- Students may wish to bring in additional silver or gold to work in, as well as any personal faceted stones they would like to work with