Bezel Set Stone Ring Expectations
- Approved design must be stamped and turned in with project (no copy righted images)
- Project should not be melted anywhere
- All edges must be filed clean, crisp and smooth
- Band must support the stone structurally and aesthetically
- bezel must be soldered down completely to base plate with no gaps
- There should be a creative element
- Decorative base plate
- Fancy bezel
- Bezel accent
- Interesting band design: The following do not count as interesting band designs single round, or square wire, two wires twisted or round wire flattened
- Stone is set tightly and does not move
- Bezel edges are clean, even, smooth and polished
- Ring must have a uniform surface
- Solder joints are connected and strong
- All overflow solder is removed
- Ring must be turned in on time
Grading Rubric
- 10pt — make and solder a bezel
- 20pt — solder the bezel to the baseplate with no gaps
- 20pt — make a ring band
- 10pt — solder ring band to base plate
- 20pt — set stone securely, does not wiggle in setting
- 20pt — all excess solder is removed, bezel is clean and not sanded or melted and ring is well polished
- up to 25pts extra credit for design elements
The Process
Choose a stone
Design your ring and get it approved
Get your wire and base-plate
Roll out your round wire into a bezel wire, between 26-30 gauge
Anneal the bezel wire
Put one end of the bezel wire into a vise and pull it straight with long handled pliers
Wrap the bezel wire around the stone
Make sure there are no gaps between wire and stone, then mark wire at its overlap and cut off unneeded end
Make sure the bezel edges are straight and free of bugars
Get medium solder from Mr. Steadman and use it to solder bezel edges together
Flatten base-plate, as needed, and bezel so there is no gap between them
Place bezel on base-plate (use boric acid and flux) put easy solder in corner around the inside of the bezel wall
Heat the project from the bottom of the base-plate until the solder melts and secures the bezel to the base-plate with no gaps
Choose a stone
Design your ring and get it approved
Get your wire and base-plate
Roll out your round wire into a bezel wire, between 26-30 gauge
Anneal the bezel wire
Put one end of the bezel wire into a vise and pull it straight with long handled pliers
Wrap the bezel wire around the stone
Make sure there are no gaps between wire and stone, then mark wire at its overlap and cut off unneeded end
Make sure the bezel edges are straight and free of bugars
Get medium solder from Mr. Steadman and use it to solder bezel edges together
Flatten base-plate, as needed, and bezel so there is no gap between them
Place bezel on base-plate (use boric acid and flux) put easy solder in corner around the inside of the bezel wall
Heat the project from the bottom of the base-plate until the solder melts and secures the bezel to the base-plate with no gaps