TaoGem Gemstones

Is annealing really just a simple matter of heating the metal and letting it cool?
I think this is the first question that comes to mind for someone brand new to working silver and other metals for jewelry design. I know it was for myself.
One important benefit to annealing is that the process makes the [...]

This was the first time I had purchased a ring blank to set a stone in. When I saw it in the magazine it appeared to have a bezel type setting with four prongs. I thought was simply going to be able and push the floral looking bezel and prongs up against the gemstone.
After it [...]

Needed something to blog about so thought would add an entry about today’s soldering project.
I wanted to try another like 1Rockhounds Biggs Jasper piece with the bezel tape on the outside of the backing. Except I tried another attempt at using flattened wire for the backing again instead of cut out sheet backing.
The order of [...]

After some trials and errors, and lots of help from other forum members, I was finally able to complete my first bezel gemstone pendant.
There were some difficulties going through the first soldering.
Any way, worth a blog post!
If your here, show me some love and tell me how you like it. I am always interested in [...]

Here are several types of settings for gemstone cabochons that will be set after firing the metal clay.
Fine silver bezel wire. Wrap a strip of fine silver bezel wire around the base of a cabochon. Test fit and adjust the bezel over your cabochon on a flat surface. There shouldn’t be any gaps but the [...]

I just felt like posting how some examples of multiple gemstone sets that are excellent for use in bezel and other silver smithing kinds of settings.
I always cut gemstone cabochon sets like these from the same slab. The idea being to have an awesome matching appearance by utilizing colors, grain, and or combinations of mineral [...]

Every imaginable type of jasper for gemstone jewelry designing. For a silversmith who uses gemstones in your settings. For designing silver metal clay gemstone jewelry pieces, or for any other type of gemstone jewelry. Especially any gemstone jewelry designs that use bezel settings.
Here are just a few examples of different types of jasper gemstone cabochons [...]

I was thinking today about some of the things people, places and things that I was exposed to when I first decided to learn about how to make gemstone cabochons. Not to mention the long term desire to learn how to make gemstone jewelry. More specific, gemstone jewelry that I knew would be designed using [...]

I wanted to sorta be prepared for my first silver metal clay beginners class coming up the end of the month.
I decided to practice what I preach from a previous blog entry, and will design my first piece more around the design / shape of the stones. Then work second with the shape of the [...]

Now that I have some time under my belt cutting, shaping, sanding and polishing gemstones for others who are skilled jewelry designers, I am now ready to learn some type of jewelry making. After selling to so many talented jewelry designers and witnessing the many interesting jewelry making techniques, I have decided to pursue metal [...]