Virtual Class: Bead and Flush Stone Setting

3 Days Covering Gem Stone Setting Types and Gem Purchasing, Properties, and Techniques

About this Course

This live 3-day online course will focus on bead and flush gem stone setting processes, individual student needs and what I call “Street Gemology.” Classes each day are 2 hours and a combination of lecture and live demonstrations. Hands on stone setting and practice will be on your own outside of the course. We will discuss your gem setting experiences at the beginning of each class to fine tune your new skills.

Online videos of the 2 setting types will be available to students after the class.

Day 1: Bead Setting

Starting with bead setting, I guide students in how to expertly hold and use each tool, while learning the processes for this delicate stone setting technique. This will allow you to use smaller, less expensive stones as highlights on nearly any design surface.

Day 2: Office Hours & Gem Stone Overview

Office Hours. We talk about your work, tools that you are thinking about buying, processes that you are having trouble with and anything that you would like to talk about. I will also be teaching an introduction to gems in what I call Street Gemology, which is an overview about commonly used gems, their physical properties, how they are to work with and what to look for when shopping for gemstones.

Day 3: Flush Setting

The last session will cover flush setting. This is my favorite setting as it allows the surface of the metalwork to conceal how the gem is set, leaving your work unblemished and flush with the surface of your piece, showcasing the stones and nothing more. Visually simple to look at, but I save this for last as it is the more difficult of the settings.

For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page.

Details:

Session 1
Dates: December 15, 16, 17 (Friday – Sunday)
When: 1-3pm (PST)
Where: Virtual Online – Zoom
Capacity: 15 students
Tuition: $240

Class Requirements:

This class is for intermediate or higher-level students that have basic skills and have their own workspace set up already.

Materials and Supplies:

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives.

Please note that you DO NOT have to have these items to be involved with the class, but many of the items will be necessary to practice these settings and will make your stone setting life easier.

A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor’s name to be redirected to a page where you can find the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. Student participation in-between class sessions is strongly encouraged but not required – observers are welcome.

Materials:

1 practice band – flat profile – 2mm or 14ga thick and about 6mm wide – copper is fine
At least 10- 2.5mm cz’s (Rio Grande)

Hand tools:

1 x ring clamp or other clamping device (Rio Grande)
1 x rotary tool – flexshaft or micro-motor (Rio Grande)
1 x 2.5mm setting bur (Rio Grande or Otto Frei)
1 x 2.3mm bud bur (Rio Grande or Otto Frei)
1 x beading tool set (Rio Grande or Otto Frei)
1 x center punch (Rio Grande or Otto Frei)
drill bit – #51 or 1.7mm (Rio Grande)
magnification – MegaViews, optivisors, 10x loupe, etc.
good light source
lubricant – burlife or beeswax
fine point Sharpie marker
toothbrush
small amount of sticky wax or beeswax

About Open Mic:

I am a teacher, and I teach with student’s microphones OPEN. My many years of experience in the classroom have led me to prefer an interactive experience much like a live classroom, where students benefit from one another’s questions and problems as much as their own. With mics off, it might just as well be YouTube, and I think this gives you more.