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Custom Stone Settings from Scratch
This weekly class provides training and solutions for a range of stone settings and techniques aimed at dressing up or enhancing your jewelry designs. Over several weeks, students will make, manipulate, and alter bezel, tube, taper, prong, and bead settings that will be made from scratch! Starting with a review of these settings, students will refine their approach to planning out and designing a stone setting, placing particular emphasis on visual interest, but most importantly on making sure it perfectly fits the stone. Suitable bail, ear wire, and shank compatibility will be discussed, along with making or altering setting tools to more easily aid the setting process.
There will also be demonstrations on setting uniquely shaped materials and alternative ways to stabilize gems. Students only need to bring in their unique cabochons, gems, or similar objects and their creativity!
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 $90 materials fee for this workshop that is payable upon registration. The materials kit includes substantial 16g sterling silver sheet, 12g sterling silver square wire stock, copper sheet, numerous burs (2mm, 3mm, 4.7mm, 5mm), graver handle, CZ/cabochon options, and other miscellaneous items needed for class objectives.
- NOTE: if you wish to set odd shapes of stones and unique materials, you are required to bring them to class
- any stones or materials you are interested in setting during the session (this can include basic cabochon stones, as well as unusually shaped gems)
- if you are a prolific maker, you may want to bring extra metal (fine silver, sterling, gold, copper, etc.)
- sketchbook and writing implement