Working with Rose Cut Gems

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is strongly encouraged but not required - observers are welcome.

Metal/raw materials:

• 1"x1" min. x Argentium® sheet - 22g (Rio Grande)
• 12" min. x Argentium® bezel wire - 1/8" x 24g (Rio Grande)
• 12" min. x Argentium® round wire - 20g dead soft (Rio Grande)
• 12" min. x Argentium® round wire - 18g dead soft (Rio Grande)
• 12" min. x Argentium® round wire - 16g dead soft (Rio Grande)
• 12" min. x Argentium® round wire - 14g dead soft (Rio Grande)

Stones (note you can directly message Village Silversmith to request rose cuts in your preferred shape, size, and color)

• rose cuts - assortment of shapes and sizes  (Village Silversmith)

Hand tools:

• 1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)
• 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
• 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)
• 1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)
• 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
• 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
• 1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)
• 1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
• 1 x half round forming pliers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x center punch (Rio Grande) 
• 1 x scribe (Rio Grande)
• 1 x ring clamp (Rio Grande)
• 1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (Rio Grande)
• 1 x chasing hammer (Rio Grande)
• 1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)
• 1 x small steel ruler (Rio Grande)
• 1 x sheet of sand paper - 220 to 600 grits (Rio Grande)
• 1 x dividers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x planishing hammer (Rio Grande)
• 1 x ring mandrel (Rio Grande)

Torch setup:

• 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)
• 1 x Solderite™ pad / pan with pumice (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
• 1 x compressed charcoal block - hard (Rio Grande)
• 1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
• 1 x #0 or #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)
• 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)
• 1 x soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x soldering pick (Rio Grande)
• 1 x 3rd arm (Rio Grande)
• 1 x cross lock tweezers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x Ronda's purple flux (Rio Grande)
• 1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)
• 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
• 1 x 6” silver solder - medium (Rio Grande)
• 1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)
• 1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or Amazon)
• 1 x tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing
• 1 x small brush - for flux
• 1 x liquid hand soap - for cleaning metal

Other/miscellaneous items: 

• hard work surface
• fan and open window - or ventilation system
• safety glasses 
• pencil, Sharpie, notebook
• rags/towels
• baking soda