NEW "iPhone covers" with gemstones? - 25 photos

 We all have iPhones, agree? Here are a few very different "iPhone" cover creations. YES, you may duplicate (free of charge) any for your own phone covers. 

 When I created many casino-related items, I put them on my iPhone for decoration purposes. I've seen so many phone covers looking so boring that it got my mind working at full time.

 Always "THINK OUT OF THE BOX" in your planning of different designing projects.

 The 'blue dots' were meant as gemstones. I even created a model as a wax-pattern to hold those stones.

 Here are 18 white stones to imitate diamonds. This would be so expensive in real life, agree?

 Inside the disk as there are an estimated 83 mini-diamonds. The center blue disk could be any multi-coloured stone you desire.

 I placed red coloured stones on the red lines, with white stones in between.

On each of the 'raised lines' there could be a line of gemstones. More stones on all of the four sides. I made a 'rubber mold' of this pattern for future uses, so should you if you wish.

On the perimeter of this cover could be a line of Pave' set diamonds, or white stones.

     What can limit your designing, is your imagination.

 This cover could be a "Guinness World Record" of the most expensive iPhone cover ever created. Each white stone could very well be a diamond.

 The number "7" has 47 stones set on the design. There would be a fine line of white stones around where the camera-lens is located.

 I created a 'Tree of Life" with a room for MORE gemstones. Those 'lines' are the 'tree trunk and grass'.

 The stones could be an Opal on the side of the horse.

 My mind ran amok thinking of what to do with all of these 'blank' areas.

 I thought of setting gemstones on the sides all around the cover. I avoided 'empty' spaces.

 I put on the cover little wax-circles, these would be bezels for gemstones of your choosing.

 In retrospect, this design 'is just too busy'. I let my creative mind work with some 'bits & pieces' of waxes sitting in my bench.

 These 'dots' were meant as gemstones.

 

End Bezel (problems) - REVIEW - 9 photos

 In this essay, there are many small errors in the setting of these square stones. These were purposely created for future display in my blog.

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The Green stone ring shows the correct setting, now look at the Pink stone ring. One word...OUCH! There are many spaces in between those 'end bezels'.

 The Red stone ring shows little spaces and it looks like a 'channel setting' has been made.

 The Blue stone ring looks like a disaster as the inside of the bezel claws are literally all over the place

  The spacing of the stones is 'near perfect' as can be. But one thing to know is that the stones must NEVER TOUCH EACH OTHER, if they do, there could be breakage of the Girdle of the delicate stone. (Breakage could occur during the setting processes).

  The #4/0 saw blade separating the 'end bezels' is crooked when you look further down from the claw tip. 

 The 'end bezel' tops are as crooked and not evenly filed flat. The only thing I can truthfully mention is the separation of the stones as this could be a major problem if one stone gets damaged. 

 

    I'd give this ring setting project a definite "10+, out of 10".

 Even in a Channel Setting process, all of these stones are 'side by side' and just barely touching each other.

   The 'Saw Blade separating' is not uniform from the Bezel tip. This is not nice to see.

  One 'End Bezel' is thicker on the Blue stone and thin on the White stone. 

 I'd give this Blue stone ring a definite "8 out of 10", why is this? The 2 Blue end bezel tips are thin in comparison to the other 3 stone bezels in the centre.

 In closing, many problems were mentioned, but you as the reader will see just how difficult it is to set these End Bezels. Hope you learned a few setting techniques with this essay.

Pumice wheels - REVIEW - 11 photos

 Pumice wheels come in only two shapes, a Flat and a Tapered edge. The next piece of basic information is the 'grit'. I use only two grit strengths, #180 and the powerful #1,000 grit. Both of these grits will shown in this essay.

The tapered edge gets inside the deepest grooves on any ring or pendant, so why would you use a file or an emery wheel? 

 When do these pumice wheels do the work for you? Simple answer, all of the time.

 In using a Triangular file, or an Emery disk, striations will remain on the metal. Then 'we' must clean up the marks wherever those tools are touched. This is a bad idea to use them!

 I used a "Flat-faced" pumice wheel in finishing the Bezel top. Please don't use a file or any strong emery disk.

 

 The other option for finishing the Princess-Setting claws is to GENTLY touch the sides of the claws, as shown in this photo. This simple process will greatly improve the appearance of the claw facets.

There are so many areas in any ring that need to be improved upon. Just stay away from using any metal file, no matter the grit you might have on hand. Get used to using the Pumice wheels!!!

 Always keep the pointed edge as sharp as possible when using your Tapered Pumice wheels. These particular wheels do two things at once.

 They cut into the metal and as well as cleaning the surface.

 After hammering the metal after 'Gypsy Setting', there will be many indentations remaining on the surface. Here is the solution to this problem I'd personally use the #180 grit Pumice (Flat Surface) wheel and the following should be the #1,000 grit soft PINK wheel. 

  

 Suppose that you need to clean the inside of your ring, what will your solution be? Use any of your well-used wheels and let the 'rounded edge' facilitate your cleaning needs.

 Just how do you refurbish the shapes of your pumice wheels? The answer is so simple that it bears repeating in this essay.

 I will use the 'separating disk' followed by the 'Emery wheel'. If your wheels are getting badly worn, just bring their uses 'back to life' again by reshaping their original angles.

 The most interesting Pumice wheel is the #1,000 grit, it polishes and also avoids any cloth wheel polishing. The cloth wheel ruins those delicate shapes that you want to save.

  My Pumice wheel #180 grit is my 'work-horse', it goes into areas that many files just can't get into.

 So now you have my many reasons for having these remarkable tools in my gemsetting bench.

 

Amazing & accurate diamond measurements - 3 photos

 This is a diamond appraisal that is showing every detail. I found this on my travels a few years ago and kept it for posterity, until NOW!

 Imagine the weight of these two diamonds, amazing do you agree?

 So sorry that all I had was this one photo of this beautiful diamond. I used a pencil as a reference for its size.

 

Gold & Gemstone statistics -16 photos

 This particular project was rejected by 3 other diamond setters. My client asked me if I was interested in setting the Diamonds and Emerald. I accepted and here it is while being shown on my shellac-stick.

  Emerald breaking is one of the most heart-wrenching accidents that can happen at a setter's bench.

 Thankfully this never happened to me while setting this $18,000.00+ 5.50carat Pear-Shaped Emerald including 36 Diamonds in a 14karat gold necklace.

 This information is familiar to many people, but I want to show that other colours of 'gold and metal' are available.

Wedding bands come in various metals and colours, here are 11 of them.

         This is a 1,750.00-carat diamond.

This ring contains 4 Marquise with 4 Pear-Shaped diamonds and an Oval-shaped stone in the centre.

  All of these diamonds are classified as PINK but in different shades.

 Oh, you want a gold ring or a pendant? You pick the colour of your choice! Here are 20 colours to choose from.

 There is a complete range of colours being shown here. Even I was amazed at the variety.

 If you want a bezel around your Emerald, here are a few ideas to work with. But just remember that setting an Emerald in a Bezel is fraught with tough times, as the Emerald is about 6 on the "Mohs Scale of Hardness".

   In this photograph is a list of different shapes of stones. 

    This particular Emerald was weighed in at 5.13 carats.

   Even a stone that has impurities, each stone can be altered to look better. Thank you "GIA".

  Diamonds also come in different colours, as shown in this photograph.

 

 PINK diamonds are the rarest of colours and the most expensive. These stones have been priced at a staggering $1 million PER CARAT. (These stones are NOT colour-enhanced).

 This photograph shows uncut diamonds all of different colours. These will go directly to the diamond polisher to transform them into 'gems for jewellery'. The remainder of the package will be used for industrial purposes.

Do you need a diamond? Now comes the simple question, what colour? 

The actual names or the shades are not used. But 'we' commonly insert the letters of the alphabet instead. 

             Here is another 'reference chart of diamond colours'.

       

        In this chart are the "CARAT, COLOUR & CUT" displays.