What is a "Setters, Hold-it"? => 17 photos.

 The "Setters, Hold-it" is a manual holding device that permits the gemstone setters to have more freedom in holding their new creations. The setter can hold the clamp against the bench peg and thus have more freedom than a 'ball clamping' system.

 The word that I kindly refer to is the overall 'weight' of this clamp.

1) These 'ball systems' are quite heavy as they were never intended to be held or suspended against the jewellers' bench-pin.

2) The simple word is 'flexibility', I had the opportunity to use this system for a few days and immediately returned it. (Screw-tighten and unscrew it) many times just to rotate the piece of jewellery 'Precious time was constantly being wasted'.

3) The "Setters Hold-It" is lightweight, it's easy to hold and rotate.

 I bought the "Setters, Hold-it" clamp and never looked back. I experimented with it at my tool supplier office, and it was a wonderful success!

 But, 'everything is not always perfect' and I overcame a few problems by using other essential 'clamping devices'.

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 I used an "Inside, Ring-Clamp" (official name) instead of this heavy 'ball rotating, mechanism'. The setter can't easily rotate the ring against the bench pin when needed. There are limiting positions with this particular mechanism.

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 I bought this "Inside, Ring Clamp" about 25 years ago and still use it today. The next group of photos displays the many uses of the "Setters Hold-It".

 

  I can quickly rotate the ring without any difficulty. I can easily shift the ring clamp against my bench peg for easier support.

 As you can see my hand & fingers are now in closer proximity to the ring. This is so important in gemstone setting, agree?

 For example, I 'Flush Set' this "Pear-Shaped' Amethyst stone without any concern about holding and leaning against a heavy mechanism.

 Any size and shape of jewellery can be secured on the top of the surface of the "Setters, Hold-It".

  This pin-clamp is even more secure than the basic 'shellac-stick'. 

 I modified every pin with little grooves created by the 'Emery, Separating Disk'. This prevents any marks from being put into the metal when the tightening process is initiated.

 This is the close-up photo showing the notches that I created on each of the pins. There won't be any chance of causing any deep indentations once the tightening has started.

 There are 'many methods' that can be used in modifying these little brass pins. In this photo, I 'modified' the round pin to a flat surface as this is much easier to grasp an unusual pattern.

 Even when applying pressure to a delicate brass (religious) coin, it will not be damaged. As you can see in this photo, the pins have a flat surface and were recut to literally grasp the disk equally around the rim.

 This is the duplicate creation of my "Guinness World Record" design. This base of the clamp can be easily extended to accommodate any diameter instead of looking for more 'clamping attachments'.

 When I wanted to set gemstones on a round disk I did something different. I put the pins against the inside of the round disk, why?

1) There won't be any damage taking place on the outside resulting in a 'squeezing action' against the metal. 

2) This ring clamp gives me more manoeuvrability.

3) Also allows me to do my "Bright-Cutting" without any undue pressure on the outside of the metal frame. 

 With this 'pin vice', I can move the round disk nearer to the edge of the clamp if needed.

The weight of the "Setters, Hold-It" is 114.18 grams.

 The weight of the "Inside, Ring Clamp" is 92.0 grams.

 (Sorry, I couldn't find the weight of those heavy 'ball-rotating clamps' at this time, but the numbers will be insanely higher). Gerry Lewy.

Examples in using a powerful "Digital Microscope"? => 33 photos

 One of the most interesting additions to my Diamond Setting bench is the "Digital Microscope". It has allowed me to see many gemstones & jewellery without relying on the 10x or 15x power loupes. The display screen has its very own levers to work with in improving the lighting and magnification. Is this a great tool to invest in, YES.

 A 10x power loupe is mediocre to what the 1,200X viewing scope can achieve. I will show you my digital microscope with many views saved on this unbelievably small "128GB" memory card.

 I learned these USB modules now come in a staggering "256GB" size. It's not the physical size but it's the increased capacity. (mind-boggling technology).

 I'm just amazed at this size and I wanted to share this with you.

 I didn't want you to see any used and previously seen photographs. Here are some new ideas to give you a 'feel' of what this digital microscope can do on your bench.

 No, this is not a GPS picture of some local terrain, but it's an enlargement of the surface of the Cabochon stone. Those numbers on the right indicate the ongoing capacity used at present.

 

 On the side display monitor are two little buttons that increase the lighting and the magnification.

 Those white buttons are for 'tools' and 'OK' to approve the photo.

 On the far right button is the 'on & off'.

 The white button below the flat base 'takes' the actual photo.

 I wanted to show you the details of a wax-injected form. From here you can easily examine any defects. Those little spots are dust but not always seen under normal circumstances. 

 This is a 'clean'(?) file, just look at those particles of dirt in between the teeth. 

 This is a photo of the 'anvil' that I used in my previous essay. This is a basic 'Concrete Nail' that was modified for 'Hammering Channel Settings on a Diamond bracelet'.

 Using this 600X magnification, you can see the rough texture of the anvil tip.

 This was a hand-engraved "Tiger Eye" stone, you can see the etching being created.

Here is the same stone but under a powerful magnification.

 What the heck is this? Would you believe it's just a line on a "4x5" cue card? Looks nice, now let's look at the next photo.

 That fine line is now not what you'd expect. This is the supreme magnification at 1,200x power.

 This photo is of a Cabochon Turquoise stone on a wooden stick that is used for Lapidary purposes.

 These photos are additional 'Hammering Anvil', now under 1,200x power magnification.

 This is the start of a series of photos to explore the 'texture' and subsequent number of 'irregularities'.

   

 When the Cabochon stone is 'locked' upon the wooden stick then the Lapidary technician can shape the stone.

   Here is another 'needle file' showing the accumulated specks of metal.

     Just look at these flakes of gold that remain in the teeth of the file.

                                            Diamond Photos!

 Can you guess what this is? This is the 'Girdle' of a diamond alongside the 'Crown Facets'. This photo uses the powerful 1,200x power magnification that is constantly available.

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 This plastic envelope describes "My Father's first attempt at Diamond Polishing, circa 1930". This stone is now 95 years of age.

  This is another photo of the 'Crown Facets' just above the rough texture of the "Girdle Facets". The semi-circle is the beginning of the 'faceting' process. That 'black line' is actually the untouched Girdle.

    This photo was taken using the strongest power available 1,200x strength. You can see the dust sitting on the surface of the diamond.
  On this diamond, there are irregularities in the crystal. As this stone wasn't to be used for commercial value, it was used only as a method of learning how to polish a stone. You can see the deep colours within the stone. There is no way can a 10x power loupe succeed in showing these colourings.

 JUST AN AMAZING PHOTO, agree? 

 How many Jewellers and Diamond Setters have seen photos like these? Anyone who works in the jewellery profession has never seen the true beginnings of "Polishing of a Diamond". These photos are quite common with professional Diamond Polishers.

 In this remarkable photo, you have a great opportunity to see all three sections of a diamond. These 3 areas are the "Crown Facets", "Girdle" and the beginning of the "Pavillion Facets".

 

 This is the surface of the Cabochon-shaped 'Turquoise' stone. You can easily see the rough surface and defects in this stone.

 When I saw this stone initially, I thought of the "West Coast of America and the Pacific Ocean". This particular area of the stone is 'blemish-free' and good for viewing.