Sanding the bezel silver thinner is such a good idea. Lets you use thicker, sturdier silver for the rest of the setting! I’m a total amateur, but … The lady who taught me to make bezel settings adds one last step. She takes the pointy end of burnishing tool and runs it around the inside edge of the bezel (where stone and bezel meets). Pushes silver down a bit more and smooths it out. Makes that inner edge look really nice. That being said, I could see that being a bit tricky with opal. One slip and .... crack! Cheers.
Lol Your going to need a pet lizard . I really enjoy cutting the stones, Making the bezel and setting is for sure the most frustrating. You definitely make it look easy. But it's all the attention to detail and experience. Great work Phil!
Again another awesome, well explained video. Keep them coming cause im learning so much from you, so thanks. Also i was wondering if you are self taught?
G’day mate, I’ve worked in multiple trades and industries in the last 32 years and gleaned a lot along the way. I learned opal cutting in year 11, but only started silversmithing 10 years ago. When I started to learn to silver smith, I only wanted to know the basics and silver specific information like annealing, pickle solution, tools/equipment, as I had my own idea of what I wanted to make and focus on. Unless you’ve had industry training, then cutting opal, making custom settings and setting the opal, are not things that can be entirely taught, it’s more the trial and error/practice, that comes after you try to learn as much as you can, that allows you to better yourself, knowing what can and can’t/should or shouldn’t do. It wasn’t until I started setting opal that I realised how important a good setting edge is, including how the back is finished off. I don’t want to replicate anyone else’s work, so the main challenge is to make it up as I go, some things work out, some don’t. The hardest thing about doing anything, is actually doing it, and, comparison is the enemy of happiness, are some things to keep in mind when starting something new. 🤪👍
Phil made this pendant for my Mom's 75th Birthday. Extra special to us that he made a video of setting it!
Sanding the bezel silver thinner is such a good idea. Lets you use thicker, sturdier silver for the rest of the setting!
I’m a total amateur, but …
The lady who taught me to make bezel settings adds one last step. She takes the pointy end of burnishing tool and runs it around the inside edge of the bezel (where stone and bezel meets). Pushes silver down a bit more and smooths it out. Makes that inner edge look really nice.
That being said, I could see that being a bit tricky with opal. One slip and .... crack!
Cheers.
Beautiful!
I recognise that stone from your web store. I have been eyeballing two doublets there, as well as some other stones and a little pendant. Beautiful!
Well explained instructions Phil. Congratulations
You definitely make it look a bit easier than it is. But you also make it look possible. Thanks
What a beautiful big blue pendant, you are getting better and better at creating content, thank you, beautiful work.
Hi Phil , Great Video , thats crazy all work you put into your videos and the Barking Lizards getting all those views , funny old world
Lol Your going to need a pet lizard . I really enjoy cutting the stones, Making the bezel and setting is for sure the most frustrating. You definitely make it look easy. But it's all the attention to detail and experience. Great work Phil!
Beautiful pendant dear Phil 👋💎👍!
The pendant is stunning, and I can’t thank you enough for the great job you have done!
G’day mate, my pleasure! 🤪👍
Hello Mate. Another outstanding Video.
Beautiful, you do great work
nice tutorial. thanks.
Again another awesome, well explained video. Keep them coming cause im learning so much from you, so thanks.
Also i was wondering if you are self taught?
G’day mate, I’ve worked in multiple trades and industries in the last 32 years and gleaned a lot along the way. I learned opal cutting in year 11, but only started silversmithing 10 years ago. When I started to learn to silver smith, I only wanted to know the basics and silver specific information like annealing, pickle solution, tools/equipment, as I had my own idea of what I wanted to make and focus on. Unless you’ve had industry training, then cutting opal, making custom settings and setting the opal, are not things that can be entirely taught, it’s more the trial and error/practice, that comes after you try to learn as much as you can, that allows you to better yourself, knowing what can and can’t/should or shouldn’t do. It wasn’t until I started setting opal that I realised how important a good setting edge is, including how the back is finished off. I don’t want to replicate anyone else’s work, so the main challenge is to make it up as I go, some things work out, some don’t. The hardest thing about doing anything, is actually doing it, and, comparison is the enemy of happiness, are some things to keep in mind when starting something new. 🤪👍
top stuff mate
Fab 🥰
Could you imagine what would happen if you filmed an opal gecko 😂😂😂😂😂
Great job m8 looks fantastic and very professional thanks for how well you explained everything also you rock 🪨👍
Thank you so so very much.