setting semi-precious stones inleather

[The Major]

I have this itch to try something new. I have had this idea about setting some semi-precious stones in some leather bracelets.

I have done this with some other pieces that wont get flexed and never had a problem with them falling out. Basically all I did was some filagree work and back beveled the edges, a smidgen of glue and walla. Concerned about using this method on a semi flexible item.

I am planning on making a core and sewing the leather on top of it. I thought about soldering the findings onto the core and cutting out the leather. Not too sure if I like that idea.

I have seen this done before, but I thought I would ask before I make too many "discount" pieces.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Regis]

For faceted stones you could use an ear ring or tie tack type finding. For cabachons, you could solder fixture on back before burnishing the bezel down on the stone.

I'll look through some of my jewelry catalogs.

Regis

[Chitin]

I believe the Standard Rivet Company (http://www.standardrivet.com/) has stone setting spots.

[Michael Sheldon]

I've got some experience with this. I set semiprecious stones into dog collars.

During the carving of the collar, I trace the stones onto the leather, cut the outline, then use a backgrounder to depress the area the stone will sit in, creating a bezel. I then complete and finish the leather as usual.

After the piece is otherwise finished, I use am abrasive tool (usually a coarse backgrounder) to rough up the inside of the bezel. I then glue the stones in place using a white glue designed for gluing stones to fabric, it is sold by the jewelry suppliers.

I've yet to have a stone fall off this way, and considering these are dog collars, that's a pretty good deal.

I get my stones and other miscellanea at Fire Mountain Gems

[The Major]

I will have to give that a try. Many thanks.

[Michael Sheldon]

This is a pic of the collars:

Gem-set collars

[Beaverslayer]

Those look awesome Michael, I'm going to have to try that on one of my vests. I think it would look great.

Ken

[Michael Sheldon]

Thinking about it, I realized I hadn't covered some issues:

Use cabochon-cut stones (flat backs)

The reason I use the fabric-glue for the gems is that it remains a little flexible.

When using larger stones, keep in mind how much the piece might flex, and in what directions. This is why the larger ovals I use are always cross-wise to the collar, not parallel. If the stone is large, and the leather flexes a lot, no amount of glue will keep it from peeling. The more extreme a piece flexes, the smaller the stones you can use. OTOH, a sword scabbard with a wooden liner does not flex at all, so the limit is only the size of the piece itself.

Obviously, the thickness of the leather affects the "bezel" you can knock back. On the collars, I use 8oz leather, which gets me a decent bezel. Good bezels keep things from prying at the junction, and "deflect" lateral forces that might knock off the stones to a point higher on the stone, where the slope of the stone is less, and thus results in less force on the stone. Corollary to this: taller stones are more susceptible to damage/being knocked off.

Cutting the bezels for small round cabochons is easy, find the right size hole punch, and use it to cut the bezel. Very small stones often end up sitting deep in the bezels, which really protects them.

[CitizenKate]

Ahhh... I was thinking about trying this method, since there aren't vary many choices for riveting them in place, but wasn't sure if it would work or not. Thanks for saving me some trial-and-error.

Kate

During the carving of the collar, I trace the stones onto the leather, cut the outline, then use a backgrounder to depress the area the stone will sit in, creating a bezel. I then complete and finish the leather as usual.

After the piece is otherwise finished, I use am abrasive tool (usually a coarse backgrounder) to rough up the inside of the bezel. I then glue the stones in place using a white glue designed for gluing stones to fabric, it is sold by the jewelry suppliers.

[The Major]

That is exactly what I was looking for. Now to try it. Muchos thankyous.