The Birth of a New Ring

I am finally updating my blog after such a long time. The following are a series of pictures which shows the steps it took to make my newest ring.


The item list:
1) Gemstone: Carnelian Cabochon
2) Scalloped Bezel Wire
3) Silver Disc
4) Round Silver Wire (2mm)








The scalloped bezel wire is formed and soldered. The base of the bezel has to be filed so that it sits perfectly level against the silver disc. The bezel is then soldered to the disc. The edges are sawed off and edges are filled even.










With the bezel formed, the next task is to form the ring shank. As I had decided to make a patterned shank, the round metal wire has to be annealed first......












......before it is rolled through the rolling mill........













..........to get the pattern transferred onto the silver wire.


















The rolled wire is then annealed before it is formed on a mandrel into a ring.














The ring is soldered.


















It is then put into a solid mandrel and formed again. I use a rawhide mallet at this stage of the process to prevent leaving marks on the ring.














The ring is positioned carefully onto the bezel cup and held with a third arm. Flux and solder is placed onto the joint.













Solder.

















Finally, the ring is taking shape.


















A final fitting.















Thank goodness the stone fits perfectly well.
















It is then pickled in a warm alum solution to remove the oxidation. After this, the ring is polished and tumbled.















The stone is being set. I use a rolling bezel pusher and an agate burnisher for the job. The ring is polished again and buffed.














The completed ring.












The ring is on sale in my store at Etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43157960