2020-05-01_Lapidary_Journal_Jewelry_Artist

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ant a quick, easy and

delicate pair of earrings?

This project is for you!

If you’ve never tried fi ligree work,

then this is a quick way to see if you

like it or not. If you’ve never set a

cabochon in a bezel, this will also

give you an introduction to setting

without breaking the bank.

PAT T ER N

1

Draw the pattern for the earring

to size.

MAKE THE

FILIGREE PIECES

2

Start with the center of the

shape. I bent this one at the ¼"

point and squeezed it lightly with

the chain nose pliers. Wrap the wire

to the other end of the shape, bend,

and pinch again. Continue until you

have the size that matches the pat-

tern. Repeat for all three shapes and

for the second earring. I used ⅛", 3⁄16"

and ¼" for the three center starting

points for these earrings.

Tip: Parallel pliers are great when

you need to flatten a small piece of

filigree work, especially spirals that

never seem to stay flat. A plastic

hammer and a steel block work fine,

but the pliers are handy when I am

working.

PREPARE THE

SOLDER BOARD

The post pad needs to sit level when

soldering. This soldering board

is soft enough to make a hole for

the post with a T-pin, but a drill bit

would work, too. Make two holes far

enough apart so you can solder both

earrings at the same time.

3

Here, the solder pick points to

one hole in the board, with a

post and bezel cup shown in the

other hole.

Make these easy filigree earrings and experience the

special satisfaction of soldering fine wires together

without melting them! By Peggy Haupt

Delicate Thrill

1 2

3

Eliminate the

cabochon or replace

it with a silver ball.

AN

EASIER

WAY

54 LAPIDARY JOURNAL JEWELRY ARTIST

54 Haupt DelicateThrillEarrings_mayjune20.indd 54 3/16/20 3:47 PM