Lapidary_Journal_Jewelry_Artist_-_November_-_December_2019

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I

love looking at drusies. Every

year I go to the Tucson gem

shows and I stop at almost all

of the drusy vendors to drool, but

never purchase. I could never fi gure

out what to do with drusy cabs.

For one thing, a traditional bezel

setting could be challenging with the

irregular thickness and curved back.

But mostly it would cover some of

the pretty crystals, prongs were too

simple, and plating edges required

equipment that I did not own.

Then one year I met a dealer from

Uruguay — which meant that I could

now buy directly from the mine. I

simply could not pass up the deal,

the sign of a true addict. So I bought

a box of 20, only to have the cabs sit

in my studio for three years. But like

my fellow addicts, I would visit my

treasures from time to time to fondle

them and ponder some work of art.

Then I’d just get disgusted with myself

and return them to the box on the

shelf. They haunted me from there

until fi nally this design revealed itself. Although this pendant features a

bezel, it’s only part of what holds

the cabochon in place. I decided to

wire the cabochon to a bezel that

surrounds the gem with a slight

separation and bends away instead of

closing in on it at the top. The bezel

anchors the wires and leaves the

stone’s surface nearly uninterrupted in

all its glittering drusy glory.

DRILL THE STONE’S

CENTER

1

Find the middle of your drusy

cabochon, mark with a fi ne tip

Sharpie.

Drill a hole in the center of the drusy

using a diamond coated drill bit.

Caution: When drilling stone,

always wear safety goggles and use

lubricant. I prefer linseed oil because

it is natural and easy to find at any

hardware store. When using linseed

oil, take care follow the manufac-

turer’s recommendations for proper

containment and dispoals of any

rags you have used to clean it up.

Linseed oil will self-combust when

given an accelerant like rags or

paper towels.

Dip the drill bit into some oil to

coat the end.

2

Start the rotary tool, then

approach the stone; this will

prevent the bit from skidding.

3-4

If you have created stone

dust, clean off with a

toothbrush. Use a little Dawn liquid

soap to remove any oils and rinse

off.

The secret’s in the setting of this sparkling stone

By Kieu Pham Gray

Drusy Uncovered

1

4

2

3

Design Idea

Eleven are better than one!

Create an entire necklace of wire-

bezeled drusy cabochons for a

really stunning eff ect, and to use

up that stash you’ve been looking

at for years.

82 LAPIDARY JOURNAL JEWELRY ARTIST