Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
August 23, 2011

Question:

Hi, I was wondering what book(s) you would recommend buying to identify rocks and gemstones? Thank you.

-Nikki in Brentwood, California

Answer:

Hi Nikki, oh my goodness! With so many choices at a variety of prices, I totally understand how difficult this choice can be. My personal research library includes no less than 63 books devoted just to these subjects (and several have been out of print for years!). Some of these volumes I have two copies of, one for the studio and one to take into the field with me.

Good books to throw in a backpack and take into the field with you are two, inexpensive, small paperbacks in the "Golden Nature Guide" series: "Rocks and Minerals" and "Fossils". (When you are beginning to rock hunt in a new area, it is also smart to have copies of their "Snake" and "Venomous Animals" handy.) If you are interested in finding locations to hunt rocks, their "Geology" book is a great beginners’ book that will have you looking out your car windows very differently!

One of my favorite books for helping to identify gemstones that have already been cut is Simon & Schuster’s Guide to Gems and Precious Stones, by Curzio Cipriani and Alessandro Borelli (ISBN 0-671-60430-9) and Minerals of the World by Walter Schumann (ISBN: 0-8069-8570-4) has great "normal" photos of rocks and minerals (rather than images taken by a microscope) that can help you with identifying rocks. One of the books I often use as a reference guide when I am writing the Gem Profiles we feature every Friday is The Audubon Society Field Guide to North America Rocks and Minerals, (Charles W. Chesterman and Kurt E. Lowe, ISBN 0-394-50269-8).

To avoid spending lots of money on books you might think you need, but later find out they aren’t what you wanted, spend an afternoon in a good bookstore and look through their selection. If you want to look for your own specimens, local rock shops will also have good books for your particular area. Several of the online options also provide reviews as well as sample pages of books that you can see before you buy.

How about my fellow wire artists, lapidaries and rockhounds: what are your personal favorites when it comes to rock and gemstone identification books?

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
July 20, 2011

Question:

I want to make a bracelet out of 14x12mm oval faceted gemstones. I want to use prongs, but do not want it bulky. I cannot find snap sets in that size. I have called places and searched the web with no results. Do you have any suggestions?

-Cynthia in Buchanan, Georgia

Answer:

Sure, Cynthia, you can make prong settings for your small faceted stones from wire! Using the photo below for an example, instead of making a complete prong-frame (all around each stone), use 24-gauge wire to make two Half Frames, one for each side of the stone (wrap between the prongs with 21g half-round wire).

At each end, where the frame meets, use the same 24-gauge square to wrap the frame together, 2 times to show. Now, instead of using the remaining wires to make a bail and embellish (as you would on a pendant) use them to make a connection loop. For strength and durability while keeping all of your settings on the same plane, I would use a purchased Closed Jump Ring between each stone setting. Just remember to insert the ring into the connection loop at the end of a stone setting, before you wrap it closed (the same if you choose to use a purchased clasp such as a lobster claw or trigger style).

For those of you who would like to learn how to make a prong frame for cut stones, DVD 1 of the Advanced DVD series shows exactly how, including the formulas for stones of all sizes!

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
April 17, 2011

Question:

Hi Dale, I love that your instructional style is so clear and concise. It really helps me create an impressive first try!

I read recently that fruit named quartzes, like cherry quartz, are really manmade glass based. I always figured they were dyed quartz. What are your thoughts?

-Jeanne in Waukesha, Wisconsin

Answer:

Hi Jeanne, thanks for your kind comments regarding my teaching style (I really do love what I do!).

Yes, you are correct. With the exception of authentic Lemon Quartz, unfortunately nearly all of the "Fruit Quartz" items available today are made of glass.

The reasoning behind these sales labels is that glass is made of high-quality sand (meaning the mineral silica, which is Quartz), therefore, vendors deem it OK to label these glass variations as quartz.

We have had a couple of discussions on these terms, that you might also find interesting such as Red Ruby Quartz and what really is Kiwi Lapis. If you are looking for an inexpensive, yet pretty item to include in your summer designs, Fruit Quartz will fit that need.

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip

Question:

I have several stones that I bought before I found out about wire wrapping. They are considerably bigger than the cabs that you use to show us to wrap with, about 30mm x 30mm or larger. Can one wrap these without them looking gaudy?

-Linda in Sherman, Texas

Answer:

Really Linda, I don’t think any stone is too big to make into jewelry, as there is a customer for every size and style. Besides, larger stones are always easier to work with.

A lot of wire jewelry pendants are made using 30x40mm cabochons, as well as the centerpieces of bracelets and necklaces. The only issue I personally have with size, is when a cab is really thick–because it takes a lot of wire to set it, and today’s economy doesn’t want to recover the materials cost. (Truthfully, one custom agate cab that I am presently working with is a whopping 80 x 25mm!)

If large things seem gaudy to you, find a clean, simple design that looks good to you, and go for it!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
January 14, 2011

Question:

Hi Dale, I’ve got your book and am ready to order a cab or two to practice. Is there a difference between cabs for wire wrapping and those that are glued in a bezel? Also is there a particular size you recommend for a novice to begin using? Thanks for your help.

-Sandra in Lancaster, South Carolina

Answer:

Yes, Sandra, sometimes there is a difference in the cabochons meant for bezel setting and those used in wire wrapping. Cabs made for bezel setting often have a special backing on them that is meant to heighten the stone, as this backing will be hidden within the setting. This is most often done on more expensive and/or fragile stones, mainly used in bezel ring settings, keeping the stone’s cost down and/or adding security to a fragile stone. Although they can also be used in wire wrapping, I prefer to have the natural stone back showing.

When teaching beginning wirework in person, I prefer to teach on larger stones so my student can see what they are doing. The choice is yours!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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