Making A Pointed Ellipse Ring: A Silversmithing Tutorial

[@claudialung6195]

Hi Chad. I learned silversmithing by watching tutorials and did only simple things. When I saw this I told myself I need to try it. So I did - the most difficult thing up to today. Started 3 weeks ago and, for the love of God, couldn’t solder the 2 parts of the ring😂. So I left it till yesterday and I managed! 🎉 😂 I put a tiny opal on a side, not centered like your stone and also left the edges not so rounded but I like it. So thank you very much! From your videos I learned and still learning a lot

[@chadssilversmithing]

Very few things make me happier than knowing I’ve helped someone learn to do something new:). Thank you for the really nice comment!

[@mawi1172]

No other piece in her collection says you love her, like a beautiful, eye-popping ring, preferably with a beautiful shiny stone, of course. I love these extraordinary designs. Not everything has to look the same. Rings give us license to be wild! I love the stone too! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Ma Wi!

[@amariemora]

I love this design !!! you make all seem easy I love to watch your tutorials thank you for sharing your talent its really awesome

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Ana Marie. Miss having you in class!

[@mawi1172]

I'd love to be able to relax doing these things and not be afraid of burning the house down.

[@chadssilversmithing]

It’s probably good to be a little worried about burning down the house:)

[@hardbein]

Awesome design and craftmanship!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Lars!

[@yvettecintron3988]

Beautiful pieces. You are uniquely talented.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Yvette! I appreciate the compliment!

[@prubin111]

Love this ring! Mahalo Chad 🌺🤙🏻🤗

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Paula! I appreciate you always saying such nice things! How’s the weather there? Pretty cold here today:)

[@prubin111]

Today the weather is nice and breezy! Keep warm and have a great weekend 🤗

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@prubin111 Thanks. You too!

[@davidstansfield3347]

thank you great video

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks David! I’m glad that you liked it. Thanks for watching!

[@patredden4557]

Cool design, thanks so much.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Pat!

[@NikiLucky-cj5bd]

"maybe set it a little off here just to be a little weird here" Just the comment u like to hear lol well ya this is what totally made me click for my Monday workshop project. Yaassss I'm using a raw yogo gulch Montana saffire corn flour blue baby thanks Chad for bringing the A game as always

[@chadssilversmithing]

Ooh, I wish I had some of those pretty sapphires:). Thanks Niki!

[@mawi1172]

Your sawing is better than you think 🤔. ✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Ma Wi!

[@erizabesu87]

Thank you for providing great info 🔥

[@chadssilversmithing]

Your welcome Nawar! Glad you are finding it useful! Thanks for the nice comment:)

[@NikiLucky-cj5bd]

Stunning love your designs very original

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Niki! I appreciate your nice comment:)

[@paulinemegson8519]

Nice ring design tho I have to admit, I’d probably be more inclined to adapt that shape for a pendant. Many years back I was told by another silver worker to not do rings. I asked why and he said, “cos they’re impossible. Fingers vary SO much, unless you do custom, most rings won’t fit most people, and rings HAVE to fit” I was reminded of that today at a craft market. I have a box of about 15 rings in varied sizes and shapes, mostly stone set. I had a lady who found most of them, even the smallest, were too big, and at my last market, a lady had exactly the opposite issue lol. I prefer to make barrettes, bracelets, pendants and shawl pins(annular and penannular pins) but rings are tempting I’ll admit. Oh, and it’s nice to know I’m not the only one playing “find the teeny, tiny dropped gemstone under the table” 😝

[@chadssilversmithing]

Good point! I usually try to have a large quantity that fall within the 5-8 range, with a few outliers. When doing a show, most can find a finger that those fit, and if not, unless it’s a really unique stone, I can duplicate it in another size for them. When you get someone with large or tiny fingers, and they find one that fits (the outliers), they almost always buy it because they can usually never find something that fits them without special ordering. The things that sell well that I don’t love to make are earrings:). Thanks for such a thought provoking and relevant comment Pauline!

[@paulinemegson8519]

@@chadssilversmithing lol I have to admit, my main “thing” about earrings is having to make two of them…..I’d be a TERRIBLE production jeweller……any time I make something I can’t wait to get onto the next idea lol….in knitting it’s called “second sock syndrome”. Ofc there’s also the whole “gotta make ‘em match” to consider too. I can do it, I just don’t particularly enjoy “having” to make matching things.

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@paulinemegson8519 Those are exactly the things that make me not like making them as well:)

[@sharon3530]

Love your vids! Very educational and inspiring. 👍

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Sharon! I’m glad you are enjoying them:)

[@flyingcheff]

Hi Chad, as usual, most groovy design! And as usual, a "why" question from your favorite flying chef 😅: why do you use 3 pallions of solder on the bearing join? You mention that it is "quite a bit", why do you choose to use a lot? I would have used 1. In your experience, why is 1 (or 2) not as desirable as 3? Thanks so much. 🌺🌺🌺 Also, Chad, you are always so humble and gracious in your responses to comments. You are a class act! Addendum; tip: You can use crazy glue to put 2 pieces together that will stay while sawing, a bit of heat with the torch will open them right back up 👍😎

[@chadssilversmithing]

Do you mean when I’m putting the jump rings inside the bezel? If so, it is because I want to be able to ensure that when I file the bottom flat, there are no spots where the solder hadn’t wicked, leaving a line or groove. Sometimes when I use just one, it won’t quite be enough to allow for a nice smooth flat bottom. I hope I am conveying what I mean:). Good question Flying chef!

[@flyingcheff]

@Chad’s Silversmithing Answer is excellent, 100% makes sense. Anytime you explain any step with why you chose it one way over another, it is wonderful to see and hear. So much of truly creative metalsmithing is all about choices and decisions. I think knowing more about "why" allows real growth, especially when wanting to move into intermediate and advanced techniques. Thank you very much!

[@aumi.jewels]

Also, you could’ve tube set that tourmaline piece. That’s if you have all of the correct setting tools and bits. Anyway, I have you on pause so I’m gonna go back and finish watching what you doing… Autumn Michelle

[@chadssilversmithing]

Yes, I’m sure that would work just as well.

[@airjocky]

I've been watching several of your videos. I have learned a lot from you. Thank you for that. Less scrap from mistakes. A question I have is what tip are you using on your silversmith torch. I'm using "0" for the operations that I see you do. The flame doesn't look the same. You have more orange. It could be the camera or the lighting I guess.

[@chadssilversmithing]

I'll go double check later, but I believe it's a #1. I also probably occasionally get a little flux on the tip which sometimes changes the flame's color a bit. Thank you for the nice comment Tim!

[@CherylAnn2222]

LOVE THIS!!!!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Ms.C2222! I wasn’t sure if I would like how this came out, but I was pleasantly surprised:). Thanks for watching!

[@timlozar5672]

I wonder if tumble polishing before the gem is set would help get the parts on the inside? It's a cool ring!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Good point Tim! I would likely have done that if I wasn’t trying to get that video out on schedule:). How ya doin Tim?

[@timlozar5672]

@@chadssilversmithing doing good thanks! still in Cheyenne, missing Colorado

[@malcolmthompson9848]

I think I'll try one of these. Cabochon rings are not selling like in the old days. What do you think about placing the collet fully inside the ring rather than on the top? Harder to set, but your design might be a tad tall for many people. Thanks for the video.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Malcolm! I was debating about doing that on this one instead of the way I ended up doing it:). I think that would look good as well. I’ll probably make a few with different variations to see how they sell. I really wasn’t sure how this one would turn out, but I actually ended up kind of liking it. Thanks for watching, and thanks for the good comment!

[@SP-fy4fx]

Would you use a 4-5mm stone? I've flush set 3mm or less, not so confident on 3mm bazels. Thx.

[@chadssilversmithing]

I think that a 4 or 5 mm stone would look very nice. I also think that it will be fun to make some with different placements of the stone. Thanks for watching S P!