Using Gemstone Patterns in Design: A Silversmithing Tutorial

[@woodndrum303]

This video perfectly demonstrates the need to allow the stones you are working with to “speak” to you and suggest ideas, shapes and patterns. Another great teaching point from one of you tube’s best silversmiths

[@chadssilversmithing]

Aww, thanks Keith!

[@prubin111]

The pendant is beautiful! Love the stones and design. The bale is great! 🌺🤙🏻❤️

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Paula! I’ve been making similar bails a lot lately. I think I must like those too:)

[@flyingcheff]

Love this! That bail really works with this design! 🌺🌺🌺

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks! I as trying to mirror shapes:)

[@reginalawrence192]

My first comment is that this piece is my new favorite!! You have taught me so much.

[@chadssilversmithing]

I’m really glad you are learning from these Regina! Thanks for the nice comment:)

[@DouglasMosley759]

I really like the way you fabricated the bail. Complex yet somehow simple.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Wigglesworth!

[@fundagumus9261]

i will watch all the videos , thank you so much for sharing

[@chadssilversmithing]

You’re welcome Fundagumus! I’m glad you are enjoying them:)

[@kristibbradshaw]

Beautiful. I love the design.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Kristi!

[@sandragravesande8657]

This is an amazingly beautiful piece

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Sandra!

[@puresas]

Excellent video and design, tricky but a nice challenge to try

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Chris! Did you make a similar one?

[@lauryltedesco3436]

Beauty!

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Lauryl! My wife snagged this one:)

[@999fine4]

Really like this one. I would like to see one that has a smaller stone the same shape as the larger just upsidedown. She did cut it nice.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Good idea!

[@marinasuisse4044]

Waouh awesome!!! ❤

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thank you Marina!

[@betojdesigns]

It's beautiful Chad 😊. I love what you did with the Candy Rhyolite/Wonderstone. Sorry that I mislabeled it as Jasper. Sometimes you need to be a geologist to get all the jasper, agates, and rhyolites sorted out. The finished piece is just gorgeous.

[@chadssilversmithing]

I like the name Candy Jasper even if it’s not technically accurate:). You cut that beautifully! I hope some people check out more of your pretty stuff! Thanks again Van!

[@betojdesigns]

I have to say, it was pretty exciting watching you create with one of the stones I cut. I'm geeking out a little bit over here. 😂

[@chadssilversmithing]

@@betojdesigns It is a beautiful stone! I hope I did it justice:)

[@betojdesigns]

@@chadssilversmithing you certainly did.

[@marykirtley3474]

I appreciate that you let the stone inspire the design of the piece. I'm curious why you use the pliers in bezel setting rather than a bezel rocker. Another good video, thanks Chad.

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Mary. Just a personal preference. I find I get better leverage to apply quite a bit of force this way.

[@kassemkarim7579]

Thanks

[@chadssilversmithing]

You’re welcome Kassem!

[@gilliansprott5487]

Lovely pendant. I liked your bezel idea. Have you got any videos on texturing metal ?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Thanks Gillian! I have one on reticulation from a while back. Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKjdcnRuh5Wro7ssi=HYOjT1l8rGZYJRrX. I also just did a texturing video for my patrons over on Patreon. Tier 2 members get access to a couple of exclusive Patreon videos like that each month. Here is a link to that if you're interested: patreon.com/user?u=5602676

[@gilliansprott5487]

Thanks @@chadssilversmithing

[@flyingcheff]

Chad, why do you wait until the end to pickle? I understand pickling doesn't have to happen every step but I imagine after many steps the piece can get pretty crusty and difficult to see the joins (checking for clean and tight joins). Clearly, it works for you but I am curious what your personal reason for this is. I find that most metalsmiths pickle and clean frequently during fabrication. There must be a "why" - I'm curious; thank you for indulging my "why's". 🌺🌺🌺

[@chadssilversmithing]

I only pickle it if it is so goobered up that I can’t see what is going on. If I’m concerned there is a problem with previous connections I will pickle for a while to clean it up. Otherwise, it seems like an unnecessary step:)

[@jitkaoudshoorn7198]

Hii Chad, i had a question, i just started making jewelry with the goal of eventually selling my pieces. But the first peice i make was a pair of earings but now after maybe 2 weeks of wearing it it turned kinda black. And i know it normal for sterling silver 925 to get black overtime and u can polish it again, but so fast?! And other pieces that i just bought from other brand that are also sterling silver are fine... what did i do wrong..?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Two things jump to mind that could be happening. If you don’t get all of the polishing compound off, sometimes that accelerates oxidation. Use really hot soapy water and really get it clean. The other is that many silver items you buy at the store are rhodium plated to prevent tarnish. This is why some commercial jewelry seems more tarnish resistant. I don’t think you did anything wrong though:)

[@gilliansprott5487]

What cutters are you using to cut the bezel wire ?

[@chadssilversmithing]

Hello Gillian:). Those are just Fiskar’s craft shears.

[@gilliansprott5487]

Ah ok thanks.@@chadssilversmithing