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Choosing a Lake or Riverstone

by Judy Larson
Lake and river shores are a great place to collect rocks to use in jewelry. Currents and waves continually tumble stones creating a smooth, matte finish. Many are beautiful while still wet but lose their appeal when dry. A rock tumbler and medium can be used to further smooth and polish the surface of the stones.

Be aware that you are not allowed to remove items from State and National Parks and Monuments and land. Unless you have permission, you should also not remove stones from private land.
Instructions
Great safety reminder! Grinding down stones can definitely make them fit better in bezels, but those dust particles are no joke respirators and eye protection are essential. It's easy to forget that part when you're excited about a cool find.

Do you usually do the grinding yourself, or do you send stones out to a lapidary for that step? And what kind of respirator do you find works best?
Judy Larson's Choosing a Lake or Riverstone - , General Education, Design, , choosing a pebble or stone for jewelry
Exactly thinking of your stone like a traditional cut gemstone really helps when designing and fitting bezels! The girdle acts like the "anchor" point for the bezel wire, so ensuring the wire covers it properly means the stone will be held securely.

And yeah, natural stones often have uneven girdle heights, so adding a little shim under the thinner side is a clever trick to level the stone and keep it snug in the bezel without gaps.

Do you prefer soldering shims to your backplates, or have you tried other methods to raise uneven stones?
Judy Larson's Choosing a Lake or Riverstone - , General Education, Design, , It is helpful to think of a stone in terms used
Judy Larson's Choosing a Lake or Riverstone - , General Education, Design, , it can be raised in the bezel with a small shim of metal
That's a great explanation! When the girdle varies so much in height around the stone, a wider bezel wire combined with a stable base really helps keep the stone secure.

Using E6000 as a cushion and adhesive makes perfect sense it's flexible, fills gaps, and won't harden brittle, so it protects the stone from stress when pushing the bezel wire down. Plus, it's a neat modern twist on those traditional methods like sawdust or cardboard shims.

Have you found any other adhesives or cushioning materials that work well for tricky stones? Or maybe some tips for working with E6000 in this context?
Judy Larson's Choosing a Lake or Riverstone - , General Education, Design, , Viewing from another angle
Judy Larson's Choosing a Lake or Riverstone - , General Education, Design, , Leveling stones is not new.
Design around the chosen stone
That's such a smart workflow! Making multiple copies and experimenting with color options on paper before touching metal saves time and materials and sparks creativity. Watercolor pencils are a fantastic choice because they let you blend and build subtle shades, giving a more realistic feel to your mixed-metal ideas.

And yes, making the bezel first and then drawing around it to plan the design elements and backplate size is a game-changer. It ensures everything fits perfectly and helps avoid surprises once you start cutting and soldering.

Do you have a favorite metal combo you find yourself reaching for again and again? Or any fun color combos you've discovered through this sketching method?
Judy Larson's Choosing a Lake or Riverstone - Design around the chosen stone, General Education, Design, , Make several copies of your design.
Judy Larson's Choosing a Lake or Riverstone - Design around the chosen stone, General Education, Design, , Do the following to give you a better idea

Materials

28 Gauge 3/16" Fine Silver Bezel Wire
H9-28BZL
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $22.17
  • Gold Club Price: $16.63
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26 Gauge Red Brass Bezel Wire - 10FT
H30-3B
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.20
  • Gold Club Price: $9.90
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24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches
H19-24SM6
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
  • Price: $83.14
  • Gold Club Price: $62.35
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Tools

WireJewelry - Essentials Jewelry Pliers Set with Case, Set of 5
G15-21
  • G15-21
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $124.95
  • Gold Club Price: $93.71
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): Design, General Education

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