Cooksongold | Royal Jewelry Blog

As we move towards the close of another year, it is a good time to take stock and reflect on what has gone before. In our business that means taking a little time to do some analysis of some of the new products introduced throughout the course of the year. Like so many others, this year has been busy in terms of new tools. With brands such as Foredom, Durston and Orangemonkie all bringing us new, innovative products to make life easier, allowing us to work more efficiently and effectively. Foredom, (leaders in flexishaft technology) have expanded their range to include wood carving kits and improved micromotor kits, (to name just a couple), which offer us more precision and control at high speeds and they are proving to be a hit with customers. “Top class product, love it” 30 September 2019 by Colin Foredom Pendant Motor SR Wood Carving Kit – 999 FD67 Many Foredom products are without a doubt, investment purchases but will help to take your work to another level in terms of fini...

In this blog we will discuss the basics of fimo polymer clay – answering questions like “what is Fimo made of?”, “is Fimo clay waterproof?” and ideas for what to do with Fimo clay. What is Fimo? Yes – it’s a brand of polymer clay. In fact, Fimo was the first brand to produce modelling clay that could be hardened in the oven. Used by beginners and professionals of all ages, Fimo is a popular choice for polymer clay-based arts, crafts and jewellery making. There are several types of Fimo polymer clay, which include: Fimo Soft Fimo Effect Fimo Professional Fimo Leather Fimo Kids Fimo Air Light – an air-drying clay What is Fimo made of? The standard Fimo polymer clays are made of plastic powder (or PVC), plasticiser and additives. For safety and consumer protection, Staedtler has avoided the use of phthalate-based plasticisers in their oven-hardening clays since 2006. The air-drying clay, Fimo Air Light, contains a natural Kaolin clay, water and additives. Is Fimo clay toxi...

Make your own polymer clay beads and create bold, statement jewellery pieces. From necklaces to earrings, experiment with designs, shapes and colours and bring your jewellery designs to life – it’s a fun hobby and a great way to make bespoke jewellery. Discover our beginner’s guide on how to make polymer clay beads today. What do you need to make polymer clay beads? Using the right tools and equipment will help you to create high-quality polymer clay beads. We would recommend using: Fimo clay – in the colour(s) of your choice. Using clay as fresh as possible will help to prevent cracking. A hard, flat surface – like a workmat , tile or sheet of glass A needle tool or toothpick A ruler, to size your beads Sand paper Varnish and a clean brush (if you wish to seal your beads and make them shiny) A clean work surface: dust and clean before you start, as polymer clay is soft and will pick up anything that it comes into contact with How to make Fimo clay beads One of the easi...

Are you just getting started with your new polymer clay hobby? Discover our beginners guide on how to bake polymer clay, the right way. From perfecting baking times and temperatures, to top tips and FAQs. Read more below. How long to bake polymer clay for The baking times and temperatures for baking polymer clay are crucial. If the temperature is too low, the clay will crumble. But if it’s too hot, the outside will fuse and burn before the centre of the clay is cooked through. While baking, the clay should cure evenly throughout and turn into a hard plastic. Wondering how to bake Fimo clay in a conventional oven? And what temperature do you bake fimo clay at? The best way to find out is to pay attention to the baking instructions on the packaging of your polymer clay. But here’s a quick rundown of the standard timings and temperatures for baking Fimo clay: Wondering how to bake Fimo clay in a conventional oven? And what temperature do you bake fimo clay at? The best way to find out...

Every page of the Christmas Gift Guide is positively oozing with fantastic gift ideas, which practically have any jewellery maker salivating! Most jewellery makers will have a lot of jewellery making equipment and own loads of tools, but there are still new and exciting products out there which they would love to own. So, if you’re thinking of what to get this Christmas, here’s a couple that may be on their wishlist: Artisan Multi Mandrel Forming Anvil Set – 999 6817 This is such a great idea and a fabulously useful set of mandrels. Whenever you use a standard vice and mandrel for shaping, there is always some movement when the hammer comes down, no matter how securely the jaws have been tightened (in most workshops anyway). This system alleviates those problems as the formers are clamped into place with simply nowhere to go! Artisan Doming Dapping Set Of 21 – 997 1643 These are the sort of sets that always look so very appealing. Beautifully displayed in an organised and ...

If you’re new to the jewellery making crowd, you may have come across the term – but what is lapidary? Putting it simply, lapidary is the art of working with gemstones. There are many different ways that lapidarists work, but one of the most rewarding ways is to make jewellery with gemstones. Either as a pendant or as a setting in a ring or bracelet, there are a variety of different ways you can incorporate lapidary work into your projects. Find out more about the various techniques and lapidary tools below. What are the different arts and techniques of lapidary? So, what are the different arts and techniques of lapidary? The main three are: tumbling, cutting and faceting. To help you understand what each means, we’ll talk you through the processes involved and the outcome of each technique. Tumbling Just starting out? This technique could be for you. Requiring the least equipment and minimal effort, tumbling is a great place to begin your lapidary journey. Simply place any rough g...

One of the biggest mistakes made when buying gifts, is to choose something which simply can’t be used without the addition of another product like for example, a remote-control car without batteries or a colouring book without pens. Jewellery related gifts are no exception and to help prevent the worst from happening, we have put together a list of perfect gift partners to relieve some of the stress from your shopping. + Hand Torch, (999 955) and Butane Lighter Fuel 300ml Un1950, (999 958) In the simplest of terms, a blow torch will not work without fuel so do not buy one without the other. + Impressart Basic Uppercase Letter Stamp Set 1.5mm, (999 IA61) and Impressart Ergo-angle® Metal Stamping Hammer 1lb, (999 IA98) If you are buying a gift for someone new to stamping, the punches (irrespective of design), need to be purchased alongside a hammer, which is what inflicts the force to produce the impression. It is possible to use a basic, household hammer, however, Impressart...

The sheer amount of different jewellery making techniques varies enormously and can range from straightforward to incredibly complex. Some can be attempted with little to no experience whereas others take years to fully accomplish. However, once you start making, at what ever level you quickly find that one working method will lead directly on to another, and before you know it, you have ventured down a new path discovering something entirely different. For example, metal stamping, using ImpressArt letters and symbols, is something that can be attempted by someone completely new to jewellery making, with little outlay and just a small amount of trial and error. Impressart Starter San Serif Stamping Kit Uppercase – 999 I307 Once you have a feel for stamping and texturing sheet metal, you may well want to explore the technique further with the use of gravers to attempt the age-old methods of repousse and chasing. This will certainly take things to another level and open up a whole ...

Interested in gemology? Or do you just want to know your refractive index from your gemstone lustre? If you’re interested in gemstone terminology, setting stones, and creating your own jewellery with them, you’re in the right place. Use our gemstone terminology beginners’ guide below and get to know more about your craft. Gemstone basics: how to refer to cut, shape and weight In this section you’ll discover several technical ways to refer to gemstones when talking about their physical appearance, worth and shine. Carat What is carat a measure of in gemstones? Carat refers to the mass of a gemstone and subsequently describes the value of the stone – the bigger the carat, the more expensive the stone. Inclusions What are inclusions in gemstones? An inclusion can be a fracture or bubble found within a gemstone that occurs as the stone forms over time. Inclusions can mean that the stone itself is devalued, however they can also add more depth and colour to the stone, making your jew...

Setting gemstones can be a complex part of the jewellery making process. So, if you want to set your sights higher and graduate from simple ring and pendant making to more difficult stone set designs, tube setting stones is an excellent place to start. Learn how to make tube settings for stones in our step by step guide below. Before we begin, let’s get to know tube settings in a little more detail… What is a tube setting? It’s as simple as it sounds! A tube setting is an easy way of setting a gemstone, using a small amount of tube for the stone to rest in. As long as you use a suitable sized metal tube to set your gemstone that will fit and support it well, it will leave you with a clean, professional look – whether you’re creating a pendant or ring design. Tube setting stones: step by step Tube setting tools you’ll need: Metal tube Gemstones Jeweller’s saw Set of needle files Ball burr/stone setting burr Pendant drill or drill press Burnisher Calipers   Top tip:...

Jewellery maker Natasha Cross likes to create intricate silver pieces, as well as work with beads and wire. She describes her style as classic yet quirky, and thinks that jewellery making should be considered a sport. View some of her work, read about where she gets her inspiration from and more in this month’s Designer of the Month interview. Let us know a bit about yourself, detailing your background, study and training in the jewellery making industry. I am Natasha Cross, I’m 29 years old and I live on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. I run a small part time business called Hebridean Treasure Trove, where I sell jewellery and some gift items. In 2017, I started making simple costume jewellery. It was more as a hobby than professionally, through this my love for jewellery making grew but I knew I needed training. So, I signed up for a short jewellery course a year ago, and learnt piercing, soldering and how to set a cabochon. I have also been teaching myself different techniques a...