Cooksongold | Royal Jewelry Blog

Looking for a new stone setting technique to expand your offering? Learning how to gypsy set a stone is an excellent place to start, as you should be able to pick up the technique in good time and begin creating some sleek and unique designs. Discover all the tools and tips needed for using the gypsy stone setting below. What is the gypsy stone setting? Before you begin to learn how to gypsy set a ring, it’s essential you understand the fundamentals of the design. Traditionally, a gypsy setting ring (otherwise known as the flush setting) has a similar appearance to the bezel setting. In both techniques the stones appear to be flush with the metal, however in the gypsy setting, the stones are sunken into the metal rather than set in place with metal around the rim. Gypsy setting engagement rings are quickly becoming a popular option for brides to be, as it is widely known as one of the most secure types of setting for your stone or diamond. Tools needed for the gypsy setting Now yo...

You’ve made your pieces of jewellery, but what’s next? The designs sell themselves, but the way you present your jewellery is also part of the overall charm – so choosing the right jewellery packaging is extremely important. And you can get creative with it, too! Elevate your jewellery packaging with small decorative elements like ribbons and bows or branded stickers and personalised notes. Discover how to elevate and personalise your jewellery packaging in our blog. Types of jewellery packaging Struggling with deciding which type of jewellery packaging to use in your business? Nailing your brand image is key, which is why we’ve pulled together some of the most popular jewellery packaging types to help make this decision a little easier. Jewellery boxes – From pendant and ring boxes to cufflink and earring boxes, discover a range of jewellery boxes designed with your needs in mind: Wooden boxes – Ideal for those who are looking for a long-lasting storage solution for their jewe...

Struggling with what to do after graduation? If you’ve just finished a degree in jewellery making and design, you’re probably trying to figure out which steps to take next. And deciding which path to go down can be a daunting decision to make. But the direction you go in will depend on whether you want to create bespoke, one-of-a-kind pieces or an entire line for the mass-market. Discover the steps you can take towards becoming a jewellery designer or maker below. Becoming a jewellery designer Are you more interested in coming up with your own unique jewellery designs instead of making them? Then heading down the path of becoming a jewellery designer is probably more suited to you. Jewellery designers are often freelance workers who work in a competitive market – but what does it take to become one? We’ve pulled together a couple of steps you can take to dip into the jewellery designing market below. Further jewellery courses Maybe you don’t quite feel ready to make the jump, or a...

When you first start in jewellery making, there are a number of terms that may sound unfamiliar. This is why we have put together a Glossary of Jewellery Terms to make it easier for our jewellery making customers that are just beginning in the jewellery making world and would like to see all the jargon that is commonly used in one place. Alloy – A mixture of different metals. Annealing – The heating and cooling of metal, (often using a torch) to make it softer and therefore easier to work. Assaying – The testing of metal by a professional body (Assay Office) to determine the percentage of pure precious metal contained within it. Once established, the metal is marked with the appropriate hallmark. Base Metal – Non-precious metal e.g. copper, aluminium etc. Bevelled – Slanted or sloping. Bezel – Ring of metal used to secure a stone in a rub over setting. Blanks – Plain, flat shapes cut out of sheet metal, (often stamped). Borax – A type of flux which enables solder to ru...

Wondering how to cut and polish gemstones by hand? Asking yourself “is it worth investing in tools for cutting and polishing gemstones”? Well, we’ve put together a selection of methods and tools for cutting and polishing gemstones without a machine. So whether you’re just getting a taste for lapidary, you’re trying to introduce it to your business, or your job involves gemstones on an everyday basis – we’ve got some ideas for you. How to cut and polish gemstones When you’re just starting out, try these techniques with a larger gemstone that has obvious flat surfaces with minimal dents, as this will make it easier to shape. And focus on creating just a few, large facets as these are easier to polish later on. How to cut gemstones by hand: using sandpaper A less technical, precise and a more free-hand way to cut and polish your gemstones – leaving out the tools is ideal for those who are just dabbling in gemstones without looking to sell just yet. Equipment: Chopping board Wet ...

A classic looking setting and a popular option for presenting a faceted gemstone – the claw setting is a go-to technique for many jewellers. But how do you do it? We’ll talk you through how to claw set a stone, step by step and we’ll discuss all the tools needed and their purposes. You’ll also find a visual aid of some of the more advanced gemstone setting techniques out there. Tools needed for making a claw setting Before you get started with the claw setting tutorial, there are a few key pieces of kit you’ll need for making a claw setting: 1mm wire – use 1mm wire in an alloy of your choosing for the base of the setting. Solder paste – you’ll need solder paste to attach the joins to the wire frame. A hand torch – make sure you have a hand torch for the soldering element of the process. Safe pickling powder – pick up some safe pickling powder to remove any excess residue from using the hand torch. Reverse action tweezers – use reverse action tweezers for handling the ...

When Winter comes around, we know to expect award ceremonies. This year’s condensed events were dominated by some expected big names, such Joaquin Phoenix for Joker, Brad Pitt for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Renee Zellweger for Judy. This is as well as some notable wild cards, such as Bong Joon-Ho for Parasite. But who were the stars of the red carpet, what did they choose to wear and, most importantly, what were the top jewellery trends? Read on to discover which accessories took centre stage this season. A ‘black tie’ formal dress code dictates that attendees to many awards ceremonies must wear evening gowns and tuxedos. This then also calls for suitably formal accessories. Many ladies choose to wear their hair up for these occasions and this means that much of the emphasis is on earrings. Long, linear and chandelier designs were very much in evidence at both the Oscars and the Baftas. Saoirse Ronan (Gucci) and Scarlett Johansson (Forevermark) were wearing some of the mos...

If you would like to make something romantic that doesn’t scream Valentine’s Day, why not try making my stylised heart pendant. Encapsulated within a circle, with a nod to the age-old yin yang symbol, this unisex design is easy to produce and involves no soldering making it ideal for a beginner.   You will need: Sheet metal – 0.7mm – 0.8mm 6mm heavy jump ring Piercing saw and blade Handheld drill and small drill bit approx. 1mm Scriber Centre punch Doming block and punches Hammer Flat nosed pliers Needle files Emery paper Buff Sticks Small polishing mops or tumbler if you have one   Start by marking out your metal. Draw a circle 20mm in diameter and lightly sketch out your design onto the plastic film protecting the surface using a pen or pencil. When you are happy with the design, go over it again with a scriber. Pick two points, one for each internal space, to drill an access hole for your saw (see picture below). Mark each hole with a centre punch and...

Quite honestly, we have so many beautiful pieces of jewellery that would make great gifts for Valentines Day, its difficult to know where to start! So, with that in mind, I’ve decided to split my top picks into price categories, so you can see at a glance just how far your money will stretch. N.B All prices include VAT. £5 and Under Sterling Silver Pendant Four Leaf Clover – VPS 2049 and Pastel Pink Card Earring/ Small Universal Box – 994 270 A four-leaf clover makes such a lovely gesture and is something a little different if you don’t want to go for anything too obvious. This one measures just over 1cm and would be equally suitable as a charm or a pendant with a slight alteration to the jump ring. Amazingly, you can buy both the box and the pendant for just under £5, making a cost effective but cute gift. £5 – £10 Sterling Silver Pendant Medium Dog Tag – VPS 2043 and Sterling Silver 1.2mm Ball Chain 18″/45cm Unhallmarked – VV3 60H A universally popular choice for both ...

Findings are those clever little items that keep our jewellery pieces safe, secure and in place; in short, they make jewellery function as wearable art. Take a moment to consider creating a piece without using a jump ring or perhaps an earring scroll and you will quickly begin to appreciate just how vital findings are. Jump rings Anything which needs to be linked, suspended or joined together, whilst still allowing free movement, requires a jump ring. They can be understated and tiny or extravagant and obvious and we have every conceivable size and alloy to choose from. They are supplied either closed or open allowing you to choose dependant on the requirements of your project. (Open jump rings are more versatile and can be soldered closed once in position). Our most popular and multipurpose sizes are 5mm and 6mm and if you are after strength and rigidity go for heavyweight. Sterling Silver Jump Ring Heavy 5mm – NVH H50 Earring pins and scrolls Like gin and tonic or Morecambe ...