Gemstone ring experiment

Starting with rectangular wire for the band, and a prefabricated tube bezel setting, I set off to create a ring one of two ways:

1. Attach the band to the sides of the setting; or,
2. rest the setting on the band.

Attaching the band to the sides of the setting required cutting the band around the setting shape, to create a flush connection. The band was then soldered to the bezel, flush with the bottom of the setting. That ring was finished with an 8mm, round white topaz gemstone.

A second bezel setting was modified to fit over a second identical band. The setting was cut where it intersected the band, to create slots where the bezel could fit over the band. The setting was then soldered to the band and the section of the band inside the bezel was removed to make room for the stone. The ring was finished with an 8mm, round, lab-created sapphire.

The second method was, by far, the best. However, neither ring turned out particularly well. While it was better to mount the bezel over the band, I made a mistake when I removed the band inside the bezel. I should have either:

1. Filed or sanded that part of the band to create a flat surface, lowering the height of the band to accommodate the culet (the point on the bottom of the gemstone); and (or),
2. used a setting bur to cut out a space for the culet, leaving the band intact.