Setting Stones in Metal Clay

Jeanette Landenwitch

 Just a Stones Throw Away

First of all, this is a spiral bound book.  This makes it so much easier to read the pages.  I don’t have to hunt in my cabinet for a stack of cans to hold the pages open.

The contents section of this publication by Brynmorgen Press is very thorough.  It covers gemstones, tools and materials, settings, bezels, prongs, and other setting options.

 I have perused many PMC Yahoo Groups and frequently the question comes up about setting stones and the appropriate stones to use with this material.  I learned that natural stones can be fired in the kiln, but others such as pearl, ivory, shell, coral, amber, and jet are verboten.  Most, but not all synthetic stones can be fired in a kiln.  Simulated gemstones comprise another category, such as the cubic zirconia that is ideal for kiln firing.

There is a table on pages 14 and 15 illustrating gem tests that were done by Kevin Whitmore and the staff of Rio Grande.  Here one can find many answers to both torch and kiln firing.

The line drawings of the techniques and the setting illustrations are well executed.  There is no guesswork here.  As an example, the bezel strip on page 44 is a definitive “how to.”  One is presented with a heat tolerant gemstone pressed into a lump of clay, variations of the method, and final finishing steps.

The goal of “Setting Stones in Metal Clay” was to expand the PMC’s artist’s stone setting options.  They are all here and are less than a stone’s throw away!