This type of setting is called a bezel setting and you usually se this setting done to cabochon or cabs. Those are the stones that are flat on the back because its ideal for those stones. If you have a faceted gem and diamond cut on the bottom or whatever type of cut on the bottom. you need to design a shelf into the ring so that only the shelf holds up the gem. too much shelf and the gem might crack when setting it. Depending on the type of stone you are setting you will need to use different tools. If its a round gem you can use a
Prong pusher if not then a
Bezel rocker will do and these tools are used to push/tilt the top of the bezel towards the gem. If you find it difficult to bend the top of the bezel towards the gem then you might need to make the the bezel thinner by filing away at a 45 degree angle, File away the top outside of the bezel making it thinner but do this part with caution because this is something you cant undo if you make it too thin. Once all of the bezel is pushed towards the gem you will want to push it down. One tool that makes it easier and more precise is a
powered hammer hand piece of course there are other tools like a
file to file down the bezel height if it is taller then then gem table and also
polishing tools and compound to polish off any scratches you may have given the ring. Ill post pictures of these tools so you can see what they look like and ill look for some videos that helped me out too.
Below is a picture to better show you what I mean by filing down the top outside of the bezel. By the way, for a bezel this thick, you can't really use a prong pusher, this one is too thick. A bezel rocker will do.
Last edited: Oct 18, 2013