Bradney W. Simon

Contributions From Bradney W. Simon

Rebuilding Bezels with a Laser Welder

Rebuilding Bezels with a Laser Welder

Steve Satow I have found this to be
 a most useful tool to use 
when rebuilding a bezel 
using a...
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Layout Form / Template

Layout Form / Template

Click on the image to enlarge and download and you can use this layout form or template to help layout...
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Design Considerations for Pendants

Design Considerations for Pendants

When making a pendant the bail should be something that is incorporated into the design of the pendant if at...
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Gemstone Guide

Gemstone Guide

This page contains a gemstone guide to common abrasives used near gemstones; their usage, hardness rate and effects compiled by...
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A Crowning Achievement Part 2

A Crowning Achievement Part 2

In the last issue we looked at making a basic basket crown. In this article we will fabricate a more...
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Forged Ring Shank

Forged Ring Shank

This article describes step by step instructions how forged ring shank is done as described by Bradney W. Simon. For...
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Squaring the Diamond

Squaring the Diamond

When setting a round brilliant diamond in a four prong setting there is some debate among stone setters on how...
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Customized Hanging Tool Shelf

Customized Hanging Tool Shelf

I made a hanging tool shelf between my setting and soldering bench. With it off the floor it allows easy...
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A Crowning Achievement Part 1

A Crowning Achievement Part 1

Often jewelers are called upon to hand fabricate a crown to fit a stone. This is necessary when either the...
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Waste Not, Want Not

Waste Not, Want Not

When it comes to recovering precious metal, nothing is worthless. However, if you walk into many repair shops you will...
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Fabricating a Pear-Shaped Pendant

Fabricating a Pear-Shaped Pendant

A customer selects a
 pear-shape sea foam tourmaline from your loose stone s
and informs you she would
 like a...
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Chain Repair Paste Solder Method

Repairing broken chains is one of the two most often preformed jobs in the shop. (Sizing rings is the other)...
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Laser Repair: Emerald and Diamond Bracelet

Laser Repair: Emerald and Diamond Bracelet

This article by Steve Satow describes the procedure for repairing an emerald and diamond bracelet using laser technology. Top view...
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Platinum Wire Filigree

Platinum Wire Filigree

Platinum wire filigree can be easily added to an article of jewelry providing a unique design element. The filigree can...
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Metal Conversion Chart

Metal Conversion Chart

The metal conversion chart below will help you determine the amount of metal needed to create a piece of jewelry...
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Assembled Mounting for Customized Jewelry

Assembled Mounting for Customized Jewelry

Often custom made jewelry can be assembled from stock findings, creating jewelry with a hand-fabricated look in a fraction of...
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A Pain In The Neck

You start to turn and there it is again. You go to stand up from your chair and it happens...
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Channel Setting – Set ‘Em Straight

Over the past decade, channel setting has grown in popularity. Setting small diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and even emeralds into channels...
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Maintaining Good Workshop Air Quality

Four areas in the jeweler's workshop produce harmful substances that MUST be properly removed from the shop in order to...
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Repairing Broken Chains

The difficulty of chain repair lies in the fact that the chain is made up of fine wires. These wires...
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V Prong Setting

Several shapes of stones have pointed ends, including marquise, pear, heart, and princess. Because these points are often thin and...
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Fabricating a Crown to Fit a Stone

Often jewelers are called upon to hand fabricate a crown to fit a stone. This is necessary when either the...
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Fit to be Sized

Before sizing any ring, examine it carefully and compare it to the information on the job envelope. If you see...
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Bead Stone Setting – Bead It!

Bench Jewelers often use different methods to accomplish the same work. I believe the end results are what is important,...
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4 C’s of Effective Communication

Peter Drucker claims that 60% of all business problems result from faulty communication. The percentage is even higher in our...
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Bracelet Tongue Replacement

Bracelet Tongue Replacement

With the popularity of tennis bracelets over the last 20 years, replacing broken tongues has become a common repair in...
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Restoring a Hollow Link Bracelet

Restoring a Hollow Link Bracelet

This 14 karat white and yellow gold two tone bracelet has hollow wire links. The link near the clasp which...
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Setting Square Shaped Diamonds

Setting Square Shaped Diamonds

In this article we will set the baguettes and princess cut diamonds in the platinum mounting. Begin cutting the seat...
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Proper Studio Light

Do not get caught in the dark - make certain your shop is well lit. In the jewelry shop, two...
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Different Methods of Cutting Azures

Different Methods of Cutting Azures

Azure is the American English derivative of the French term a jour or adjoure. An azure is a countersunk cutout...
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Basic Sawing Techniques

Basic Sawing Techniques

In this article, we will continue our Back to Basics Series with an article on Sawing techniques.
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Homemade Flex-Shaft Guard

Homemade Flex-Shaft Guard

Homemade flex-shaft guard using a soft drink plastic bottle, a solution to the annoying and potentially hazardous problem of breathing...
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Basic Filing Techniques

Basic Filing Techniques

Over the years, bad habits creep into our work procedures. Periodical review of our techniques is needed to assure us...
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Jewelry Making Tricks

Jewelry Making Tricks

Check out this list of 19 jewelry making tips and tricks for preparation, cleaning, setting, how-to's and more.
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Bypass Shank Ring Assembly

Bypass Shank Ring Assembly

Rings with by-pass shanks are right hand and left hand specific and are not interchangeable. When creating a ring with...
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