Essential Resources | Fire Mountain Gems and Beads

Video Tutorial: Iolite Bead and Cabochon Earrings

Follow along with Patti, a jewelry designer here at Fire Mountain Gems and beads jewelry studio, teaching a simple and elegant technique that can level up your jewelry making skillset with just a few materials and tools.

Video Length 14:48

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5 Ways to Use Cabochons

Watch this video to discover 5 creative ways to use cabochons in jewelry making! Learn how to craft stunning pendants, rings, earrings, charms, and more with these versatile stones.

Video Length 4:18

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What Is a Cabochon?

Take a deep dive into the marvelous cabochon and its sister the cameo. Learn about how they're created and dozens of ways a designer can use them.

Bezels

Bezels are an ideal finding to use when you're working with cabochons and flat back crystals. Tammy Honaman, author and jewelry-making expert, is here to tell you all about them.

Cameo

A carved gem or shell, in which the carved design stands out against a background of a different color.

How to Make a Sterling Silver Pendant Setting

Create a custom cabochon setting using these step-by-step instructions. This project tutorial explores bench jeweler metal fabrication techniques such as sawing, soldering, filing and polishing.

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Ask the Experts Rotary Grinding Tool Q&A

Q: What do I use to drill a hole in a cabochon? I can't find anything to go through.

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How to Use Bezel Strips

Learn how to make a custom bezel setting for any cabochon using bezel strips. Clear images demonstrate every step in this how-to.

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How to Make a Bib-Style Necklace

Ukrainian artist Elena Golovchenko blended purples and lavenders from gemstone, Czech fire-polished glass and seed beads to create this bib necklace. Follow Elena Golovchenko’s intricate design with Fashion Magazine’s instructions.

Design Idea D16F

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Stone Setting

Bezelite settings take all the mystery and headache out of stone setting. Even a beginner can get great results in seconds! They are made for faceted stones and most cabochons.

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Stitching an "X"

Jewelry-making expert Tammy Honaman teaches how to create this "X" stitch used to embellish cabochons.

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Ring Mount Instructions

Learn how to glue a cabochon into a closed-back ring setting with this tutorial. Clear images demonstrate each step in this how-to.

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Mother-of-Pearl, White

Especially popular in Victorian-inspired jewelry designs, mother-of-pearl shell is often seen as cameos, but it isn't just for feminine jewelry, as it is a favorite for cuff links and tie tacks.

Sugilite

Sugilite offers lots of designing possibilities whether it's beads, cabochons, inlays and more. Like amethyst, sugilite's variety of purples makes it go well with just about everything.

Mounting

A jewelry setting designed for the placement of faceted gemstones or cabochons.

Setting

A frame, container or cage designed for the placement of faceted gemstones or cabochons.

Intaglio

Decoration made by carving or engraving a design into a gem or other hard material. Intaglio is the opposite of cameo.

Gem Setting Pliers

A pair of pliers used to set or tighten the prongs on gemstone settings. The structure of these pliers gives them and parallel jaws and exceptional leverage.

How to Use the Bead Buddy® Cabochon Mandrel

Follow along with Rose to see the easy way to wrap an oval cabochon using the amazing Bead Buddy® cabochon mandrel.

Video Length 14:48

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How to Use Fancy Bezel Settings with Cabochons

Set cabochons quickly and elegantly within fancy bezel settings using a bezel pusher or bezel roller. Watch the silent animation to learn this professional technique, or use the full step-by-step instructions below the video.

Video Length 4:50

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How to Use Two-Sided Bezel Settings

Easily set Crystal Passions® fancy stones or flat-backed cabochons using these these two-sided calibrated bezel mounts. Rose shows you how it’s done—all it takes is pliers and a prong pusher to create stunning pendants for jewelry.

Video Length 3:33

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How to Use the Miracle Mount™ System

The Miracle Mount™ system was designed to hold sparkling Crystal Passions® fancy stones and gemstone cabochons. Rose explains how jewelry designers can add loop and peg inserts to create customized links, centerpieces and stations.

Video Length 7:55

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Cuff Link

A decorative closure used to fasten the two sides of a man's dress shirt sleeve. The finding is often hidden by a cabochon, carving or other design motif.

Cabochon

An undrilled gemstone with a smooth rounded top and a flat back. A cabochon is not faceted.

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