Make You Own Bezel Setting (with Metal Clay & Fine Silver Wire)

Make Your Own Bezel Setting
with Metal Clay and Fine Silver Bezel Wire

Bezel Settings
Metal clay can be used to create bezel settings in two different ways:
Create bezel and fire in place; or Create bezel and set after firing.

Fine Silver Bezel Wire

Measure the glass by wrapping a strip of fine silver bezel wire around the base of the glass. There should be no gaps, but the glass should slide easily into and out of the bezel wire. Cut the wire and file flush to create a tight seam. Check the fit of the glass as you work.

Fine Silver Bezel Wire Method 1
Embed the bezel into the metal clay and seal the joint with metal clay paste. Be sure to keep most of the paste on the outside of the bezel so that you do not change the fit of the bezel. Let the clay dry. Adjust to fit further by filing in the green state. Fire.

Fine Silver Bezel Wire Method 2
Seal the fine silver bezel wire sheet with metal clay paste or Art Clay Oil Paste Allow to dry. Fire the bezel separately. File the seam smooth. Embed in raw clay as in method 1.

Fine Silver Bezel Wire Method 3
Seal the fine silver bezel wire by fusing. Embed in raw clay as in method 1 or Fire back plate and attach to fired surface as in method 2.

Paper Type or Sheet Clay Bezels
Custom, decorative bezels can be made from either paper or sheet style metal clay. The method is similar to the coil method; however, the bezel is flat rather than a coil.

Making a Metal Clay Bezel

Create a back plate as described above in the coil method. If using clay, roll out clay 1mm (or about 1 card thick). Cut the clay or paper about 1mm larger than the glass (to allow for shrinkage).

Cut, Join & Check

Join with paste to form the bezel (as you would a ring). Place the bezel on the backing plate. Test the glass (taking into account shrinkage) and remove before firing. Tumble, finish and set.

Embedded Silver Bezel Cups
Cast commercial fine silver or depletion gilded sterling silver bezel cups can be embedded into metal clay so that they are shrink locked into place, dried, sanded fired, finished and then the glass is set.