Every diamond used in jewelry undergoes careful cutting and polishing before it enters the shelf, but this is followed by something even more important: setting the stone into a jewelry piece. Skilled diamond setters play an important role here; they ensure the gemstone gets featured in the finest manner possible, while still conceding appeal to the accompanying design. It is a time-earned skill which requires mastering different techniques, as well as being extraordinarily patient and unusually creative.
The Tools They Use
The security of the diamond is paramount to all diamond setters. Ensuring this as well as maximum durability and dazzle is quite a feat, and is achieved through the use of the following tools.
- Pusher: This helps securely place claws or prongs over a stone. It has a wooden handle that fits snugly in the expert’s palm, allowing them to push the setting region around the gemstone.
- Bezel rocker: In cases where a bezel is one of the intended features, a bezel rocker is used to make sure the band is devoid of unsightly marks. The bezel surrounding the diamond gets pushed from various sides using this tool, tidying the placement of the gemstone.
- Ring clamp: This tool is essential to diamond placement in cases where it is hard to hold the metal in hand. It carries a leather-lined jaw that holds the latter in place without leaving any marks, speeding up the setting process considerably.
- Needle Files: The bezel may need to be filed down to a smaller height, and this is done using a set of needle files. These are also used to file the inside of the bezel to make that surface finer, allowing easy placement of the diamond. A classic needle file set has at least six different types of file which the diamond setter can pick from based on the purpose he has in mind.
- Burnisher: After the setting is done, the metal of the band may sometimes need a bit of the polishing to give it a shiny look. A burnisher helps here, and is also useful in removing unwanted scuffs or marks that were formed during the setting process. The final outcome is a ring with a professional finish.
- Magnifying scope and goggles: After the work is completed, a diamond’s detailed results need to be assessed closely, so a diamond setter uses a magnifying scope to do that.