Rockwerks Lapidary Forum

Hi gang,
I have read some of your threads here and thought that this site would be a good place to ask a few (million) questions.

I am really new to lapidary and have much to learn. I am interested in making rings from gem stones. Not a cab on a metal ring but the whole ring from the stones. I have seen a few on the web. some are cheap crap and some are fine works of art. I am not wanting to sell a bunch, just a hobby.

Now a bit about me, I live in central Florida. and I am 51 years old. I come from a mechanical background and can (usually) build anything. If I see something I want and I could buy it for $100.00 bucks, I will say to myself ,,, "Shoot I could build that" then I will spend $200.00 dollars buying tools and supplies to make it.

I had a large Tiger eye stone for years and wanted to make a ring from it. Well I killed it and bought some replacement stones and jumped right in. I have finished one for my wife, A rose quartz band with an opal cab. next was a tiger eye band with a gold masonic emblem on it. and a half finished dalmatian jasper that is waiting for a gold firefighters emblem to cab it off.

I would like to get some black jade to start the next round.
I will jump in the threads soon and see where it goes from there.

Welcome Paul,
Sounds like you are going full out. We would love to see pictures of the rings you made. Glad you found this group, we will do our best to answer your million questions. Make youself at home,
TTYS
Dan

Thanks Dan,
Can I upload them directly or do I need to host the photos off site?

Edit:
Never mind I found how to upload photos here. There are three in the projects thread now.

welcome im new here also but its a great group and they are more than helpfull.

I'm new and in Fla as well. Nice rings what a great idea.

The stone ring idea is fabulous. Ive seen a few online but there are not many making them.

Thanks, eBay is full of them $9.95 and a few of them done by an artist not a factory in china. But I have all but given up on making them. They brake too easy. I have about a 60% failure rate. I am moving on to titanium or stainless steel bands and only cab the top. I'll put a photo of a his and hers pair that I am almost finished with. (just need to do the fine finish work to remove a few scratches and a pit or two in the cab).