I had started an experimental piece that was not going to be featured on the channel. I just want to try something out for myself. I decided that the piece I was making itself wasn't enough for the channel but the actual idea and action of making it was so decided to feature it. This is not my usual type of upload. Im not trying to teach anything here but I do want to encourage practicing jewellers to experiment and stretch their skills and abilities. In the video I show the kind of thing I get up to when just 'mucking about at the bench' I was having fun but I was also simultaneously learning lots about stone positions, joining collets together, putting different shape stones together, claw work, setting etc and those were just the things I knew I was getting myself in to. As it all came together lots of extra design possibilities became clear to me that I had never even considered. It was a great learning experience and I recommend you do similar things in your spare time at the bench! Im on Patreon! With patrons support I will be able to offer far more information than I am currently able to. With nearly 25 years of knowledge gained in the jewellery trade working with some of the best diamond mounters in the UK I can train practitioners of jewellery making, up to and far beyond the skill level found in High Street jewellers workshops. Become a classic patron you will not only be able to view part 2 of full instructional guides but also be thanked personally on the next youtube upload! You will also have access to all future uploads 2 weeks before they go live on youtube. Official patrons have all the benefits of a classic patron but also gain access to regular exclusive content. Behind the scenes, personal jewellery projects Im working on, I share ideas for future videos, photos and stories from throughout my career as a professional jeweller. Also Official patrons are welcome to suggest ideas for future videos and contact me anytime if they need advice for their own jewellery making endeavors. Classic patronage is just £5 a month and to become Official costs only £10 a month making Diamond Mounter patronage by far the best value way to gain access to online jewellery making courses. As the number of full instructional guides continues to grow the value will be even more considerable. https://www.patreon.com/join/5278612?​​ There is now an entry level tier which costs just £1 a month. Its named the supporter tier which allows you to support the channel with out any substantial financial obligation. I will thank you personally on the next Diamond Mounter video uploaded. I have been lucky enough to have been taught by some of the UKs most accomplished diamond mounters and my ambition is to share what I have learned through out my c ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz0xYPt3V6M

A quick but full instructional guide to make a simple 4 claw collet. Being able to hand make a good 4 claw is an essential skill for a jeweller. It can be made as an earring, a pendant or ring setting so very versatile. Not too difficult but as always working neatly and accurately are very important. I think the ability to make one the exact size required for a specific stone may be the tricky part for someone trying for the first time. This video guides you through the entire process to make one correctly. The depth of the stone you are making a collet for will effect the width of metal needed for the bezel but the techniques I teach for positioning the claws and soldering them on accurately are universal and can be applied on any round or square collet. Ovals and emerald cuts differ slightly. I have recently join Patreon! This channel has potential to grow in to a great archive of jewellers knowledge with your help. With patrons support I will be able to offer far more information than I am currently able to. With nearly 25 years of knowledge gained in the jewellery trade working with some of the best diamond mounters in the UK I can train practitioners of jewellery making, up to and far beyond the skill level found in High Street jewellers workshops. I have been lucky enough to have been taught by actual Bond Street shop model makers and my ambition is to share what I have learned through out my career to as many people as possible. My vehicle to do this is the Diamond Mounter YouTube channel and now after nearly 1 year of uploading video guides, its time to take it up a level. My ambition is to be able to make instructional videos with not just silver, but gold and platinum also. Some proper jewellers soldering equipment will enable me to create much more special pieces too! This will open up a whole new world of information I have to share. There are many specific methods and techniques used for the different precious metals and knowledge about gemstones I can teach that will never enter my videos unless I am actually working with them. If you may be interested in becoming a patron and supporting the channel to help it grow please click the link below to go to the Patreon website and find out about all the benefits that come with being a Diamond Mounter patron. https://www.patreon.com/join/5278612? There is now a new entry level tier which costs just £1 a month. Its named the supporter tier which allows you to support the channel with out any substantial financial obligation. I will thank you personally on the next Diamond Mounter video uploaded! I hope you will consider becoming a patron. Thank you, C.Bilton With this channel I will share with you methods and techniques I have learned over the previous 24 years as a profession ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsgZqkNm4Qc