Tutorial: How to Make a Gold Wire Solitaire Ring Setting

The setting of a solitaire ring is the small architectural marvel that will house and enhance a precious stone. It's the detail that transforms a ring into a piece of fine jewelry. Making your own setting in gold thread It is a skill which, once mastered, opens infinite doors to your creativity.

At La Fille du Sud, we guide you towards excellence. Here's the tutorial for crafting this essential component.

1. The Essential Equipment for Shaping Your Kitten

• The Golden Thread (The Pillars of the Kitten):

  • Our Recommendation: You will need an annealed gold wire from 0.8mm to 1.0mm for the claws, and a small thin gold band for the base (the belt).

• Essential Tools:

  • Flat pliers, round-nose pliers, cutting pliers.

  • A fine file, a milling cutter (Dremel type) for smoothing.

  • A jeweler's mandrel, a hammerer.

  • Welding equipment (blowtorch, brazing) is ideal for strength.

2. The Tutorial: Craft Your Own Four-Clawed Lone Kitten

Step 1: Prepare the Kitten Belt

1. Cut a small piece of thin gold strip .

2. Form a circle the size of your stone using a mandrel.

3. Weld the ends (if you weld) to form the "belt" of the kitten.

Step 2: Shaping the Claws

1. Cut 4 pieces of 0.8mm annealed gold wire of equal length.

2. With your pliers, give them a slight curve so that they can grip the stone.

Step 3: Weld the Claws to the Belt (The Precision Step)

1. Position each claw inside the belt, at regular intervals.

2. Weld them carefully. This is the moment for precision!

Step 4: Finishing Touches

1. File and polish the kitten to remove any rough edges.

2. Your kitten is ready to be welded onto a ring body .

3. Another option: Opt for the ready-to-set ring setting .

Proceed to the Next Step: Crimping

Once your setting is crafted, all that remains is to solder it to your gold ring band and set your stone. To save time, consider the option of a ready-made ring setting , ready to be set.

To learn everything about this crucial step, consult our Guide to Crimping Techniques .

Conclusion: Become a Master Jeweler

Crafting a kitten is a significant step in the art of jewelry making. It means mastering the material from start to finish. It's the signature of artisans who create jewelry that is not merely assembled, but truly handcrafted.