Follow along as we show you how to make an ocean jasper cabochon ring. Tools & materials used for Ocean Jasper Cabochon Ring Project project: Materials: 20 gauge Silver Sheet 1/2 round Wire for the Ring Band (we used decorative ring band  ) bezel strip (we used serrated bezel  ) Easy, medium and hard silver solder Cabochon    Any half round wire between 12g and 6g will be good for rings depending on the size of the stone and the desired look of the band. Keep in mind, the higher the number the thinner the wire.  Tools: Ring Sizers Calipers Fine tip sharpie Nippers Jewelry Saw Flat nose pliers and or Miter Jig Wire cutters  Wubber bail pliers .  The Wubber 7 & 9mm bail making pliers are a favorite around the studio. Steel Block Rawhide or Nylon Hammer Ring Mandrel Ring Clamp Bech Pin Flex Shaft Polishing Wheels: Yellow, Red and Blue Radial Discs Silicone wheels fine and medium grit Bezel Rocker or Bezel Pusher Burnishing ...

Today we are going over all the steps for you to be able to make your own french ear wires. This is something you can do when you’re not feeling inspired creatively, but still want (or need!) to be in the studio and productive. Sometimes we don’t feel especially creative, but pushing through with a project like making and stockpiling a bunch of ear-wires helps us get into the right frame of mind for our next design. And, when you are in a creativity frenzy, you'll have all the ear-wires your jewelry needs and deserves.  So here is our quick video on the process we use to make our own ear-wires. ...

Debbie came into the studio a few weeks ago never having even pierced out a design into metal. Last week she finished our ball ring and set an aqua cab on top to give to her granddaughter. That's pretty quick progress isn't it? She changed up how we normally do the silver ring and at first I wasn't sure how good it would look, but I love it!...

We're going to be at the JOGS Tucson Gem and Jewelry Show this September teaching workshops as well as showing jewelry. If you'd like to sign up for a workshop or just say hello, check out our schedule here . We're all very excited for the opportunity to teach as well as show our new lines. So drop by and tell us what you think of our jewelry!...

I had the chance to speak with Jay Whaley on Metalsmith Bench Talk LIVE this weekend at the SNAG conference. Here it is if you're interested in listening! We talk about Harold Studio, where it came from and where it's going. The whole session is great! My interview starts at the 36:35 mark. ...

Last Sunday, Greg and Kimberly came in to make wedding bands for each other at the studio. They met while out country dancing and have been together ever since. It was a lot of fun and even Kimberly's daughter had a hand in helping! Kimberly was nice enough to send pictures of the experience to me to put up here and wrote: "Thank you for the wonderful experience you have given both of us. We appreciate your time and patience. We now have another memory to cherish." Thanks for coming to Harold Studio you two! I'm so glad you have a great memory in making the engagement bands. Now you can brag to your friends about how your ring is made by your fiance! Are you interested in making wedding bands for each other? Contact us at Harold Studio for more information....

With the ingot made from the recycled silver, I next proceed to draw it down to the size I want and while doing so, lengthen my wire considerably! I start off by rolling the wire through the wire section of the rolling mill. I generally pass it through between 2 and 3 times before I anneal the metal again. If this isn't done, the metal WILL crack and start to flake off. I've learned through experience that it isn't worth it trying to pass the metal through "just one more time".  After rolling the metal down to about the diameter I want, I move to the draw plate because the wire section of the rolling mill made the wire diamond shaped and I want circular wire. Note: While the rolling mill isn't necessary to drawing down wire, it will make everything go MUCH faster. As in, shaving off as much as an hour or more of your time. But, if you don't have a rolling mill, don't live in Phoenix where you can visit Harold Studio and use ours, or...

Metal prices are very expensive right now and I have more scrap metal than I know what to do with. So today I made some sterling silver wire at the studio. What you need to make your own wire is a crucible, ingot mold(mine is a reversible so I can do sheet as well), torch and draw plate. First step is to choke the torch(acetylene) by wrapping your hand around the turn on valve so that no oxygen can come out. This creates a sooty substance which floats out of the torch. I use the soot to coat the inside of the ingot where I plan on pouring my silver. You will know if you are choking the torch right if black substance starts coming off the flame and if the flame is mostly yellow(as opposed to blue). Secure the ingot so that the wire will be even by tapping the top of it with a hammer after you have tightened the two ends together. Then heat up the ingot. This secures that when you pour in the metal it will not splatter back at you out of shock from going to molten ho...