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Vent: Opals break every time I bezel set them
I love opals for their flashy colors. Last month, I made a ring with an opal centerpiece. While setting it, the stone cracked with a soft pop. I was so upset! I learned opals are sensitive to sudden temperature changes. Now I solder at a lower heat and press the bezel more gently. But I still worry about future projects. How do you handle fragile gems in your work?
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dylan_grant6mo ago
You mentioned temperature changes, but that soft pop sound is usually from pressure, not heat. Opals can't handle the uneven stress of a bezel being pushed down all at once. You have to work the bezel up in tiny stages, going around the stone many times.
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mitchell.mark5mo ago
Actually, both can cause that sound.
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