In this tutorial video we’re going to build a channel setting of 3 faceted gemstones in sterling silver wire. Channel settings are a great way to feature smaller faceted gemstones in a wire wrapped piece. I really enjoy the splash of color that a channel setting can bring to a pendant. I hope you get something out of this video and find this technique useful/applicable to your work.

Materials:

➔ Gemstones: In this case I am using 3 3mm faceted round spessertine garnets, but any round faceted gemstone will work. I prefer 3mm, but any sized between 1.5mm and 5mm are doable – 3mm feels like the sweet spot for this technique though.

➔ Pliers: You’ll need wire clippers/cutters and needle nose pliers for this project.

Wire:

➔ Sterling Silver 20 gauge Square Dead Soft – half hard is acceptable also. (4 pieces each about 12 inches long.) note: this is more length than you’ll need to accomplish this channel setting, but if you’re planning on building out a piece from here it’s nice to have the extra wire to work with. Also, this technique can be done with 2 square wires instead of 4, but in this case I am doubling them up to provide more structure.

➔ Sterling Silver 20 gauge Half Round Half Hard (2 pieces about 12 inches long just like our square wire.) I am choosing half hard over dead soft in this case because I feel like the extra hardness provides some necessary structural integrity to the half round for this setting technique.

➔ Sterling Silver 32 gauge Round Dead Soft. (1 piece approx. 5 to 6 feet in length) For weaving wire such as this I use exclusively dead soft wire. It makes for tighter/cleaner weaves.

Be well ~ Merrick of Inner Orbit Jewelry ~