Source for Gems

[canranger]

Does anyone have a source for small gems you know the size you mount on thumb studs??

Thanks

Abe

 

[sleepy]

rio grande jewelry supply

 

[Gene Martin]

You can find some really good buys on ebay. Check for those dealers that show the grades of stones and check their feedback. You can, if you are careful, beat the heck out of the prices at Rio Grande. I buy some stones from Rio Grande,still, but did well on most of my ebay purchases.

Watch the shipping costs on ebay also. That can negate whatever deal you might have had.

Gene

 

[SteelSlaver]

I hit the pawn shops a lot. You see all kinds of stuff in there and at certain times of the year they are money hungry, and will drop prices. Look for small earring and necklaces with stones as you don't have to pony up to much for the gold. Of course that could be used also.

 

[Alarion]

Does anyone have a source for small gems you know the size you mount on thumb studs??

Thanks

Abe

Weeeeelll... you can always try to dig and hope... :foot:
(Sorry, it's lame, I know, but couldn't resist! )

 

[B . Buxton]

R.B Johnson at www.customknives.com/r.b.johnson/ he has several inlay items for thumb studs.

Bill

 

[Walking Man]

Keep your eyes open. Around here, there are actually Gem Shows, sponsored by the Akron lapidary society. It might be a great place to make contacts, also stuff there is EXTREMELY inexpensive. I got my wife a few strings of pearls she'd been dieing for a long time, dirt cheap. (If $200 is dirt cheap. )

 

[TekSec]

Check out www.bidz.com. I picked up tons of small stuff from there for just a couple of bucks each.

 

[alexmin]

Guys,

I remember seeing stones that are already set into some kind of holder so all you need to drill a blind hole and glue it in. Can't find it anymore.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The company is Signity. You can purchase the pre-set gems from places like Stuller and Rio Grande.
Here is a link to their site:
http://www.signity.com/en/information_productline.php?id=19

Stacy

 

[canranger]

Thanks guys for the quick and plentyful responces. Always a good place to come to say when you don't know.

Abe

 

[John R. Fraps]

Rio Grande has been great to deal with for a variety of items/tools etc. Their non-pre-mounted stones and cabuchons (spelled wrong probably) are nice if you can mount/set yourself, which is not hard to do if you create a stepped hole in the thumb stud of the right size(s).

If you get pre-mounted and aren't a jeweler (I'm not), you also ought to get the "step drill" bit they offer to drill the hole to set to mounted gem in....I have always bought the premounted in 2.25 mm and only need the one size step drill. The premounted are real nice, and not bad prices at all (it has been a couple -three years since I last bought gems).

They have white or yellow gold in, I think, in a couple of different carats.

If you call Signity directly, talk with them. They give good advice.

A number of years ago, Signity attended some of the knife shows so they are well aware of the knifemaker market....