Jewelry: Stone Setting
Adult Class | Registration opens Monday, July 6, 2026 8:00 AM EDT
Ready to take your jewelry to the next level? Learn to embellish your pieces with a variety of stone setting styles in this class. Understand the techniques behind fabricating the stone settings, including measuring stones and translating them to the metal to be made into settings. Topics covered will include bezel settings with round, oval or fancy shaped cabochon cut gems, a step bezel for faceted cut gemstones (combination bezel and prong setting) and a tube setting (bezel setting for faceted cut gemstones). Depending on students experience, additional setting techniques will be covered which could include flush setting and prong setting. Students should have some jewelry making experience before taking this class.
What You Will Learn:
- Measuring stones for settings
- Fabricating stone settings out of metal
- Variety of stone setting styles
Please note: There is no class scheduled for 9/21 (Yom Kippur) or 10/12 (Indigenous Peoples' Day).
Accessibility Note: This studio is only accessible by stairs. For access needs or accommodations, contact adulteducation@fleisher.org.
Please note: Studio fees help cover the ongoing cost of studio resources, including tools, equipment maintenance, gas, soldering materials, abrasives, and other supplies available for student use.
Recommended Local Jewelry & Metal Suppliers
- T.B. Hagstoz & Son Inc., 709 Sansom St, 215-922-1628, hagstoz.com
- Pamma Tools, 809 Samson St, 215-928-6004, pammatools.com
Recommended Online Jewelry & Metal Supplier
- Rio Grande, 1-800-545-6566, riogrande.com
All students should start the class with these supplies
- Sketchbook and pen/pencil
- Black thin and fine tip permanent marker or oil-based paint markers
- An old t-shirt or rag for drying metal
- 6" of hard, medium, and soft silver wire solder
- 1/4" x 6" 26 gauge fine silver bezel strip wire
- 1" x 3" 20 gauge sterling silver sheet
- 3" 16 gauge sterling silver round wire
- 1 cabochon cut gemstone (3/4" in the smallest dimension is recommended, round and oval shapes are best suited for beginners)
- 1 fancy cut faceted gemstone (1/2" in the smallest dimension is recommended, round and oval shapes are best suited for beginners)
- 1 faceted gemstone (5mm round is recommended)
- 3" sterling silver thick wall tubing (minimum outer diameter of 5.5mm, maximum inner diameter of 4.5mm)
Please note: All metals are at your own expense. Sterling silver in recommended for this class (if you are interested in using copper or brass as an alternative, please contact adulteducation@fleisher.org). Students should choose a metal that works best for their personal budgets (copper and brass tend to be more budget friendly). The use of gold should be discussed with your instructor prior to purchase. No nickel or steel is permitted in the Fleisher jewelry studio.
Wendy Tonsits
Wendy Tonsits Jewelry creations are a synthesis of bold lines and striking relationships of form and colored gemstones. Creative influences can be found in the sculptural forms and colors in nature and her travels to Japan, Italy, Fiji and other parts of the globe. Wendy creates her small sculpture jewelry with traditional techniques which often reflect her love of carving from metal sheet or bars of sterling silver to achieve original organic shapes as well as hand constructing settings for uniquely cut faceted gems. The artist is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Art with a degree in jewelry and metalsmithing. She earned her Graduate Gemologist degree at the Gemological Institute of America in NYC and worked as a diamond specialist in the GIA Gem Trade Lab. For 12 years Tonsits owned and operated a community jewelry teaching studio in Atlanta, GA. Presently she maintains her private jewelry studio at the Bok Building in Philadelphia, PA and teaches jewelry classes at the Abington Art Center, Main Line Art Center and the Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia.