Recent content by Betsy Lehndorff

Give it a shot and show us your results.

His wife got us together on facebook!

The closest I can come is the April 2016 step-by-step article I wrote in Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine.

I like you. You've explained a lot to me.

The technique is safe. I also rigged up a simple way to hold them using duct tape and wire. I'm teaching this around the USA and wanted it to be cheap and fun. I carve them at my jeweler's bench with a flexible shaft tool and dental grade diamond bits.

dental grade diamond bits.

Well. I did some tests. I dropped a white curl-carved pearl on the bathroom floor from waist height and six feet - like you would drop an earring when putting it on. No damage. I dropped it on a granite floor. No damage. I threw it with force onto the bathroom floor several times and got a...

Chipping probably depends on the pearl and the treatment it was given. Mine have not chipped during carving. And they have not chipped while being worn. However, I'll try a couple drop tests on marble floors and other tests to see what happens.

I can't afford high grade pearls. I assume that they would look beautiful. Better grown pearls also might be easier to arve because the nacre is more consistent.

Not what you expected?

Inspired by Galatea -- I have been carving pearls in Michigan, USA since December, although I am thousands of miles away from major markets. These are deeply carved freshwater pearls and a great way to add some value to low grade pearls. What do you think? Anyone else doing this? Photos are by...