[Jewelry making - Article 00184] - [Orchid] Gold bezel wire for a novice goldsmith

[Kelley Dragon]

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Hi, all 

    I've finally taken the plunge and started added gold highlights to
    my silversmithing. By some twisted logic (WHAT was I thinking?) I
    started out with 3/16 18k YG bezel wire. Looks great, but dang, I had
    a terrible time 'beating' it into submission to keep the stones in
    place. 

    Having only silver experience so far, I: 

    1) got something more robust than the 28g FS I've been using so far 
    2) annealed the bezel wire like I would SS before forming (but it
    never acted annealed) 
    3) used 18k easy solder for the bezel 
    4) still have 18 inches of bezel wire left that I'm not sure I'm
    ready to address. 

    Oh Honored Ones, given your experience, what would you have
    suggested if I had asked this first: 

    I want to set cabachons (between 5mm and 30mm largest measurement)
    in gold bezel on silver pendants and rings. What's a friendly karat
    and wire width? Why? 

    I want to weave a necklace like this (24 or 26g):
    http://www.silvermockingbird.com/necklaces/viking-weave.html 
    What karat & wire gauge will work like SS? This is all cold-worked,
    no solder. 

    Is annealing gold different than silver? What karat is the most
    forgiving? Is all 18k the same in workability? 

Thanks for the insight,
Kelley
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