-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
Introduction to Mosaic Inlay Jewelry on a Budget
In this class you will learn how to create mosaic inlay jewelry with semi-precious stones and minimal tools. Inlay jewelry is where stones are cut to fit together like puzzle pieces before they are set and cut flush with the metal’s surface.
You’ll be able to tailor this class with a beginner-friendly pattern or challenge yourself with an intricate design and pre-made bezel cup pendants. No prior jewelry or lapidary experience needed, just bring your creativity and excitement!
Goals for the Class:
- Understand basic lapidary tools and the process of cutting stones, learning about the Mohs scale and why that matters when choosing stones for your inlay.
- Design a drawing that will be challenging but doable, including at least 2 different stones put together.
- Demonstrate how to safely use a flex shaft for stone cutting and carving, which will be slightly different than when it’s used for jewelry.
- Examine your pieces of stone to figure out where you need to cut in order for all of the pieces to fit snuggly like a puzzle.
- Demonstrate how to prepare your metal for inlaying and inlay the stones securely
For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page.
Meet the instructor
Caitlin Albritton is an art jeweler, writer, and educator who lives and works in Tampa, FL. She pursued her artistic dreams by getting her Bachelor of Fine Art Degree in Painting at Savannah College of Art and Design, followed by a Studio Art Master of Fine Art from Maryland Institute College of Art.
She has been awarded numerous grants, fellowships, residencies, and other honors for both her paintings and jewelry designs throughout her art career, from being on the cover of New American Paintings in 2017 to being a winner of the Halstead Jewelry Grant in 2024. Twenty of her inlay jewelry pieces have recently been included in the exhibition “Skyway: A Contemporary Collaboration” at The Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, FL, she’s been featured on Fox 13 and Tampa Magazine for her inlays, and featured in a WEDU PBS Arts Plus segment.
Materials & Tools
The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name to be redirected to a page where you can view the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is encouraged but not required.
Consumables/Raw Materials:
- Premade bezels available on my website (C-albritton) or (HalsteadJewelrySupplies)
- More can be found online searching “inlay jewelry blank”
- They can be made of any metal you choose
- Recommended no larger than 20 mm
- Slab stones (C-albritton)
- Recommended 1/8-inch thick but most slabs are ¼-inch unless specified
- Check out your local rock/lapidary club to see what they have
- Local gem and mineral show
- Facebook groups - search “buy lapidary slabs” in the search, then click “Groups” and you’ll find a ton of options
- Ebay or Etsy - be warned that there are many unscrupulous sellers along with trustworthy ones. Ex. some “turquoise” may just be dyed stone
- You can even find some pretty stone tiles (marble, etc.) from your local hardware store as a last-ditch measure
- Elmer’s Rubber cement (amazon)
- Super glue gel (amazon)
- Blue painters’ tape (amazon)
- Acetone (amazon)
- Q-tips (amazon)
- Epoxy330 (amazon)
- Plastic lid/cardboard to use as an epoxy mixing tray
- Mixing sticks (amazon)
- Paper towels/brown recycled paper napkins (amazon)
Additional Tools/Equipment:
- Foredom 2230 SR - this is the basic version with no jewelry accessories (amazon)
- Foredom hanger (amazon)
Optional Materials:
- Charcoal powder for epoxy (amazon)
- Mica powders
- India ink sampler set (amazon)
- Cerium oxide - final polishing compound for certain stones (Cabking)
- Tin oxide - final polishing compound (KingsleyNorth)
- Felt buffs for final polishing compounds - can be used for your oxides and Zam (amazon)
- Zam - good final polish for all stones and previous compounds like cerium oxide or titanium oxide (amazon)
- CZ for accents (HalsteadJewelrySupplies)
- Tube bezels for CZs and setting tools (HalsteadJewelrySupplies)
Other/Miscellaneous Items:
- Paper/pencil
- Plastic water/soda bottle (small mouth) lid with 5/16 hole drilled in center for flex shaft cover
- Eye protection (amazon)
- 3M respirator (amazon)
- 1.5-inch Diamond cutting wheel (amazon) or (Proxxon)
- Diamond bur set - Note: cylinders are the best for what we’re doing
- Option 1: (Amazon)
- Option 2: go with 80 or 120 grit; you may not use all of the shapes (JadeCarver)
- 1-inch resin bond diamond polishing pads with hook and hoop - Note: pick the “Mixed grit” option (amazon)
- Bowl for water
- Towel
Optional Other/Miscellaneous Items:
- Pairay dental burs—flat cone like TF-13C, TF-14, or TF-13 (Pairaydental)
- Magnification like this so you can see any scratches on your stones while polishing (amazon)
- Respirator filters to replace old ones (amazon)
- If you can’t find the 1.5 inch diamond wheel, this is another option 1-inch diamond cutoff wheel (amazon)
- Dripper with pump as option to cut/polish instead of bowl of water (Hitechdiamond)
- Ink pad (amazon)
- Waterproof apron (Cabking)
- Adjustable vise clamp (amazon)
Equipment Recommendations if you want to get more into Lapidary:
- Hi-Tech Diamond 6-inch slab saw (Hitechdiamond)
- Use coupon code “CALBRITTON” at checkout for 10% off your purchase (excludes machines, attachments, extended warranties, and gift cards)
- Or you can find on (amazon)
- 6-inch CabKing (Cabking)
- Use coupon code “CALBRITTON” at checkout for 10% off your purchase (excludes machines, attachments, extended warranties, and gift cards)
- Optional: 8-inch angled flat lap (Hitechdiamond)
- Use coupon code “CALBRITTON” at checkout for 10% off your purchase (excludes machines, attachments, extended warranties, and gift cards)