Jewelry Arts Inc

In this video, I show you a simple, low-tech way to tell the difference between a diamond and a cubic zirconia using nothing more than a pen.
This is a fast, practical check you can do at home or at the bench, especially when you’re handling stones that didn’t come directly from you. It won’t tell you whether a diamond is completely natural or lab-created, but it will clearly separate a diamond from a CZ.

Here’s what you’ll see:

• How the pen-dot test works

• Why diamonds and CZs behave differently over a dot

• What you should see when you look through the stone

• Why this matters when working with other people’s jewelry

This method is straightforward and obvious — you’ll know immediately what you’re looking at. It’s a useful way to protect yourself, be clear about what you’re handling, and avoid problems later on.

How to Make Tiny Tubing Terminations Part 2
This is part 2 of soldering a jump ring inside a tiny tubing termination.
I’m working with extremely small components, so the focus here is on setup, fit, and careful heat control. This jewelry soldering technique works exactly the same whether silversmithing or goldsmithing.
In this video, you’ll see:
• The tiny solder pieces I’m using and how I ball them up
• Why the solder needs to touch both the jump ring and the inside wall of the tube
• How to position the flame on the side of the tube with a 00 tip
• Getting the first contact so the jump ring can’t shift
• Adding additional small pieces to secure both sides
• What happens if a solder ball drops inside the tube
• Close-up shots once both sides are anchored
• The finished tiny termination, ready for stringing

This method keeps the connection hidden inside the tube so the outside looks clean and uninterrupted.

How to Pour a White Gold Ingot
In this video I’m going to show you how we pour a white gold ingot — one of those studio tasks that absolutely needs a friend. Donna is heating the crucible, I’m heating the ingot mold, and together we get the metal hot, liquid, and ready to pour in one clean shot.
You’ll see how we:
• Heat the mold and crucible at the same time for a solid single pour
• Use two torches so nothing cools too fast
• Position the flame to keep the opening of the mold and crucible hot
• Avoid cooling that would break the ingot into pieces
• Open the mold safely and check the pour
• Work with the realities of white gold — gorgeous color, tough as hell

It’s a great example of teamwork at the bench and why certain processes are easier (and safer) with two people.

How to Solder a Bezel Into a Granulated Pendant
In this video, I’ll show you exactly how to solder a silver bezel into a granulated silver setting without wrecking your granules or losing your mind in the process.

You’ll see my full step-by-step method — from pressing the bezel into place with a wood dowel to balling up solder, positioning it correctly, and making sure it flows cleanly without rolling into your granulation.