This rough garnet exudes power, an untamed, yet contained gem in a sterling silver box setting. A sleek, modern look with an abstract and unusual centerpiece.

The first step: create a box ring big enough for the stone, with enough silver on the top to hug this garnet in tight. Rough gemstones are trickier to set in a piece of jewelry.

After measuring (a lot) I saw out the sterling; the ring is 4 different pieces of sterling, shaped & formed to fit together like a puzzle. Once perfectly matched, I solder the pieces together. The top is carved to fit the rough garnet; unlike a smooth or faceted gemstone, this setting is going to be completely asymmetrical and hug the garnet as closely as possible. Once it has a good seat and enough silver to snug it down, I start smoothing the silver over the sides until it has a tight fit, by moving the metal, with pliers or careful hammering, burnishing it, nudging it into place. Once polished, this garnet takes center stage!