Online Jewelry Academy
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Recommended Tools & Supplies:
Safety Glasses;
Alcohol Lamp;
Steel Bench Block;
Carpet Repair Needles;
Red Inlay Wax;
Denatured Alcohol;
Wooden Dowels; and,
Wax Sampler


​Purchases made using the Amazon links on the OJA website at: www.onlinejewelryacademy.com, help to financially support the OJA. On our website you'll also find links to products from Durston Tools that we have reviewed. Or, you can access Durston's website at durston.com/oja.

Bead setting is a close relative to pave setting.  Both techniques anchor stones using metal burs that are, raised from a supporting surface, and shaped using a beading tool.  The resulting "beads" look very similar to the spheres used to create granulation patterns.

Classical granulation jewelry pieces were made directly in gold.  Tiny gold spheres, held in place with organic "gum", were fused to a gold bearing plate.  The resulting objects have a surface where all of the gold spheres are tangentially attached to it.

It is virtually impossible to simulate the true appearance of real bead setting and granulation in wax.  But, a very close approximation can be achieved.  The trick is to know how to make tiny wax spheres that are all uniform in shape and size.  The wax beads can then be applied to a supporting wax surface to hold stones in place for direct casting.  Or, they can be organized into patters that will simulate the look of classical granulation.

In this video, Professor John Ahr of the Online Jewelry Academy demonstrates how to make small wax spheres using simple waxing tools.  The resulting spheres can be separated into groups using a sifting tool.  And, the OJA has a video on how to make an inexpensive sifting tool in its video playlist.


If you like this video, we've got plenty more.  You can find the OJA's videos organized by category on our website at: http://www.onlinejewelryacademy.com

Subscribers to the OJA's YouTube channel have the option to receive regular notification of new OJA video releases.  So, why not subscribe now?  Be sure to click on the bell next to the subscribe button to turn on notifications.

The OJA offers complete courses on Udemy.com.
1. Beginners course "Colorful Silver Jewelry" 
https://www.udemy.com/makingjewelry/?couponCode=JOHN_AHR
2. Intermediate course "Making Beautiful Articulated Hinged Jewelry"
https://www.udemy.com/articulatedhingedjewelry/?couponCode=ARTICULATED
3. Stone Setting Course "5 Ways To Enhance Jewelry Design Through Stone Setting"
https://www.udemy.com/stonesetting/?couponCode=OJA-DISCOUNT

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​And, you can support the production of future OJA videos by making a monthly contribution at: http://www.Patreon.com/onlinejewelryacademy.
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Special thanks to Jessi Brown for the use of her cast granulated art piece.
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