New Glass Range of Pendants, Drilled Glass Jewellery, with Silver Pinch Bail.

Previously here at Glass Imagination all the pendants have been affixed to sterling silver bails by using a strong, durable adhesive; now this is about to change... 

Although the previous technique is successful and efficient GI is now offering a technique for those who want that something more. Drilling through fused glass cabachons creates a new way of affixing silver through the glass itself. This provides a more secure fitting, but also the opportunity to create pendants with more weight and varied shape. Another bonus is GI can offer three new types of silver to secure the pendants. Adding heavier and different style of silver makes new pendants appear very different from previous constructions & can accommodate more expensive tastes.

How it Works

To create a Glass Imagination pendant the cabachon  is hand designed &constructed, then kiln-formed at temperatures ranging from 595-815 degrees Celsius. Then pendant is hand affixed with adhesive to silver and is ready to be boxed or displayed. Now there are a few more stages before the pendant is complete.....

This glass pendant is made using kilnforming at up tp 805 Degrees Celsius. The cabachon is then drilled using a diamond tipped drill. The process is difficult, the glass needs to be lubricated every few seconds with Dremel cutting Oil or submerged in water. 

I currently use a hand drill Dremel 3000 with Dremel drillbit 662 & cutting oil.

 

Protective clothing, gloves, goggles and mask are necessary when using hand drills because of the fine glass dust produced by the drilling progress.

Once I have a 3.2mm hole right through the glass the pendant is ready for the next step.

I then re-fire the pendant in the kiln at a temperature up to 600 degrees Celsius, known as a 'TAC Fuse'. Firing at a lower temperature allows the pendant to retain it's shape and original design, but is hot enough to round off the edges of the drilled hole. The glass is then beautifully rounded and sfae enough to be affixed to the silver.

Finished Drilled Pendants with Sterling Silver

Type 1

Sterling Silver Pinch Bail with Loop 15mm. It has an integral loop for suspending from chain or cord. The bail is approx 15mm long and approx 6mm at its widest.The loop has a minimum diameter of 4.5mm. 

 

Type 2

Sterling Silver Pendant Bail Large. A large pinch type bail approx 2.4mm wide at tip and 4.4mm at the top. In the open form it is approx 14mm high and each leg of the bail that holds the bead is approx 2.5mm.

Type 3 

Sterling Silver Slotted Pendant Bail Large. A large pinch type bail with two decorative slots. Approx 14mm high and 8 mm at its widest. Each leg of the bail that holds the bead is approx 2.5mm.