Jewelry Making with Swarovski Dome Round Stone

February 20, 2020

Swarovski’s Spring/Summer 2021 launch TIME TO SHINE is about “embracing the transformative power of time” and is “brought to life in brilliant cuts and color”. The new launch features Shape 1400 Dome Round Stone. The dramatic new shape has 90 sparkling facets and a foiled back, so it is full of sparkle and shine; plus the shape “references both past and future”.

I set out to use the new crystal stone in a jewelry project. With a little hands-on trial and error, I found that the Dome Round Stone fits perfectly in Rings & Things crown pendant bezel settings. Also, I wanted to make a piece of jewelry that embraced Swarovski’s timeless theme for this shape, so I combined the Dome Round Stone with a Vintaj natural-brass charm. The result–a pair of earrings with modern geometric shapes and vintage metalwork design.

Here are instructions for making your own Dome Round Stone earrings:

You will need these supplies:

2 each Swarovski 12mm Dome Round Stone (1400) (I used item #01-400-12-445)
2 each crown-style pendant bezel settings (I used item #41-878-01-12-6)
1 pair Vintaj natural brass charms (I used item #88-103-24-0)
1 pair niobium earring hook findings (I used item #34-061-27)
2 each 4.5mm jump rings (I used item #37-133-6)

You will need these tools:

#69-101 EURO TOOL 2″ Curved Steel Burnisher
#69-271-08 EURO TOOL Glitter, Flat-Nose Jewelry Pliers
#69-271-06 EURO TOOL Glitter, Bent Chain-Nose Jewelry Pliers
#69-118 Rubber Bench Block, 4x4x1″
#69-257-0005 3M Sanding Sponges, 1200-1500 Grit
#63-528 EURO TOOL Polishing Pads, Ultra, 2×2″

Swarovski 1400 Dome Round Stones

Swarovski 1400 Dome Round Stone Color Selection

I used the Crystal Paradise Shine for this project. It pairs perfectly with antiqued brass.

Swarovski’s diagram showing the shape and facet pattern for the 1400 Dome Round Stone

Here is a shape and thickness comparison of a Swarovski #1400 12mm Dome Round Stone (shown on the left) and a Swarovski 1122 12mm Rivoli Stone (shown on the right).

...~* * *~...

Place the stone foil-side down in the crown bezel setting. Center the stone in the setting and hold it firmly in place. With a curved burnisher, burnish a small section of the bezel and then rotate the bezel 180 degrees and burnish a small section on the opposite side. Rotate the bezel 90 degrees and proceed just as before. Now that the stone is evenly set in place, you can work your way around the bezel burnishing the crown prongs firmly against the dome round stone.

The Dome Round Stones perfectly encased in crown bezel settings.

The Vintaj brass charms come with a natural dark brown patina. They can be used as is, or polished to reveal highlights of bright brass.

First, use a micro-fine grit sanding sponge to lightly remove the brown patina from the high points.

Then use a polishing pad to make the revealed brass highlights shine.

Here is a before-and-after comparison. A very subtle difference–but when worn, the polished brass charms interact with light and movement.

Lay out the components in order of assembly: Dome Round Stone set in crown bezel setting, jump ring, brass charm, and earring hooks.

Twist open the jump ring, and string it through the middle gap in the brass charm’s lower scroll work. Then attach the set Dome Round Stone to the jump ring (the finished-side of the brass charm and the face-side of the bezel setting should be facing each other). Finally, twist the jump ring securely closed.