I had this really subtle agate that I wanted create a setting for that would make it more of a statement piece despite its soft color. I came up with a few sketches for a plan to set the stone in a bezel with a pattern cut out of the back and a half-round wire split-shank construction.

 

Below are images of my progress. I decided to change the design of the cutout on the bottom of the bezel since it will sit against the wearer's finger. I think my original spruce tree pattern might irritate the skin too much.

I'm starting to suspect that my medium solder was mislabled and I was shipped extra-hard solder instead. My mini torch always seems to have a hard time getting it to flow, even in something as simple as a bezel.

The setting after it has been tumbled and the stone set. It turns out the 2 gauge half-round wire I used for the band was much more difficult to form than I had anticipated. I found shaping while the wire was still hot really helped coerce the wire into the tight, consistent curve I needed it to be.

The ring and final setting.

A view of this ring from behind the setting.