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How to Set a Pearl in a Cage, Locket or Ring (Step by Step)
How to Set a Pearl
There are three ways to set the pearl from your reveal, and two of them need no glue. Snap it into a cage pendant, drop it into a glass Drop It Locket, or half-drill it and glue it onto a sterling silver ring, pendant or earring. Pick by how permanent you want it and how much you enjoy a small craft project. Here is each one, step by step.
Pick the method first
| Method | Glue? | Drill? | Fits | Time | Can you swap the pearl later? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cage pendant | No | No | 6-9mm pearls; large basket cradles take Edisons up to 14mm | 10 seconds | Yes, open and swap |
| Drop It Locket | No | No | Mini lockets for small pearls and charms; standard 25mm and 30mm lockets for 7mm pearls and up | 10 seconds | Yes |
| Pop N Lock pendant or ring | No | No | Undrilled 6-9mm pearls | 1 minute | Yes |
| Cup-and-peg sterling silver ring, pendant or earring | Yes | Half-drill | 6-9mm; most DezLin ring styles fit an Edison | 15 minutes plus a 24-hour cure | No, it is permanent |
A cage or a locket is the host's friend at a party: the guest wears the pearl home. The glued set is the keepsake that lasts for years. DIY Bombs put a sterling silver ring, pendant or earring piece inside a white bomb so the customer gets to set their own pearl.
Method 1: a cage pendant (no glue)
- Hold the cage by the bail (the loop the chain runs through) and find the hinge, usually at the top.
- Pull the two halves apart. Plated cages snap open; sterling cages open the same way with a little more resistance.
- Drop the pearl in and press the halves closed until they click.
- Thread an 18-inch chain through the bail. Most DezLin cage pendants ship without a chain so you can pick sterling or plated.
A cage fits a 6-9mm round pearl. Most Edison pearls will not fit a standard cage; use a large basket cradle, which takes Edisons up to 14mm. Check the listing for the exact size any cage takes.
Method 2: a Drop It Locket (no glue)
- Open the locket. Magnetic Drop It Lockets pull open by hand; twist-off styles unscrew. Bracelet lockets usually have a flip-up hinge or a small pull-out piece.
- Drop in the pearl, a gem or a charm. A 30mm locket holds more than a 25mm; mini lockets take baby pearls and small charms only.
- Close it. The magnet or the thread holds it shut.
Drop It Lockets were created by DezLin, and pendant styles include a chain.
Method 3: a sterling silver ring, pendant or earring (half-drill and glue)
This is the permanent set, the one jewelers use for a cup-and-peg piece: a small cup with a post in the center that goes into a hole in the pearl.
- Mark the spot. Find the pearl's least perfect side. That is where the hole goes.
- Half-drill. Use a 0.75mm electroplated diamond drill bit, keep a drop of water on the pearl so the bit stays cool, and drill slowly to about half the pearl's depth. Practice on a loose pearl first; DezLin's drill bit set includes practice gems.
- Dry fit. Set the pearl on the peg. It should sit flat in the cup with no rock.
- Glue. Use a two-part jewelry-grade epoxy for the strongest bond, or hypo cement as a second choice. A tiny dab in the hole and on the peg is enough.
- Seat and cure. Press the pearl onto the peg, wipe any squeeze-out with a toothpick, and leave it 24 hours. DezLin's own mounting service waits a full day before shipping for the same reason.
Would rather not drill? Pop N Lock pendants and rings hold an undrilled pearl between prongs: pop the pearl in, lock the prongs, wear it. Or send your pearl to DezLin and we drill and set it for a small fee.
Frequently asked questions
How do you set a pearl in a ring?
Half-drill the pearl with a 0.75mm diamond bit under a drop of water, dry-fit it on the ring's peg, add a dab of two-part jewelry epoxy, press it on and let it cure for 24 hours. For a no-drill option, choose a Pop N Lock ring, which grips an undrilled pearl with prongs.
How do I open a pearl cage necklace?
Hold the bail and pull the two halves of the cage apart at the hinge. Drop the pearl in and press until the halves click shut. No tool is needed, and you can open it again to swap the pearl.
Epoxy or E6000 for pearls?
A two-part jewelry-grade epoxy gives the strongest, longest-lasting bond on a cup-and-peg piece. Hypo cement is a good second choice from a craft store. Whichever you use, cure it a full 24 hours before wearing.
How do you drill a pearl without cracking it?
Go slow, keep the pearl wet with a drop of water, and use a fine diamond bit rather than a standard twist bit. Start the hole at a slight angle to catch the surface, then straighten. Practice on a spare pearl before the one you care about.
How much does it cost to have a pearl set?
Doing it yourself costs the price of the sterling silver piece, a tube of epoxy and, once, a drill bit set. DezLin's drilling and mounting service is a small add-on fee per pearl; the exact price is on the service listing.
Which pearl sizes fit which piece?
Cages and cup-and-peg pieces take 6-9mm pearls; most DezLin ring styles also fit an Edison. Large basket cradles take Edisons up to 14mm. The pearl size chart lists every size against the cage, locket and sterling piece that fits it.
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