How To Use Resin In Open Bezels For Jewelry Making

If you love the look of resin ‘floating’ in a pendant, then you are in the right place. Today, I will teach you how to use resin in open bezels. These pendants require a few extra steps than your average pendant. Still, these bezels are beautiful inside and out, and by doing several pours over a few days using clear resin, you can take full advantage of the depth of these bezels, and the result makes it worthwhile!

 

 

First layer resin pour

First, apply your bezels to the sticky side of masking tape. I always use good-quality masking tape for this part. I press as firmly as I can without ripping the tape to create a seal, then I wrap the tape up the bezel. This makes it easier to handle.

Get open-backed bezels for resin here.

Next, get your supplies ready. You need to use a clear doming resin for this project. This epoxy type mixes thicker, which helps keep it from running out from underneath the bezel edge.

I’m using the Resin Obsession crystal doming resin. It is 1:1 (one part A to one Part B) epoxy resin with a 45-minute working time. Note: always follow the directions precisely.

 

I used a mixing cup, measuring spoon, mixing stick, gloves, masking tape, and wax paper.

 

 

To pour your first layer of resin for these open bezels:

1) Mix the resin.
2) Use a stick to fill the bezel one-third full.
3) Pop the bubbles with a straw, toothpick or a heat gun.
4) Cover the bezels and let them cure for 24 hours.

Second layer resin pour

This is probably one of the best things about using resin in open bezels. You can add things to your resin and bezels where it looks like it’s floating!

For these resin pendants, I used metal charms. I used two different charms for this project, one charm has a loop (which I cut off), and the other has a hole (which I covered).

 

 

 

Using pliers, I snapped off the loop, then sanded down the rough edges left on the charm.

 

 

To cover the hole in this charm, glue a gemstone over it.

 

 

 

Next, add the charms to the resin.

I only needed a little bit of resin for this step. That’s why it’s always good to have some leftover resin projects ready.

Put in a little resin, then instead of putting the charm directly in the resin, dip it in your cup of resin first. This will help reduce bubbles when you put the charm in the bezel. Add just enough resin to cover the charm.

 

 

 

 

 

Then, put in a layer of colored resin.

By the time it was ready to put the LOVE charm in the second bezel, I had decided I wasn’t so in love with it after all. So I changed course and decided to use some resin colourants instead. Maybe because I’m an indecisive libra or just fickle, but it’s not uncommon for me to change the plan as I go. This sometimes results in pleasant surprises and other times in complete disaster. In any case, this is what I did next:

1) I mixed the resin with a drop of Castin’ Craft blue opaque colourant and used a stick to drop the tiniest bit of colourant in the bezel.

2) Then I added some pearl opaque colourant, which adds a bit of sparkle. You can see in the picture I cheated here and put it directly in the bezel instead of mixing it with resin first. I don’t recommend this. You should mix it with the resin in a cup and then add it.

3) Then, I put some teal-coloured sparkles in a little cup and added only the tiniest amount with a toothpick. Why the cup, you ask? Well, because more times than I would like to remember, I have ended up with way too much sparkle than I planned. This way, I have more control.

4) Finally, I used a toothpick to swirl it all together until I got a pattern I liked.

 

Cover the bezels and let them cure for 24 hours.

 

Third layer resin pour

Now it’s time to fill that bezel to the top. Mix and pour the resin the same way you did in the first layer resin pour.

 

 

Fourth layer resin pour

Remove the tape from the back of the bezels. Some residue was left on these open bezels, and the resin was dull (this is normal). So I sanded them down on my 1000 grit-sanding block, which I wet so that the little bits wouldn’t go everywhere, especially in the air. Note: you can use sanding paper here instead of a sanding block.

Also, some resin sneaked out, and I used my nail to chip it off. The good thing about using high-quality bezels like these is that they stand up to a bit of scratching without leaving any marks.

 

Then, I did the last resin pour. Yay!!! It’s been a long journey, and I can’t wait to see the results!

 

 

 

Finish the open bezel pendants

So if you are keeping track, you will notice that I have done four resin pours, each requiring 24 hours (minimum) to cure, making this a 5-7 day project. Although lengthy, it’s not complicated, and I think the best way to take advantage of these deep bezels.

To make them wearable, add jump rings and necklaces.

And on the seventh day, I was done!

In the heart pendant, the charm appears to be floating. In the other pendant, by using opaque resin colourant, the depth of the pendant makes for some real interest!

 

 

Of interest…

For the bezel with the love and the bezel with the crown: I used Castin’ Craft pearl opaque on the back resin pour, giving it a little sparkle behind the charm.

For the hexagon bezel: I thought the bezel’s shape was so neat. The best part and I didn’t want to take away from it, so I did not add a charm. Instead, I added only a teeny bit of blue opaque and a wee bit of pearl opaque to the resin.

Ready to learn more about how to use resin in open bezels?

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Originally written by Penny Reid

Unpublished Blog Posts of Resin Obsession, LLC © 2022 Resin Obsession, LLC