I'll try and add comments regarding technical aspects when I feel I have something to add, but thank you for the feedback.
--Previous Message-- : Thank you very much for those interesting : details! : I for one would love to know more about the : craftmanship of the many pieces of Jewels so : please share...... : : : --Previous Message-- : Without wishing to sound pedantic, the wings : of this stunning jewel are not invisibly : set, that is a whole other different : technique, what you are looking at here are : (pretty spectacularly depicted) 'raised : grain' settings. : : A hole are pierced into the metal, a bevel : is created to seat the gem, and the jeweller : then (using just the right one from a huge : selection of engraving tools) digs or slide : the tool into the surrounding metal to : create a "whisper" of metal that : is then forced into a rounded ball just over : the edge of the gem and the hole locking it : securely in place. : : The cutting of the hole, the bevelling of : the edge and the selection of the engraving : tool to create the optimum sized grains is : the pure technical skill and one that far : surpasses our estimation. In the hands of a : Master, the gems seem to float, held : together with gossamer, barely held in place : but secure enough for a century or more's : delight : : --Previous Message-- : : : : http://www.insects.org/ced4/butterfly_symbols.html : : Check this one out. But in this case, I : think Maxima just really likes the brooch. : : : : :