Gems/Jewels

[daydreamer1]

I was wondering how to replicate gems and jewels.Something similer to these

http://cgi.ebay.com/Power-Rangers-Dino-Thunder-Gem-Prop-Replicas-PRDT-morph_W0QQitemZ140163676725QQihZ004QQcategoryZ749Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm not exactly sure how to do it.Would I have to spray paint it,or dye it in food coloring?

[SyxxGage]

I used to do this as a kid. I always tried to make green kryptonite as I was a big Superman fan. Go to any supermarket where they have the quarter machines. 90% of the time they will have one that sells superballs. Make sure you get the solid color ones, and not the ones that have sparkles inside them. These will work too, but not as well.

Rub the superballs against concrete. You'll notice that the shine and smoothness will come off, as well as it losing its roundness. Do this all around the ball until you get your desired shape. When your done, coat it with some clear nail polish to give it a nice shine.

And there you have it. Gem stones on the cheap.

[uhrisuh]

Go to a craft store ... look in the beads section or the rock/glass ball section .. they have these things everywhere ...

[SyxxGage]

Go to a craft store ... look in the beads section or the rock/glass ball section .. they have these things everywhere ...

Yeah, that too.

[Dysfunctionalfilms]

Getting smoe cheap plastic jews like at a dollar store Then scrape them to shape put it in a small cup of water then freeze it. Take it out and shave of buff the ice all the way off untill about 3-4 mm away from plastic then cout it with clear craft polish stuff, it makes the ice not melt for some reason the it will look really awesome, but it is very time consuming to get it just right. I did it for a reletives costume one time. IT worked perfect once you get the hang of it.

[ericslovechild]

For my movie I need to make a big fake ruby, about the size of a tennis ball, , the size and shape of this thing



http://becomefitted.com/images/cai.jpg

Does anyone know how I'd go about doing this?

[happyhands man]

u could probably find one at a costume shop near u

[uhrisuh]

I've actually seen giant plastic rubies at Michaels craft store. They are about the size of your palm. If you can't find them there, Archie McPhee sells a glass diamond http://www.mcphee.com/items/11782.html . You could paint a light transparent wash of red over it and then seal it with a clear coat spray. Or just change your jewel into a diamond.

[ericslovechild]

I've actually seen giant plastic rubies at Michaels craft store. They are about the size of your palm. If you can't find them there, Archie McPhee sells a glass diamond http://www.mcphee.com/items/11782.html . You could paint a light transparent wash of red over it and then seal it with a clear coat spray. Or just change your jewel into a diamond.
Ah, perfect. Thanks, Urisuh.

[WesScog]

If you can't find one, you could make a mold out of clay, pour red dyed sugar glass into it, then seal it with some lacquer.

[chainedflesh]

If you can't find one, you could make a mold out of clay, pour red dyed sugar glass into it, then seal it with some lacquer.

I've used clear hard epoxy to do similar Wess. It comes out great as I am sure you already know.

[Fisherking]

Yeah -- translucent urethane, epoxy. All that stuff would work pretty well. In this case, though, it's probably a lot easier and cheaper just to purchase a gag jewel.

[chainedflesh]

Yeah -- translucent urethane, epoxy. All that stuff would work pretty well. In this case, though, it's probably a lot easier and cheaper just to purchase a gag jewel.


I don't doubt that it is.

But you do miss out on all the fun of making it that way. Of course when you are filming some things are more important than the fun of making a prop. Cost of the prop in particular.

[Fisherking]

If you do end up producing it, I'd not use sugar glass -- the stuff is really sticky and starts to sag over a short time. It has a limited lifespan to an extent that epoxy or urethane doesn't.

[chainedflesh]

I found a 4 inch faux sapphire here...

http://www.zenideas.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_16&products_id=13
http://www.zenideas.co.uk/images/84811B.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:popupWindow('http://www.zenideas.co.uk/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=13&zenid=093334dd6754b5195a054ed08f45d3e4'))

[chainedflesh]

BINGO!!!

$8.75
3 and 1/4 inch diameter, 2 inch tall.
Available with custom boxes.

http://www.incrediblegifts.com/reddishpa31d.html

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/incrediblegifts_1999_59833915

[uhrisuh]

THANKS FOR UPSTAGING ME YOU BIG JERK!

[chainedflesh]

THANKS FOR UPSTAGING ME YOU BIG JERK!
Anytime! ;)

[Neoproks]

Does anyone know a way to make a big realistic diamond?

[uhrisuh]

You can buy one here http://www.mcphee.com/items/11782.html

Or I've seen them at Micheals Craft store about the size of your palm.

[Neoproks]

Thanks but I also wanted to know if it's possible to make one.

[uhrisuh]

I'd probably go with a loose interpretation of how the crystal skull was made. But you see how well that turned out. It's probably best to just buy it. It would be tons cheaper.

[uzi1951]

Does anyone know a way to make a big realistic diamond?
I don't know about making one but cheap enough to buy and diff colors
http://cgi.ebay.com/BiG-CRYSTAL-DIAMOND-JEWEL-PAPERWEIGHT-PROP-GEM-BLING_W0QQitemZ260270991077QQihZ016QQcategoryZ2750 QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp16 38Q2em118Q2el1247

http://cgi.ebay.com/LG-DIAMOND-GEM-CRYSTAL-PAPERWEIGHT-SQUARE-CUT-NEW_W0QQitemZ320292017960QQihZ011QQcategoryZ4778QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewIteM

http://cgi.ebay.com/PINK-GLASS-DIAMOND-PAPERWEIGHT-CRYSTAL-GEM-BALL-100mm_W0QQitemZ250288963817QQihZ015QQcategoryZ20QQ rdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638 Q2em122

There are more, just search. Got mine cheaper here
http://cgi.ebay.com/Crystal-paperweight-gem-display-Lavender-4-inch-gem-cut_W0QQitemZ380058278665QQihZ025QQcategoryZ4778QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[uhrisuh]

http://www.incrediblegifts.com/crgldishpa2i.html

This one is even cheaper! so good luck!

[Neoproks]

Thanks you guys!

[uzi1951]

http://www.incrediblegifts.com/crgldishpa2i.html

This one is even cheaper! so good luck!

Cheaper but smaller.

[squirrelly94]

yea, buying one may be easier, but cheaper?
I would go with that old classroom science experiment with the alum crystals, but I cant recall the recipe... sorry... this might be it http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/crystals.htm
-Squirrelly94

[elscottomagnifico]

I'd probably go with a loose interpretation of how the crystal skull was made. But you see how well that turned out. It's probably best to just buy it. It would be tons cheaper.
You'd make the crystal/diamond/stone the same way as the crystal skull - make a shape, make a mold, pour clear resin (or you can add color to the resin to make it any shade and opacity that you want). The reason the Indy Mogul attempt went awry was that they don't know how to use the resin - and they probably didn't test it on a smaller scale build to find out how evenly it cures - but that's beside the point.

In the end, it is, as you said much cheaper (plus way easier) just to buy one. I'd say everyone should go with your suggestion just to buy one, unless they really feel the need to tackle resin prop making.

[chainedflesh]

[quote=elscottomagnifico;201679] The reason the Indy Mogul attempt went awry was that they don't know how to use the resin - and they probably didn't test it on a smaller scale build to find out how evenly it cures - but that's beside the point.
quote]


All that and they used a resin that cures much too quickly. A resin may say it has a half hour to an hour time to set, but if you are pouring it, the contact with the air will usually speed up the cure time. If you are working with large molds it is better to use an epoxy that takes 24 hours to cure. Sure you have to wait longer, but you get a good result and you don't wind up wasting your money. And casting large epoxy projects is expensive materials wise.

[sohanlon10]

you could maybe buy some glass/crystal display gems from a local jewelry store or online for about $15, i have one that is about 8" in diameter and it looks pretty good.