Materials Needed

• You will need several materials and tools to make your own silver locket. You may be able to get these at a discount if you know a jeweler or can find out where she buys materials.
  
  To make the locket, you will need two sheets of sterling silver, 2 types of sterling wire, and sterling silver tubing. You will also need several tools, most notably a jeweler's saw and disk cutter. Ideally, you should have a workshop area set aside that includes a workman's bench vise and soldering station. You will also need common tools such as wire cutters and sandpaper and a few household items such as white-out.
  
  

Making the Locket

• Mark the disks on the two sheets of sterling silver and cut them out. The disks should each be 1 inch in diameter. Use a disk cutter or jeweler's saw to complete this step.
  Create a pattern on each disk using a wooden dapping block and punch. Put the disk into a shallow hollow on the block and move the punch from the edges to the center in a spiraling pattern. Put the disk into a deeper hollow and repeat the process.
  
  Sand the edges of each disk using sandpaper. To ensure the disk remains level, it is best to put it on a flat surface and sand in a figure eight pattern.
  
  Make a 1/8-inch border on each of the disks and cut out the inside of the disks with your disk cutter or jeweler's saw. Sand the edges of the hollow circles. These can now be used as bearing plates to hold a photo in place inside the locket. Make hinge knuckles by cutting three 1/8-inch pieces of silver tubing with a tube-cutting jig.
  
  Solder one side of one of the bearing plates. Place it solder-side up on a tripod stand and solder one of the cutout disks to the bearing plate. Make sure to solder evenly from both the top and the bottom. Repeat the process with the other bearing plate and disk.
  
  Tape the two locket edges together using masking tape. Make a groove in the edge where they meet with a triangular needle file. Smooth the groove out with a round file. When the groove is the exact size and shape of the hinge knuckles, remove the masking tape.
  
  Prepare to solder the hinges onto the locket cases. Paint areas you do not intend to solder with white-out and allow it to dry. Clamp the locket cases together with binding wire. If the grooves are not lined up, remove the wire and line them up correctly before rewiring.
  
  Apply flux to the metal and heat it. When the flux becomes translucent, it is hot enough to solder the knuckles. Solder the top and bottom knuckles to the front of the case and the center knuckle to the back of the case. Drench the locket in water and remove the binding wire. Touch the knuckles with your fingernail to make sure they are securely soldered. If any of the knuckles move, resolder them.
  
  Run a wire through the open locket to see where to attach the loop and pin. Sand the edges of the closed locket.
  
  Step 13: Mark the top center of the back side of the locket case. Pry the pieces apart and put the front piece away. Make a perpendicular groove on the mark of the back piece. Place the back piece flat-side down on the soldering pad and solder a 3 mm ring into the groove.
  
  Measure the radius of the back bearing plate, starting from the side opposite the hinge. Mark this point. Drill a 1 mm hole into the mark, being careful to drill through the bearing plate only. Put heated solder onto the edge of a silver wire. Cut off a 3/16-inch piece of the wire and force it through the hole with flatnose pliers until it touches the base of the locket. Solder the wire to the locket to make a friction pin.
  
  File the outer hinge knuckles. Put the hinge pin into your bench vise and flare the end with a cross-peen hammer. Put the two locket pieces together and use pliers to thread the hinge pin through the hinge. Place the flared end against the bench vise and tap the other end with the cross-peen hammer. Close the locket. Mark the spot where the friction pin hits the bearing plate. Make a divot on the mark and drill a small hole. Trim and shape the friction pin. Test and repeat as necessary until the locket snaps closed. Polish the locket and install a jump ring.