What is a countersink in jewellery making?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
A countersink in jewellery making is the widening of the entry to a drilled hole, cut at an angle so the opening forms a shallow cone shape. Jewellers use a tapered burr to achieve this, most often when preparing a hole to accept a setting or rivet neatly so it sits flush with the surface. It is also used when setting stones in flush or gypsy settings, where the stone needs a precisely angled seat drilled into the metal to hold it level.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do you see countersinking in jewellery?
- In flush or gypsy settings, where a stone is set directly into the metal surface with no prongs, the hole is countersunk at the right angle to grip the stone's girdle and hold it level. It is also used when fitting findings and rivets so they sit cleanly.
- What tool is used to countersink metal in jewellery?
- A countersink burr or a tapered drill bit is rotated in the hole to widen and angle the entry. Jewellers use these in a flexible shaft drill or pendant motor, working slowly to keep the angle clean and the seat even.
- Is a countersink the same as a counter-bore?
- No. A countersink creates a tapered or cone-shaped recess at an angle, while a counter-bore creates a flat-bottomed, parallel-sided recess. In jewellery, the countersink is more common because the angled profile grips a stone's culet or a rivet head securely.
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