Great minds think alike, Kat!

I've been looking through online catalogs for various findings and have about come to the conclusion that I either need to learn some metallurgy myself or need to talk to a practitioner willing to humor me regarding the pieces I'd like to craft or have made. In particular, I finally found the perfect way to hold a crystal for jewelry, but I haven't figured out what it's called (it is a sort of sterling silver collar with knobs for the bail to attach to) or how to make them fit each particular rock. It's probably a trial and error custom to each crystal process. One I'd like to learn. I'd also like to learn how to make some of the interesting bails I've seen on pendants.

See if this link works at eBay to take you to the piece I'm talking about. I bought it (all of 99 cents) so I could get a closer look at it. This crystal is too perfect and polished, but that part doesn't matter. It's the silver portion that interests me.