If you look at the swarovsky website, they have watches with bezels that contain over 1700 tiny crystals. How do you buy crystals that small? What is that technique called? And how would a person go about designing a piece around that look? What metals to use?
Shiny!
http://www.swarovski.com/Mob_US/en/5158544/product/Crystalline_Oval_Rose_Gold_Tone_Watch.html
(That’s all I have… Just sharing a link to one for a starting point for those who like links… 
)
While generally speaking, Swarovski will sell you any size crystal through their retail partners, said partners have to see a need before they’ll stock something. And gluing all those tiny crystals down can be really special. I think that’s called pave’. If you’re using Swarovski, any base-metal will work. If you buy their stuff, it’s base metal.
While Swarovski is precision-cut, I think most of their value is due to advertising, and the touched-by-a-European/American thing. I can buy certain gemstones cheaper than Swarovski, because they’re cut in 3rd-world areas who don’t have a high standard of living.
So it’s pretty much glue sprinkled with crystals. That’s easy enough. As far as gems, is love to have a piece in platinum with paved square rubies add black diamond! But I’m probably not in possession of enough expendable funditures.
Sounds like a job for the Shapoko with a conical bit. Drill out the precise holes to the depth needed and glue the tiny diamond shaped crystals in.
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For a non-mobile link (for some reason the mobile picture is blurry on a desktop even though you’d think they’d use Retina quality for such detail hungry pictures). http://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/en/5158544/product/Crystalline_Oval_Rose_Gold_Tone_Watch.html
-the purring dork
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