How to choose brooch or round pendant plates for jewellery making with clay?

[Mika27]

Hello,

I am new to jewellery making and have never worked with polymer clay either.
I would like to make a few round pendants for my friends using polymer clay as cabochon and then add some details on it.
I have seen videos on youtube how to make it but it is not always clear whether they bake it together with the pendant plate/base or without then glue to it later.
How do I choose a pendant or brooch plate suitable for baking or just a high quality one on the internet? I would not like the metal to change colour or peel over some time. There are so many internet sellers who sell these things for jewellery making and not that expensive but I am worried about the quality as I want it to last and make a good impression about myself as a crafter.
Are there any keywords for searching online.

Sorry for too many questions.
Many thanks!

Here is an example of the cabochon plate/frame. It does not have to be round but good quality is appreciated. I do not know if it would be possible to make a pendant without the frame just with a hook/loop.

www.etsy.com/listing/153775489/juliet-romantic-rose-polymer-clay-floral?share_id=17326190&hmac=16bd5ab37ca877e42771228dfdde4dd4f2e4ba4a&utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

this tutorial says it's fine to bake the plate and the polymer together.

Wait! NO it doesn't! It says to mould the shape as close to the pendant plate as possible then bake it then insert. You can use sandpaper to get the edges off when it's cooled if you need a better fit.

If i were you I'd get an extra tray or two and bake one to see what happens.

Thank you MrsFlannel. Very nice tutorial!
I have read that I should have a separate baking sheet just for the polymer clay. Luckily I have got one spare :)

I think I will just go with Etsy. No idea what will be the postage but there are some nice pendant plates there (no idea how to call them).

Ebay has the same and very cheap.

Postage actually is very high, nearly £9.00 to deliver from the US. I have seen lots of them on eBay but most of them come from China and delivery is free. No idea if the ones from the US are made in there or also made in China. Because they are so much cheaper I am worried about the quality but then I do not know how Etsy works.

But are you in UK or US?

I am in the UK and that is why I am curious why the same items have different postage charges? The items look pretty similar. May be it is just etsy prices.