July 15, 2010

On this project, my client wanted a ring in white gold with a ten millimeter black pearl. The pearl was to be held to the ring by “tentacles”, like a squid.

While I often carve the model for a project, from a block of hard wax, down to the desired shape, it seemed better this time to work with the softer wax wires, to weave and build up to the squid’s form. An additive rather than a subtractive method.

I crafted the model around a white pearl that was on hand in stock, and sent photos of the wax model for my client’s initial approval before proceeding. I found the right black pearl for the job after the ring had been cast in gold.

After polishing the gold and setting the pearl, we decided to add some gems to the eyes. Several different colors were considered, but the rubies were the best look, and had the advantage of being a significant birthstone.

July, 2009

One of my clients, on a trip to South America, found the “perfect” aquamarine pendant. Almost. It was in yellow gold, and she prefers white. Working from a photo she e-mailed to me, I figured some estimates to make a pendant, offering a few different variations on the general idea.

She chose one of two gems that I got in on approval. Then I carved a model of the new piece. Together, we decided to have the diamonds, which surround the aquamarine, graduate in size, from top to bottom. This had the effect of complementing the pear shape of the centerpiece.

I cast the wax model parts in white gold, polished the rough castings, assembled the parts, set the gems, and voila, it was ready to wear.

Upon seeing the finished pendant, my client told me, excitedly, that it was even better than the one she had seen in Brazil.

June, 2010

With this project, my client wanted to take the diamonds from three rings and use them in a new pendant. After looking at different designs, she asked me to make something based on a piece that I had in my display case. This piece, itself, was based on a ring whose design was a variation of another ring that I had made some time ago.

A rough sketch of the piece was followed by a three dimensional model. After viewing this, some refinements were made before embedding the wax in plaster, melting out the wax model, to form mold, and casting it in gold with the centrifuge.

The rough casting was filed, polished, and the diamonds set, to complete the project.