Re: Handmade engagement rings
Wanted to say excellent work, I studied architecture and fine arts in college and focused on Jewelry and Woodworking for my fine arts degree. For my wife's engagement ring I had to have a unique piece for her. I designed the ring and then sent the drawings off to a jeweler since I didnt have the equipment to do it myself. This is what I ended up with for her. http://i53.tinypic.com/314w4km.jpg
Re: Handmade engagement rings
That looks fantastic- it's a very elegant design. I really like the engraving and detail work. Did your wife know you were designing the ring and having it made?
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it was a total surprise for her. She had broken down in tears a couple weeks before after looking at some at a jewelry store.
Re: Handmade engagement rings
Re: Handmade engagement rings
Your work is fine- subscribed for potential future needs.
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Thanks! Here's one I just finished. 90 Diamonds total- my eyes were getting pretty shot by the time I finished it. :)
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...ondRowRing.jpg
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A couple more rings just done- I made a matching pair of these Diamond and Sapphire rings set in Platinum.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...atSaphRing.jpg
And a nice rose Gold flower ring
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...FlowerRing.jpg
Re: Handmade engagement rings
Sorry I haven't been around guys- I've been completely buried with work for the last few months. Here's a 14k pink Gold pendant I just finished making for a client- this was a fun project! The center stone is a 30 carat red Zircon and it's surrounded by white and champagne Diamonds. The finished piece has a really nice weight and feel to it.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...ndantFront.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...dantFront2.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...endantBack.jpg
Re: Handmade engagement rings
Re: Handmade engagement rings
honus, let me just ++++++++++++1 everything already said in this thread regarding your work. its brilliant.
do you have examples of any men's wedding bands (or his/her wedding bands) you've done?
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All of those rings are beautiful. I was lucky enough to have my mother in law make both our wedding bands and my wife's engagement ring. My wife is from Maine, so she used Maine Tourmaline in place of a diamond (wife doesn't like diamonds).
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Thanks so much! I'll take a look through my photos and see what I can find. Most of the men's bands are typically pretty plain. I did make one a long time ago where the customer brought in a photo of a mountain range the couple hiked and wanted the shape of the mountains duplicated on the ring. The lower half of the ring had the mountain skyline in Platinum and the top half of the ring was done in 18K rose Gold. I used a process called co-casting where the Gold was actually cast directly to the Platinum and had a mechanical lock. It was a pretty neat ring.
Re: Handmade engagement rings
amazing craftsmanship!
here's a random question: do you think 3d printing with precious metals will enter the world of jewelry making? there's a thread in the general section on 3d printing with powdered steel & a laser for bike lugs, and it reminded me of the level of intricacy required of fine or even fashion jewelry. a jeweler i've worked closely with, who has always done things by hand and is highly proficient at it, now has a program & machine where he can whip up a design and make a mold on the fly (relatively speaking). he's pretty excited about it. but from there, everything is still made by hand.
Re: Handmade engagement rings
Thanks!
3D printing of Sterling Silver is already being done. I haven't done it yet (I know some folks who have) but it's certainly interesting and would remove the casting process. Printing metal is not a cheap process and I'd be curious to see the density difference vs. a good centrifugal casting. At my work we create CAD models on computer and then either grow or machine a wax for investment casting- it's pretty commonplace nowadays. The raw castings then require the usual clean up/prep work before stones can be set.
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People tell me I can do anything and my work is spectacular...
then I look at what you guys on this forum are doing.
Guess I'll go look for my color crayons.
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Re: Handmade engagement rings
Re: Handmade engagement rings
Brilliant work. Beautiful. Do your clients supply the stones or do you source the stones for your clients? Just curious. Thanks.
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Thanks guys! I can use the client's stones or supply them. We've even used client's old gold- that can get a bit tricky sometimes though due to impurities, etc.
Re: Handmade engagement rings
I wish I didn't work at a computer all day. In the end, I make my co lots and lots of money which is satisfying in it's own regard, but creating something of beauty or permanence with your hands from raw materiels makes me envoius.