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  1. #1
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    Default Handmade engagement rings

    Since my day job is making jewelry I figured I'd show a few engagement rings I've made. These are entirely hand made from Platinum.

    The first ring was an especially challenging job as the opening in the the side of the ring is only 8mm wide. The vine sections are made from fourteen separate Platinum pieces. Platinum wire that is .07mm thick (about .003 inch) is used for the vines and the leaves were cut from Platinum sheet, hand engraved and welded to the vine sections. The assembled vine sections were then inserted into the 8mm wide opening and then welded into place from the back side. It's a very small ring- to put in in perspective the side stones on the top of the ring are 1mm in diameter.The next two rings are entirely made from Platinum sheet and wire- no castings were used and there are over forty soldered joints in each ring.






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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    That is awesome.

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    A little speechless my friend. Your work is immaculate. I'd love to see your workbench and esp. lighting / magnification tools. Did you read the some of the background material wrt Photolettering at House Industries? http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum...ing-21015.html

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    Thanks for the kind words guys! I posted a little photo essay of sorts that shows my bench and how I made a simple two tone ring here- Creating a two tone engagement ring

    As far as lighting goes I use a simple jeweler's bench lamp- nothing special really. For magnification I use a 6.5x to 45x stereo zoom scope with a .5x Barlow lens (to increase the working distance)- it's awesome for stone setting and engraving. The scope is made by Omano- Microscopes for everyday use at Microscope.com

    At some point I think I'd like to try building a really fancy pants lugged frame with intricate lugs but that's probably a ways off- too many other projects already in the works and with three little boys to occupy my time I don't have much spare time to work on projects. :)

    I read the bit about Photolettering- that's pretty cool and the site layout is awesome too. It's something I can appreciate as I studied graphic design/art in college. I actually started off in aerospace engineering and somehow ended up in the art department. I took a course in metalsmithing (primarily so I could build better bike frames) and I guess it made an impression on me- it's funny how I ended up working as a jeweler after 12 years in the bike business.

    As much as I like working with metals I do really enjoy drawing a lot- here's some pencil sketches. While I have done paintings in oils and acrylics I really like the simplicity and elegance of pencil drawings.



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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    stellar!

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    classics...

    ronnie

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    There is a store in DC called "The Tiny Jewel Box" where I think you'd feel at home. When I was shopping for an engagement ring they had exactly what I wanted...refurbished art nouveau red gold with an mine cut diamond. Go figure? I mention this because your work would feel at home in their displays. Thanks for sharing this.

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    Some of the art nouveau work is really impressive. I do a lot of repairs and restorations and the art nouveau and art deco pieces are always neat to see. I do have to say that I'm pretty happy here in Boulder- I've been at the same shop for 13 years. :)

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    Holy shit

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    Wow. Your work is incredible. Makes the diamond look shabby.

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    I am always awed by the talent of some people. Your work is incredable. You
    should make it manditory that anyone wearing one of your rings carry a magnifying glass
    Mike
    Last edited by mnoble485; 04-19-2011 at 02:52 PM. Reason: spelling!!!

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    Default 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?
    /Andy A

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    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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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    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.
    “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” - Dr. Seuss

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    Default 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.

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    Default 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.
    “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” - Dr. Seuss

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    Sometimes I'm on this site when the girlfriend is around. Is it okay if we re-title this thread "Why Slayer and Beer Rule," or something?
    Got some cash
    Bought some wheels
    Took it out
    'Cross the fields
    Lost Control
    Hit a wall
    But we're alright

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    Quote Originally Posted by chasea View Post
    Sometimes I'm on this site when the girlfriend is around. Is it okay if we re-title this thread "Why Slayer and Beer Rule," or something?
    The man is a Rake. Vsalon will make an honest man out of you. BUY THE FRICKIN' RING and shaddap. xxoo

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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    The fact that she's cool enough to check out a bike website you're browsing means you should buy her some jewelry! :)

  20. #20
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    Default Re: Handmade engagement rings

    beautiful work. thank you for sharing it
    Dovid@dhoffman.consulting



    Fundamentally the marksmen aims at himself.
    -Zen in the Art of Archery

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