Tag Archives: drusy

Olive Green Titanium Coated Drusy and Sterling Silver Ring

Olive Green Titanium Coated Drusy Ring

A comment was left on a picture of a custom ring I posted on Facebook that I had created. The commenter said she had seen someone wearing the ring in the place where she works! I was so surprised and pleased.

Olive Green Titanium Coated Drusy and Sterling Silver Ring

That lovely commenter went on to arrange for me to create her a couple of custom pieces, one of which is this gorgeous titanium drusy agate ring.

Olive Green Titanium Coated Drusy and Sterling Silver Ring

The drusy has been treated (see my blog posts about treatments here), and I think it is just stunning. Maybe you’d like your own ring made with a similar stone? Let me know!

Supernova Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Supernova Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Supernova Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

My gorgeous friend Marg, who is an artist (you can view her beautiful work here on her website), commissioned me to create this ring for one of her daughters.

Supernova Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Marg’s daughter chose this divine drusy agate cabochon, as it reminded her of a supernova. As soon as Marg told me I could see how very apt this imagery is!

Supernova Blue Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

It is always a joy to work with a fellow artist who appreciates not just my work, but the underlying complexities of being a creative type. Thanks as always, dear Marg!

Grey Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Grey Drusy Agate Ring

Grey Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

I love all the cabochons I source, but once in a while I come across a cabochon that I just can’t part with. This grey drusy agate is one of those.

Grey Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

I love this ring, and I’ve been wearing it nearly every day!

Grey Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

If you’d like a custom made gemstone ring of your own, check out my gemstone collection, and let me know which one you love the most!

Dark Silver Titanium Coated Drusy Agate Round Cabochon

Drusy Agate – Dark Silver Titanium Coated Round Cabochon

The dark silver drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 20mm diameter. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you. You can read more about what drusy agate is here.

Agate is traditionally believed to help you to discern truth, improve memory and concentration, increase stamina,  prevent insomnia and ensure pleasant dreams, enhance personal courage, protect you against danger, and provide a calming influence.

The titanium coating is applied to the natural drusy stone using an environmentally friendly process called Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) that uses only electricity to deposit a thin coating of titanium, silver, gold, cobalt or other high-grade natural metal. Treat this titanium druzy as you would an opal or pearl. A mild soap and water rinse will maintain the color and clarity of the optical surface of your druzy for a lifetime.

Caramel Cream Drusy Agate Gemstone Cabochon

Reserved – Drusy Agate – Caramel Cream Oval Cabochon

Please note: This stone is reserved for a lovely client.

The caramel cream drusy agate oval gemstone cabochon shown here is 32mm long. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you. You can read more about what drusy agate is here.

Agate is traditionally believed to help you to discern truth, improve memory and concentration, increase stamina,  prevent insomnia and ensure pleasant dreams, enhance personal courage, protect you against danger, and provide a calming influence.

This drusy cabochon has possibly been dyed. You can read more about gemstone treatments here. In order to keep your drusy looking good, it is recommended that you do not get it wet or expose it to sunlight for prolonged periods. Your piece can be cleaned using a soft silver polishing cloth.

Cocoa Brown Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Cocoa Brown Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Cocoa Brown Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

A lovely bloke, who previously commissioned these stacking rings for his partner, asked if I could create her a ring using one of the gemstones he saw in my collection and loved.

Cocoa Brown Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

I was happy to oblige of course!

Cocoa Brown Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

The ring was a Christmas gift, and it was a big hit. Yay!! Thanks, Greg!

Black Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Black Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

One of my gorgeous clients, for whom I have created a number of fabulous rings, asked if I could create a special ring for a dear friend of hers.

Black Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

I was able to source a suitable drusy cabochon, and create this ring!

Black Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Thanks again, Charmaine – you’re a lovely!

Pale Pink Titanium Coated Drusy Agate Cabochon

Reserved: Drusy Agate – Pale Pink Titanium Coated Oval Cabochon

PLEASE NOTE: This stone is reserved for a lovely customer.

The pale pink drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 25mm long. You can read more about what drusy agate is here.

Agate is traditionally believed to help you to discern truth, improve memory and concentration, increase stamina,  prevent insomnia and ensure pleasant dreams, enhance personal courage, protect you against danger, and provide a calming influence.

The titanium coating is applied to the natural drusy stone using an environmentally friendly process called Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) that uses only electricity to deposit a thin coating of titanium, silver, gold, cobalt or other high-grade natural metal. Treat this titanium druzy as you would an opal or pearl. A mild soap and water rinse will maintain the color and clarity of the optical surface of your druzy for a lifetime.

Orange Titanium Coated Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

Orange Titanium Drusy and Sterling Silver Ring

Orange Titanium Coated Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

One of my gorgeous repeat customers, Rosie, asked me to find her a stone similar to this ring that I made for myself. I couldn’t, but I did find this one which she was very pleased to have made into a ring!

Orange Titanium Coated Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

It’s gorgeous, very high and lusciously sparkly.

Orange Titanium Coated Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

It was such a pleasure to make – thanks again Rosie! 🙂

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

smithing – creation of a teardrop shaped gemstone and sterling silver ring

I love seeing other people’s processes, and I thought it was time to give you all another look into what goes on in my workshop. I have blogged before about how I create one of my signature big chunky rings, and I thought it was time to examine that process again. Here’s how I do it!

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

Firstly, an appropriate width strip of sterling silver sheet .6mm thick is selected.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

This is curved by hand using a pair of half round pliers to fit the gemstone.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

Next, the strip is cut to approximately the right length on my bench peg using my jeweller’s saw, leaving a small extension for soldering against.

In this video, you see me prepare and apply the borax, position the solder (not usually quite so fumbly, I had a bit of stage fright!) and solder the bezel together.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

Once the metal is cool, it goes into the pickle to be cleaned. An explanation of pickle can be found in my previous blog post.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

I trim the excess bezel metal away from the solder join.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

I check to make sure the bezel is a good fit.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

I emery the bottom of the bezel so that it is completely flat and will make a good join with the base plate.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

I select a piece of 1mm thick sterling silver sheet to fit the bezel.

I solder the bezel to the backing plate. Here you see me applying the paillons of solder with borax, and soldering the join. Then it’s back to the pickle.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

After rinsing and drying, a bit of a check to see how it’s looking!

Now, I saw the excess metal from around the bezel setting.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

After filing the edges of the bezel setting, I start creating the ring shank.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

Using the appropriate width of 1.2mm thick sterling silver plate, I bend the shank to the right shape and size.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

I trim the shank to the right length.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

I hammer the shank with a mallet to get it perfectly round (this shot is for explanation only, I actually have the mandrel hard up against the bench to absorb the force when I’m really hammering the ring!).

Emerying the inside of the shank with my flex drive makes life easier.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

After more filing and emerying, I stamp the inside of the shank with my maker’s mark and 925, which marks the metal as being sterling silver (the 92.5% is the fine silver content).

I solder the shank to the bezel setting assembly.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ringSilversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

Then it’s time for plenty more filing, and coarse to fine emerying to bring the ring close to it’s finished state.  (Zen or tedium, you decide!)

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

Next, I head over to my trusty engraving ball to set the stone.

Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring Silversmithing - creating a bezel set ring

Plenty of gentle hammering with my setting hammer later…

IMG_1003

And my work, bar some tidying up, is done!

Persimmon Orange Drusy and Sterling Silver Cocktail Ring

There it is, a beautiful drusy agate ring. I do so love what I do!