The African amethyst gemstone cabochons shown here are 6mm in diameter, and are available to be handcrafted into custom pieces for you.
Tag Archives: gemstones
Phosphosiderite Cabochon (10mm Round)
The phosphosiderite gemstone cabochon shown here is 10mm in diameter, and is available to be handcrafted into a custom piece for you.
Moonstone Claw Set Pendant
Tina came to me with this most gorgeous chunk of moonstone that her husband had brought her back from Chile, to find out if it was possible to turn it into a pendant. We decided the best option was to set it very simply so that the beautiful stone was the focus, and I designed this claw setting for it.
The stone is gorgeously asymmetrical, both in shape and thickness!
It could almost be worn either way I think.
I love the way the moostone glows and glimmers – very magical!
smithing – creation of a freeform gemstone and sterling silver ring
I always love to see behind the scenes of manufacturing – maybe it all stems from that cool crayon factory clip that used to be on Sesame Street? One of my gorgeous clients, Natasha, asked me to use this charoite in a ring for her mum, and her mum was interested to see the work in progress. I have written before here, here and here about my processes, and I thought you might like to see some more!
It started with this luscious piece of charoite which Natasha spotted in my gemstone collection.
Using a strip of silver and my trusty half round pliers, I made a bezel for the stone.
I fitted the stone to a piece of sheet silver.
After sawing out the shape of the backing plate, I prepared to solder.
After soldering, the silver becomes oxidised and it seems far-fetched that this will ever turn into something beautiful!
Some careful measurement, and more bending with my half round pliers, and a ring shank is made.
A quick check that the stone fits properly, then I’m ready to solder the shank to the top.
The shank is lined up on the top, and soldered firmly in place.
Time for lots of filing and emerying to get the silver ready for the stone to be set.
After plenty of time with my engraving ball and chasing hammer, the finished product!
Pantone – 2016 Spring Colours
Pantone have just released their Spring Colours for 2016. I’m ready with some divine gemstones to match this fashion report!
If you see a gemstone you like the look of, and you’d like me to create you a custom piece, let me know.
Pantone’s ‘Color Of The Year’ for 2016 is, for the first time ever, a blend of two shades: Rose Quartz & Serenity, which you can see above. A serene and peaceful feel, just what the world needs right now. Imagine what gorgeous pieces you could have with a combination of these two!
Serpentine and Sterling Silver Ring
Bandar admired this serpentine ring in my shop, and wondered if I could resize it for him.
I wasn’t able to, but luckily I had another cabochon the same in my gemstone collection, so I created him the same ring but in his size.
The ring is now happily in Saudi Arabia with its new owner!
Garnet, Lapis Lazuli and Sterling Silver Bangle
Matthew was looking for a gift for his wife, and he got in touch to see if I could create a bangle similar to this one, but with some gemstones included.
He got their small daughter to choose the gemstones from my collection. She picked garnet and lapis lazuli.
I hope this thoughtful present was well received!
Charoite and Sterling Silver Ring
Natasha contacted me after she saw my work on FaceBook, to ask if I could make her partner a ring.
After some lovely email chat, I sourced a stone for her partner, and Natasha asked if I could also turn the piece of charoite I had in my gemstone collection into a ring for her mum.
I’m so pleased with the way this turned out; I think it’s gorgeous, and Natasha and her mum do too. I’m working on Natasha’s next ring now. I love my job!
Morenci Chrysocolla Pendant
You might recall this fabulous olive green titanium coated drusy ring I created – I made this divine pendant for the same lovely client.
I was able to make this pendant in the same style as an existing pendant that she loved.
This chrysocolla comes from Morenci, Arizona, in the USA. Isn’t it gorgeous!
smithing – creation of a gemstone and sterling silver pendant
It’s always a joy to see other people’s creative techniques. I have written before here and here about the process of silversmithing, and I thought you might like another little insight into this world.
First, the drusy gemstone (from my never-ending collection!) and a rough design sketch. I’ve already created the bezel (the metal that wraps around the stone) in this picture, bending a straight strip of metal (like the one pictured) around the stone.
The next step is preparing the backing plate. He’s some sawing and filing in action.
After filing, comes emerying.
And laying out the component parts to see how it will look. The balls of silver are made by heating some little pieces of silver until they melt – the molten silver naturally gathers up into a sphere. It’s fun stuff!
I emery the back of the bezel flat, so that the join between the two pieces of metal will be exact and the solder will flow correctly.
Then it’s time for a bit of heat.
I love how from this dirty blackened thing comes an object of beauty!
Into a solution of sulphuric acid to remove all the oxidization etc.
While the piece is pickling, I create the bail (the part from which the pendant will hang), and a little plate stamped with my maker’s mark and ‘925’ to show the piece is made from sterling silver.
Those are soldered onto the piece, then it’s back in the pickle and after that, a rinse off.
After a good clean-up, with lots of emerying down to a fine grade, I mount the piece on a wax dop so that i can set the stone.
My engraving ball comes in super-handy here!
Some time with my chasing hammer, and the stone is set.
And finally, the finished piece!
If you like this pendant, you can see more of it here in my shop.