Tag Archives: silver ring

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!

Geometric Sterling Silver Ring

Lovely Laura wondered if I would be able to create a similar piece to a costume ring which she and her friend both loved, as it was made in a plated base metal which had deteriorated.

It was a mercy dash to the finish line, as the ring was needed for a special birthday right away!

Although it’s not identical (the original would have been cast in a factory mould), I think it turned out ok – and I believe the birthday girl was very happy too!

Thanks Laura!

Sterling Silver Sphere Ring

Occasionally I do stop long enough to make myself something! I confess it was over a year ago that I made this ring, and it’s taken me this long to post it.

As you can tell from its well worn appearance, I wear it all the time!

Freshwater Pearl and Sterling Silver Ring

A lovely dad, George, was asked by his daughter to have me create this custom made pearl and sterling silver ring for her birthday.

I was very glad to help! Simple and stunning.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

Sterling Silver Initials Ring

My client wanted a special ring for his girlfriend.

He asked for their initials, in cursive writing, in a thin banded ring.

I’m so pleased with the way the ring turned out!

Opal, Peridot and Sterling Silver Ring

My lovely client, Pauline, wanted a ring created for her daughter’s 40th birthday, with and opal and two peridots which are the birthstones of her daughter’s three children.

She asked if I could use an opal cabochon that she had. I was happy to do that!

I got in some tiny peridots, and we designed the ring together.

Pauline asked if I could make a simple silver bangle to pair with the ring. What a lovely gift!

the silver forge

jewellery handcrafted by ruthie gray