Tag Archives: style

Mookaite and Sterling Silver Men's Ring

Mookaite Men’s Ring

My lovely client Natasha commissioned me to create this mookaite ring for her partner.

Mookaite and Sterling Silver Men's Ring

She chose the cabochon from my gemstone collection. Doesn’t the mookaite look great with a reticulated silver shank!

Mookaite and Sterling Silver Men's Ring

It’s always a pleasure to create with like-minded people. I’m so lucky!

Sterling Silver Gothic Cross

Sterling Silver Gothic Cross

This gothic cross was commissioned for a friend of a friend, as a replacement for an existing costume piece.

Sterling Silver Gothic Cross

The oxidisation gives it a worn feel, and enhances the detail. I like the look!

Sterling Silver Gothic Cross

 

Hammer Finish Sterling Silver Ring

Hammer Finish Sterling Silver Ring

I created this ring for a client who is getting married.

Hammer Finish Sterling Silver Ring

He is into metallurgy and smithing, so a sterling silver ring with a hammered finish was the way to go!

Hammer Finish Sterling Silver Ring

Simple, timeless and elegant – what a nice wedding ring!

Tuareg Style Sterling Silver Ring

Tuareg Style Sterling Silver Ring

A client’s husband had lost his fulani wedding ring from Mali, so I created this custom made ring for him in the same tuareg style.

Tuareg Style Sterling Silver Ring

I was so pleased to hear that they both think it’s perfect! I love making my clients happy (and receiving such lovely feedback is a bonus, too!)

Tuareg Style Sterling Silver Ring

Style – Rings

In part one of a series of tips about the basics of jewellery wearing I looked at necklaces. Today I’m going to talk about my favourite pieces of jewellery – rings.

The Silver Forge Gemstone Rings

A ring is traditionally a circular, decorative or symbolic ornament worn on fingers, toes, arm or neck – however today’s understood meaning of the word ‘ring’ is one that is worn on the finger. Rings can be made of many materials, but are commonly made from metal. They can be plain, or ornate; simple, or set with many stones. They are made in many different styles, but I’ll be focusing on bezel set gemstone rings as that is what I make!

Pomegranate Red Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

First, let’s identify some of the basic parts of a ring. It’s good to know these terms, so that when discussing your ring, we’re on the same page:

Ring Terminology Guide

Next, sizing. When you’re trying to determine the right ring size for you, it is best to have your finger measured professionally by a jeweller. If all else fails, you can use my guide to ring sizing.

Ring Sizers

When deciding what material your ring should be made from, sterling silver is a good choice – as well as being beautiful, it is usually hypoallergenic, so you avoid allergic reactions and green skin (problems usually brought about by the nickel in inferior quality metal).

Tourmalinated Quartz and Sterling Silver Men's Ring

Check out this good Wiki article on ring styles which shows many different kinds of rings – I’d never heard of some of these, so I found it very interesting!

Variscite and Sterling Silver Ring

Although I am happy to make any size ring, my preference is for large statement pieces. Sometimes people say to me that they can’t wear big rings because they have small hands – I say not so! I’m only 5’2″, and have little hands, and I love wearing a big rock! I don’t find large rings impede my hand, either – as fingers only bend inwards, the ring sits on top of the hand and allows you to do most things as usual. Ring size is really a matter of comfort and personal preference of course. Tell me, what’s your favourite ring?

Fossilised Coral Ring

As always, I am happy to create you a made to measure silver ring from any of the gemstones in my collection. If you’re interested, you can contact me about that here! Meanwhile, enjoy a browse through my custom gallery.

Carnelian and Sterling Silver Pendant

Carnelian and Sterling Silver Pendant

Some of the gorgeous ladies from Alderley Post Office commissioned me to create this pendant for their lovely boss Maria for a significant birthday.

Carnelian and Sterling Silver Pendant

I happen to know that Maria loves orange, so this carnelian gemstone was just the thing! Happy birthday again, Maria!

Carnelian and Sterling Silver Pendant

Sterling Silver Gundam Pendant

Sterling Silver Gundam Pendant

This custom piece I made is a depiction of a character named Haro from the Japanese animation series ‘Mobile Suit Gundam’.

Sterling Silver Gundam Pendant

There is a romantic story behind this pendant – a guy commissioned me to make it for his girlfriend because they randomly first met one another due to of a shared love of this character; then randomly met again because of these animations and fell in love with each other. So sweet!

Sterling Silver Gundam Pendant

Gemstone of the Month – Carnelian

Carnelian is a brownish red to orange, translucent to opaque variety of chalcedony. Carnelian is probably named after the the kornel cherry because of its colour. It is sometimes known as cornelian.

Carnelian has been used for decorative purposes by humans for thousands of years. Wikipedia tells us: “The bow drill was used to drill holes into carnelian in Mehrgarh between 4th-5th millennium BC. Carnelian was recovered from Bronze Age Minoan layers at Knossos on Crete in a form that demonstrated its use in decorative arts; this use dates to approximately 1800 BC. Carnelian was used widely during Roman times to make engraved gems for signet or seal rings for imprinting a seal with wax on correspondence or other important documents. Hot wax does not stick to carnelian. Sard was used for Assyrian cylinder seals, Egyptian and Phoenician scarabs, and early Greek and Etruscan gems. The Hebrew odem (translated sardius), the first stone in the High Priest’s breastplate, was a red stone, probably sard but perhaps red jasper.”

Carnelian is thought to aid with concentration, and by keeping one focused on the here and now and not on past experiences. Carnelian is believed to be calming and grounding, and  encourages initiative and determination.

Carnelian is understood to improve circulation, aid with problems of the liver, bladder, kidneys and spleen and with male impotency, and to increase appetite. It is believed to help with PMS as well as sexual anxiety.

Carnelian is thought to prevent accidents, and to protect the home from theft, fire and storm damage.

Carnelian is beautiful – the range of colour from reddish brown through to almost yellow is so vibrant!

I have some gorgeous carnelian available in my gemstone collection. If you find a stone that appeals to you and you’d like to have it set in a ring or a pendant, let me know – I’d love to create something beautiful for you.

Sterling Silver Septum Rings

Sterling Silver Septum Rings

My lovely client Kate and I collaborated on these septum rings.

Sterling Silver Septum Rings

I hadn’t made nose rings before, so these were a bit of a learning curve!

Sterling Silver Septum Rings

Kate posted this gorgeous photo of herself wearing one of her new septum rings on Instagram – love it! Thanks Kate!

Instagram Selfie - Kate

Smoky Quartz and Sterling Silver Pendant

Smoky Quartz and Sterling Silver Pendant

One of the lovely mums from school had inherited this gorgeous piece of smoky quartz, and asked if I would be able to make it into a pendant for her to give to her mum. The stone even came to me in a cute little vintage box!

Smoky Quartz and Sterling Silver Pendant

I created the setting so that the stone would be protected, but the maximum amount of light would come through – I always aim to make the stone the star of the show!

Smoky Quartz and Sterling Silver Pendant

Thanks, Emma, and I’m so glad your mum loves her new pendant!

Smoky Quartz and Sterling Silver Pendant