Did I promise some pretty pictures of Mexico? Here: let me distract you with some recent projects!

Double Peacock Ring using Grandmother’s opals (taken from an old ring) in 18K white gold. I LOVE this. The opals were old and delicate (as opals are) but still had a lot of life left in them. I set them recessed down into the ring a little bit to protect them from bonks and scratches, and then gave the recessed areas a little bit of patina to make the stones pop out a bit more.

The “storybook” ring had a series of pictures around the band that had personal meaning to the wearer: a breaking wave, peacock feather, sun, Mt. Rainier, and bubbles scattered here and there! Also done in 18K white gold.

I remember seeing Navajo story rings (and bracelets) in Arizona and always liked the idea that a band could tell a story, perhaps about the wearer. A ring that could bring memories as it turns on your finger.

A LOT more images after the jump! Continue reading →

This is the wedding band I carved to match an engagement ring I made last year. It’s crazy petite at ~2mm width and the diamonds are 1.5mm. I snapped it in half more than once during the carving process but happily, wax is melty stuff and I bloobed it all back together in the end! It’s 18K white gold. I love how it turned out.

Paired with a solitaire I was making around the same time! (more images after the click: Continue reading →

[Art Deco platinum solitaire with .87ct radiant-cut diamond]

About a decade ago I was given this diamond as a not-so-subtle hint by my (now) mother in law. I was excited to make a ring out of it, but after some trying, found the square shape to be rather difficult to design for. Over the years I have drawn several (failed) designs and carved probably five of them. I actually had one cast but then decided I didn’t like it.

At long last, I scrapped my frilly and over-the-top designs and went for super simple. But I felt I couldn’t make it smooth and rounded, so I carved edges into the band and bezel. It’s pretty much perfect because I can wear it singly or stack it to my heart’s content and change up my stackers whenever I want.

I finally got my ring finished just before Christmas. Just about 20 years after Joshua and I got together. Pretty pathetic for a jeweler, I’d say.

Here’s what I find myself wearing the most: Platinum solitaire with 18K yellow gold Peacock ring & narrow leaf ring. I really like the color contrast between platinum & 18K yellow gold.

Sometimes I wear these! (18K yellow gold poppy eternity band.)

Click for more photos! Continue reading →

This is a super wide peacock band in 14K white gold. When they asked me to make it 15mm to start, I was all, “How can I be sure that my 15mm is the same as your 15mm?” And I got all neurotic about measurements and details and they came back with, “Well, the ring I wear now is 16mm and it could be a bit wider, so let’s actually go with 18mm!” Whoa.

The set: Hers is my original peacock band with a 2.5mm tanzanite stone in the feather eye, and of course his is the wide band. It was a lot of fun carving this ring and it took me forever. 18mm is a LOT of real estate to carve up. I am so very happy with how it turned out.

More photos after the jump! Continue reading →

One would think I have covered all iterations of the ginkgo ring; not so! Behold: his is a simple 6mm bright-polished band with a pair of intaglio-carved ginkgo leaves and hers is a ~2.5mm wide band with a pair of the same ginkgos, but regular relief carved. And about a million teensy leetle flush-set diamonds.

So. Many. Of. The. Little. Buggers. Her ring is quite small, size 4.5 maybe, and completely fits inside his! Cute!

18K ginkgo wedding bands! His ring has an intaglio design around the band, a carving style I had not yet tried but that I think turned out quite nicely. Very sedate and perfect for a low-key band. I bet this would make a cool stamp! Her band is carved with ginkgo leaves and roses.

Remember the art-nouveau inspired sapphire solitaire I made last year? Here is the wedding band to match. Both rings are in 14K palladium white gold (the solitaire has a 5+mm Ceylon sapphire).

More photos after the jump! Continue reading →

I love carving flowy convoluted designs and these were no exception. They are 14K white gold bands carved with a twisting old oak tree.

Her ring is swooped just so to fit against her sapphire engagement ring. The tree carving is over around 2/3 the surface of the band, the bottom smooth.

His ring is interesting in that it carved with two trees blending into each other at the top and bottom: Both bottoms originate at one end, then curve up their sides of the band, then the branches meet and mingle together at the top. The ring is more abstract or concrete depending upon the angle you choose to view.

More pics after the jump! Continue reading →