GEMSTONES

This very pretty ring marries together a red gold and diamond, "halo" (floating) setting, embracing a beautiful, briolette-faceted, cushion cut, pink tourmaline and a white gold diamond shank.

 

Sticking with the "pinks"... (and I'm always so surprised at how vibrantly PINK these can be)...a combination of rubies and diamonds set in yellow gold.  When I was a weee little girl, I always thought the "precious gemstones" namely rubies, emeralds and sapphires were sooo lovely.  Later, when I became a jeweller I realised that these red, green and blue (most well-known colour of sapphire) gemstones were of the most unflattering variant of those three colours!  In fact rubies aren't really red, and more often a dark cerise pink, emeralds are grass green, and blue sapphires are generally of a navy hue.  I would much rather recommend garnet and rubelite (for the reds), tourmaline, green amethyst and peridot (for the greens), and definitely blue tanzanite, lapis lazuli, and iolite (for the blues and purplish blues).

 

 

This being the peridot I mentioned above.  A simple birthstone pendant.

 

 

 

And this being the iolite I spoke of.  Such a lovely "warm" blue, with subtle purple undertones.  Quite similar in appearance to a tanzanite of medium quality, when glanced at.  When perusing more intently, one would be able to deduce a difference between the two.  But iolite is certainly a very close and economical (much more affordable than a AAA grade tanzanite) substitute.

 

A very large, round citrine, with browner (as opposed to yellower) undertones, accented with trillion-shaped, diamond settings.

 

As you can see, this is a reversible, silver, hinged, bangle.  It is specifically designed for both "day" and "evening" wear.  During the more casual hours of the day, it boasts (left to right) amethyst, blue topaz, iolite, pink tourmaline, and blue sapphire.  At night, when one wants to "dress up" a bit, one simply flips the bangle 180 degrees, and flaunts a sparklingly brilliant, diamond.

 

These emerald cut, aquamarine earrings were made to match the existing ring (in the background).  Again, a case of either wearing them simply (as is) or attaching their versatile, detachable, diamond frames.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring has sprung...and bling, have some...

 

 

This was quite an unusual piece to have made. The “flowers”being somewhat chunky in appearance, lending quite an abstract feel to the ring. One can’t really see it too clearly in the image, but the devil was in the details with this one – yellow (M/N coloured) diamonds set into red gold settings, where the rest of the ring was manufactured in white gold. Quite an artistic little number.

 

 

 

 

A pretty, ornate and leaf-like engagement ring with its variations in colour and texture. The raised areas of the ring being smooth (polished) and yellow gold, and the recessed areas being matt and white gold (plated). Also an eternity –so the design continues all the way around the finger.

 

 

 

 

Every time I look at this ring I think back to my grandmother and the jewellery she used to wear. It has such an “antique” feel, yet it’s been modernised somewhat with a few current tweaks (less fine, dainty filigree detail/marquise shaped setting inserts – top etc). The stone (the client’s own) is also such a beautiful colour in contrast to the white ring. It is almost cognac/champagne in hue, and really quite unusual and special. Such a pity that they (olden day stone cutters) used to feel the need to cut off the culet (point of the stone – pavillion section/underneath) of the stones. Apparently a beautifully cut (proportionately correct/allowing for optimal reflectiveness) stone, was not of importance back then, and design was the priority. Which is why so many of the older diamonds we see in antique jewellery are not brilliant cut (round) and incorporating 52 facets in total.

 

 

 

 

Another “flower” ring – comprising three main blossoms, made up of curved and individually placed petals – each unique and seperate from the next. Quite striking in it’s boldness. Like a bouquet of sparkly, shiny, everlasting blooms.

 

 

 

 

This ring is one of the more conventional designs one saw a lot of in the 80’s. Typically trying to immulate the “Princess Diana” cluster ring style, without a central oval sapphire of course, and instead making use of a circular ring of smaller ones. Three-teared and quite timeless in it’s easily recognisable design style. I don’t think cluster rings will ever go out of fashion, for every few years I’m asked to make one again – no matter the current jewellery techniques, styles and developments, readily available to us today.

 

 

 

Christmas in July!

 

  

 

 

This bow-decorated, tanzanite and diamond pendant was made for the Chinese ambassador's wife whilst they resided in South Africa.  What I love about the piece, is that as it moves with the wearer, it exhibits detail on three sides (top, side, and bottom) and is never one-dimensional, visually. Even the bows are curved into three-dimensional shapes.

 

 

A simplistic trillion cut citrine and diamond ring, set in 18ct yellow gold - emphasising the warm hues of yellow and orange within the central stone.

 

 

This little chunky filigree ring was made for a very special friend of mine.  Her mom passed the central, oval amethyst down to her a number of years ago, but it was very scratched and worn (due to years of wear and tear).  We re-polished the stone and set it into this silver ring, and it appeared as good as new, like it had never been worn before.  Another generation gets to enjoy it now...

 

 

An egg donation (female fertility) company asked me to turn their logo into complimentary gifts for their various donor/recipient clients.  These pendants were created using a silver model/mould that was cast and reproduced many times over, and filled with an orange and pink resin.

 

 

A matching platinum set of rings for "Him" and "Her".  Slightly half-round wedding bands, accompanied by a simple diamond engagement ring - set with a central emerald cut diamond and two side trillion cut diamonds.  Sometimes the really simplistic designs can be the most striking.

 

 

This ring came in for a sizing, but I was able to convince the client that a re-make would be advisable. The initial craftsmanship was so visibly inaccurate, and I think with a relatively simplistic design, such flaws are that much more noticeable. So the "new, improved" version is now definitely more fitting to the wearer, and she seemed a looooooot happier with her newbie.

 

 

Shiny New Year!

What a beaut this one is! A gorgeous cushion cut, sky blue aquamarine surrounded with finely set white diamonds, and an ornate millgrain finish.  A dress ring for that elegant evening out, when you're dressed to the nines!

 

 

Unfortunately, just about two months after making this gorgeously simplistic, yet striking engagement ring...it was lost!  What made it so particularly special for me, was that the groom-to-be was so involved in the designing process - something that is usually left to the bride-to-be, when they've specifically come to me for a bespoke piece of jewellery.  The central +-1.00ct white central diamond is hugged by two smaller black diamonds and set in platinum.

 

 

 

 

Inspired by the celtic style of continuous looping, swirling and twirling - this simple pendant is really quite pretty on an unelaborate chain, suspended lowish on the chest.  Perfect for a V-neck or high neckline garment.  Contructed out of solid round wire, appearing to be unending at its four points of curviture.

 

 

 

 

This engagement ring is really quite intricate indeed, with various filigree-like scrolls, pave' setting and delicate millgrain detail.  Quite lovely, if I might say so myself.  Set in 18ct white gold and white diamonds.

 

 

The things of spring

 

 

A real match made in heaven (well, in my workshop anyway - my little piece of it anyway)...

18ct white gold Lucida style engagement ring with a crystal clear, beautifully white central princess cut diamond, and similarly coloured and graded side brilliant cut diamonds (in both the engagement and wedding ring).

 

 

 

 

This wonderfully simple yet striking engagement ring was commissioned by a client that shared a common interest in the original Niessing tension set design.  Still one of the most popular engagement ring setting styles, and loved by all who appreciate the simple things in life.  This one has an interesting twist on the more conventional style (parallel sides gripping stone in place), in that the gap is diagonal and angled - a slight change, but certainly just as beautiful!
 

 

Criss-crossed and geometrically angular.  An interesting design incorporating the use of "eternity" (continuing all the way around the ring - never ending) set brilliant white diamonds.
 

 

Something old and something new ... the crucifix also being one of the most popular pieces of jewellery worn, since the beginning of time.  This one symbolising the trinity of the Christian faith - divided into three separate parts (left yellow gold section, central rectangular pave' set diamond section, and right yellow gold section), yet all still one, and contained on a movable ring and bale.


 

June's Jewels

This lovely large smoky quartz white gold ring is quite the dress ring!  Top heavy, with a +-20ct rectangular cut stone, set into an art deco cut out collet and shank.  Gorgeous for a glamorous evening out.

I was ever so honoured to be asked to make my cousin's engagement ring a while back.  This design is based on a very similar ring I manufactured a while ago, except that it's setting is in yellow gold, as opposed to the original's red/rose gold.  We also opted to use a slightly yellower diamond as the main focus of the piece, complimented by it's yellow frame and contrasting white band.  Simplistic and elegant - a timeless piece.

An ornate filigree sterling silver pendant (designed by the client for her 21st birthday), set with a central wine red cabachon garnet and surrounding black cabachon onyx.

Matching 18ct white gold engagement and wedding band set, with cut down side set diamonds and central trilogy (princess and two brilliant cuts) configuration.

Something borrowed, something blue...

As much experience as I have when it comes to manufacturing jewellery (since I was 15yrs old, am now 36yrs old - so round that off to an even 20 years), believe it or not, I seldom complete a job without having had to do the odd 'nip and tuck' or tweak, in order to get it juuuuust right. 

Murphy usually rears his ugly head and says, "Oh, you thought you'd just quickly solder that into position, and straight (no less) first time?  Well, watch this..." and so the cookie invariably crumbles a little through the very exacting process of making the perfect piece of jewellery.

That being said, this beautiful, double trillion tanzanite and diamond ring was constructed between 20h00 and 04h00 (weeeee hours of the morning) without a single glitch!  I know it looks easy, but believe me, when your eyesight's failing you and all you desire is to slip away into a 24hr coma, balancing two large triangular shapes on a narrow band, at just the right angle, ain't as simplistic as it looks!

Beautiful, cornflour blue sapphires, channel set into 18ct white gold with a central white diamond.  A somewhat more classical design for a very sophisticated lady.  One of those 'timeless' pieces that stands the test of fashion and fads, what's the latest craze and what's old hat, and still endures throughout, appearing just as 'new' as the day it was created.

I remodelled my aunt's engagement ring and matching wedding band into this combined ring not so long ago.  She'd originally had the stones set in claws, and they were starting to wear thin, losing her a diamond or two along the way.  So, it was high time for a revamp - something she'd been wanting to do for years.  Tube settings are by far the most secure of all the setting styles, as the metal envelopes the stone's circumference throughout.  So I reckon you're good to go for at least another 50 years of marriage, ay Louise!