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!

The Jewels of January

Ladies, ladies ... if size really does matter, this one's got it all!  A whopping 11½ct crystal clear and pure white emerald cut diamond.  Well that's only the centre, not to mention the additional 'smalls' along the edges and down the sides.  Set in 9ct white gold with a 'cut out' filigree detail and scalloped top. Very, very va va voooooooom!!!

These two were made as a pair of wedding rings for friends of mine.  His was very much inspired and influenced by his spiritual beliefs, and hers by her love of all things flaura - specifically the blue Iris flower.  Very weighty 9ct white gold rings with 1.04ct brilliant cut and 3.21ct trillion cut tanzanites, respectively. 

A nicely balanced two-tone diamond ring, with clean lines and simplistic curves.  Sometimes less really is more.

They say in nature, things appear mostly in uneven numbers, and symmetry is not one of its visually aesthetic strengths.  The same, I'd say, is true for rings.  Three and five stone combinations are always very visually pleasing, whereas two and four stone arrangements less flowing and easy on the eye.

The Novelties of November

I know ... it appears to be a blue-toned tanzanite, hey?!  Well, believe it or not, it's a sapphire!  And one of the most spectacular specimens I've ever seen, at that.  Just absolutely the most gorgeous royal blue hue.  Really very unusual to see in sapphires, as they're usually far more navy in colour and opaque in their refraction and reflection of light from within the stone.

My curly and twirly diamond and 18ct white gold ring.

A tri-coloured bespoke piece that I made a few months back.  The client saw this particular design with a circular centre set section, but required the ring to be broader.  We therefore chose the oval as a substitute and widened the two bands as well, for a much more "va-va-voom" overall effect.  Simply gorgeous on her slender, lengthy fingers - perfect to carry off a design like this at its best.

A simple solitaire with a few twists - "something old" (the antique feel created with the millgrain finish and scroll detail), and "something new" (the accompaniment of a few smaller diamonds around the centre setting and down the sides of the band).

A two-toned version of a French Victorian styled ring.

Sometimes a yellower diamond just looks so great in contrast to a white or black (as per the top image) background/base.  They really "pop" in this setting, as opposed to the more conventional idea of setting yellow diamonds in a yellow gold setting - so done and dull.



Rings and Things

This multi-coloured, broad, domed, diamond and sapphire ring is quite uniquely special.  Who would've thought that sapphires could be found in such a myriad of colours, ranging from pinks and purples to yellows, greens and blues - definitely not just one's conventional royal blue in this example.

I just love a ring with top, as well as side, detail.  Just lends such an interesting perspective from all angles.  And that's (I suppose) the thing with rings - they are very seldom seen from just one viewpoint.  The eventual outcome of this one was very pretty indeed, with it's ornamental undulating edging and millgrain finish.

And now (again) for the simpler things ... also my favourite part of design - no mess, no fuss - just clean lines and simplified design ... always a striking combination!  This one was created for one of my aunts as part of a very special birthday pressie.  It's manufactured in 9ct white gold with a contrasting 18ct yellow gold inlay, and swiss set with white diamonds and a 'sun' gem - the citrine - bringing warmth and light into the wearer's life.

This uncomplicated and striking innovation was custom made for a very special lady.  She had had her black and white diamond engagement ring made several years ago, but had recently received six 'leeeetle' white diamonds from her mother.  So, once again, we designed and created two complimentary side rings, repeating the use of the 'ebony and ivory' idea and combining her whites with some blacks.  The result was particularly effective, especially since its breadth worked so well on her lovely long and slender fingers.

Man oh man, if I only had the money!  This very simplistic and beautiful creation was designed for a very unusual, fancy cut cognac/champagne coloured diamond.  The gemstone had such interesting hues of warm browns and pinks radiating from it's facets, that I suggested the use of a complimentary red gold for it's centre setting, and a contrasting white platinum for it's shank.  When's my next wedding anniversary ... 'oh, let me count the ways' and days ...



Ruby Red

 

I was recently commissioned by an old school friend to manufacture something special for her big day.  It's always so rewarding to work with a client that knows exactly what it is that they have in mind.  In fact, not only did she inform me that she'd be having a 'medieval' wedding, but that her colour scheme would be burgandy and white.

She also supplied me with a very detailed photograph of an embroidered celtic cross.  From there we tweaked, and added and subtracted bits and bobs, which eventually resulted in this creation.  The pendant is made of sterling silver (with interspersed oxidised sections) and set with marquise and cabachon cut garnets and cubic zirconias.  It really complimented and enhanced her gorgeous burgandy and white lace and satin gown beautifully.  Such a pleasure to have had the opportunity to make such a striking piece of jewellery.

Look familiar?  That's because this sterling silver pendant is the second part of a set of jewellery which I manufactured a few months back - 'Marvels of March'.  This is also something which I absolutely love to do when designing - making up sets of jewellery that compliment each other in both design and materials. 

Again for this piece, I've finely pierced the silver to create the lotus flower effect, and tube set a gorgeous red cabachon garnet in the centre.  Now all we need to do is to source a fitting chain, and we have another 'mission accomplished'.

And sticking with the reds ... a domed, 18ct yellow and white gold ring, set with 0.01ct and 0.02ct brilliant cut diamonds, with a border of round rubies.  The inside of the ring (which one cannot see in this photograph) is also cut (pierced) out with detail, which always finishes a piece off so completely.  I always believe that a piece of fine jewellery should always be well finished - inside and out.  Otherwise it's almost as though one would take the time and trouble to erect a building with a solid foundation, straight and true brick work, and shoddy plastering - doesn't quite do the creation justice, does it?

The Simple Things

I have a very 'symbiotic' relationship with a friend of mine - Ren Frouws (http://www.thefamousfrouws.blogspot.com/) - she helps me with the photographic aspect of my work, and in exchange I make her pretty pieces of jewellery. 

This is her pic (with an insanely close up lens, I might add) of a ring I made her a while ago.  It's something I've been meaning to make myself for a while now, but when the opportunity presented itself to manufacture another piece for Ren, I thought 'let's do this thang' (as she's always admired my wedding band which is very similar in design, I thought she should have one for herself).  All the metals (platinum, 18ct white gold, 9ct white gold and sterling silver) are flush with one another, and in the channel are set the most beautifully subtle (alternating) natural pink and white diamonds.  It really did evolve into one of those special 'wow' pieces!

Another one, or two (if you consider the versatility) pieces I made for Ren.  She calls it her 'twisty' ring/pendant, which I reckon describes it really well. 

It's one of those especially versatile (something I love to incorporate in design) and ever changing  pieces, as not only does it look very different on one's finger when turning it around to the left or right (as the curves all differ and change as they revolve), but by simply interlacing a length of simple silk cord, the ring becomes a pendant (which is also very different in appearance when viewed from the front or the side - as it stands away from the chest a little).  Another one I'd love to make for myself at some stage.

The Marvels of March

What a beautifully ornate and detailed piece!  Unfortunately I was only able to photograph it in it's pre-setting phase, so the stones are all unset in their settings.  The centre diamond weighs approximately 1½cts and the two small side stones are aquamarines of a lovely pale blue.

These fine sterling silver earrings are tube set with rich, red, cabachon cut garnets, which really bring them to life.

Another full eternity band.  But this one has a slight 'twist' as the diamonds (approximately 0.05ct each) are set in a zigzag pattern all the way around the finger.  Really a very pretty ring.