This necklace wears beautifully on a 16″ sterling silver chain so it lays right below the divot in the collarbone.
- Rain Drops Pendant available at Silversmyth.com
Woke up with the brilliant idea in my mind for the above necklace. When great ideas come, I run to get my sketchbook. It’s usually those mornings when waking up slowly is possible. The alarm clock is no friend to my creativity. I open my eyes to sunlight and while still half asleep I start to imagine designs. It’s not a *try* kind of effort. It’s effortless. Thoughts just pass through and when that one brilliant moment happens I’m ready. Then I do my mad dash. Have to get my design on paper before it is forgotten.
I’d been thinking of ways to interestingly set cabachon gemstones. I just love lots of bright colors set in bright shiny sterling silver! I’m already thinking about my next multi-gemstone piece. Ideas are popping into my head constantly.
A good view of the bezel set cabachon gemstones
Wish there were two of me so one could be drawing up the ideas and the other could be working away at the workbench. Heck, I could probably keep a team of people busy with all the ideas floating around above my bed. Here’s just a couple of design sketches to tease you with…
Sterling Silver Multi-Gemstone Necklace and Earring Design Sketches
This quick sketch is of the amethyst ring design I had in mind. Typically I will not set loose gemstones given to me a customer for fear of breakage or damaging a sentimental object. I stepped out of my comfort zone and set a stone larger and more valuable than I was accustomed. In stone setting class, the instructor said that a jeweler isn’t really experienced in stone setting until he or she has 500 settings under his her belt. I don’t think I’ve approached 500 stones yet though I’m probably in the hundreds if you include other types of settings such as bezel , tube and flush settings. The sketch was small and pretty rough but it gavve the customer an accurate idea of what to expect.
- Sketch of a Rectagular (Octagonal) Amethyst Gemstone in a Classic Setting
The design was approved and the next post will show the final ring.
Side View Amethyst Gemstone Ring in Sterling Silver Basket Setting
I just love how this bracelet came out. I feel like royalty when I’m wearing it. Here’s how it was made… the Reader’s Digest version…
This bracelet was made from scrap sterling left over from several months of jewelry making. The scraps where melted and poured into an ingot mold.
Silver Multicolored Gem Stone Cuff Bracelet
The ingot was then rolled into a sheet using a rolling mill. The sheet of silver was textured with a ball peen hammer. The bracelet was again hammered into a cuff shape using a bracelet mandrel. Bezel settings were soldered to the face of the bracelet and then garnet, amethyst, citrine, ruby, blue topaz, and peridot stones were set. Bezel settings work by compressing the silver around the stone. There is no heat or glue used to hold them in.
Once completed, I didn’t want to part with it… so I kept it for myself. But, I’d be willing to make another if anyone cares to commission one. Due to that hand made nature of this piece, no two will ever be exactly the same. That’s the real beauty in it. And of course the stone colors of your choice could be used. Questions? email: info@silversmyth.com
http://silversmyth.bigcartel.com/product/gemstone-studded-cuff-bracelet
Click above for a link to the shopping cart you can find it in… and to see my other creations.
Thanks for checking it out!
~Julie
Three sterling silver rings, two of which are tapered out at the base. The ring tapered in at the base houses a lovely deep purple high dome grade AAA amethyst cabachon.
This is entirely handmade by Silversmyth, Julie Hiltbrunner. Expect to see beautiful variations of this Minimalist concept in the near future…
It’s almost an injustice to show this piece on a plain white background. It will look just stunning laying against someone’s bare skin. Time to get some models to show off the Silversmyth line, don’t you think?
With an 18″ chaind this one is $97. See the color selections available and the chain options in the button below. Thanks!
Silversmyth is happy to create custom designs for you.
Requests or questions:
info@silversmyth.com
Just created today this Minimalist design today…
The peridots could have been on the outside of the bottom rings instead, and point down. You know that would have been an easier way to set the stones as there would have had more room to work around the settings. But I’m never one to take the easy path. I take the path less travelled by. You know that has made all the difference.
Actually, now that I think of it that would be a stupid idea. Only short people, children and dogs would get a good look at the pretty stones unless the top ring is fused to the bottom… But I’d only do that by request… I kind of like rings that float around freely when I move them.
I tried these on… just to make sure they hang right and it happened again. The inner argument began. It goes like this…
Bad Julie: I want these.
Good Julie: You can’t have these. You need to sell them.
Bad Julie: Mama like! Must have!
Good Julie: Well they do look good on you…
Bad Julie: Hey you are supposed to be the *good* inner voice.
Good Julie: I can’t be perfect all the time.
Bad Julie: So it’s decided, we’re keeping a pair of these.
Good Julie: We’ll probably need a pair in each color.
Sterling Silver
Stone/Color options: Amethyst(Natural Grade AAA)/Purple, Peridot(lab created)/Lime Green, Natural Blue Topaz(duh, blue), Citrine/Yellow.
$88.
Birthstone Cabachon Rings, originally uploaded by Silversmyth.
Just finished these stackable rings this evening. They are stacked up but not fused together so any number of color combinations could work. These would make a fabulous Mother’s Day gift.
These look like candy and make me really hungry for jelly beans for some reason… I know there’s an Easter basket around here somewhere!
$42 for February-Amethyst, June-Moonstone, July-Ruby, August-Peridot, September-Sapphire, November-Citrine, December-Blue Topaz.
$52 for January-Garnet, March-Aquamarine, April-CZ(cut tube set), May-Emerald, September-Sapphire, October-Opal
Silversmyth jewelry handcrafted by Julie Hiltbrunner. Unique and custom designs with classic simplicity in sterling silver. Blog details what has been created in the Silversmyth workshop, Fort Worth events and an occassional story on an an interesting artist... Enjoy!