One that Binds them All (or Combines)

I was asked to create a turquoise ring for a husband.

Ring: turquoise and sterling silver

This was for a gentleman who had just gotten into riding motorcycles, so a combination of machismo, Western, and classy was in order.   I started to really like this idea and really wanted to make this my own.  We talked about places and rings that she saw out West, and explained a bit about why neither of them liked any of the ones they saw.  Then, she told me about some of the styles of jewelry that she liked.  Ahhhhh, Ok, my mind was spinning; classy, gentleman, a splash of Western, tough, and a dollop of new Harley Davidson.  I am pretty sure that I can make this a bit of my own.  So, I take it to the sketchbook.

It is the leeway the customer gives you or the leeway that you can wiggle into it, where you can take the design for your own.

The ring was laid out in wax and steam casted.  This is an ancient technique that I love to use because it is very one-of-a-kind the technique, and I have had an amazing 100% success ratio.  The only one I’ve ever messed up on was when I miscalculated the amount of silver to pour and press.  So, I can’t exactly blame the steam technique for the failure.  That one was my mess up.  I then added an overlay of silver sheet cut into shapes, and I added a hammered texture to the whole piece.  I am not a big fan of a high polish, but the burnished, hammered surface worked out well for this one, in my opinion.

BTW, the turquoise here was a bit of Kingman that I had set aside in a trade.  In discussing the design for this one with the patron, we decided on using an all natural stone.  I did freak a bit about using the Kingman.  I had just enough to do the job, but I wanted extra in case I messed it up.  A bit of social networking led to a friend who gave me a nice bit of alternative in just in case.  Having the extra as a back-up gave me the confidence to kick out the Kingman from my own stash with perfect precision.  Well, “perfect” might not be the best word, but isn’t it funny how we can trick ourselves into doing a much better job?

I do ramble on.  I apologize :o)  I totally enjoyed working with this patron, and the report is that the husband loved it.  He has spent a bit of time looking at it on his finger like a girl with a new engagement band, and that makes my heart sing.

I was thinking my medium of turquoise and silver was by itself the SouthWestern flair.  The design was contemporary but classy, and the designs on the sides were Harley.  The weight of the ring and presence on the hand added to the machismo.  Touchdown!!!

Tagged as: Aesthetics, My work