With the holidays coming I wanted to let people know about my Chinese Character Jewelry.

Having studied Chinese in “another life” I found a way to commemorate significant dates and occasions       in a person’s life without revealing too much of the truth. These pieces are perfect for those who want to     celebrate a special birthday or a meaningful anniversary discreetly and with elegance. I can even do  a         name in Chinese Characters.

All are individually made by piercing and sawing the character into the metal sheet, then shaping and f       finishing.  Pieces can be created for almost any occasion or sentiment.

• Likes my aesthetic or has a solid idea for a design in mind. If they have inherited jewelry or gemstones they are sure they want to use them in new pieces of jewelry.
• Understands that a custom created piece of jewelry can take some time to create.
• Understands that custom jewelry, because it takes time and expertise, is more expensive than that purchased over the counter.
• Is willing to be involved in a detailed discussion with the jeweler so the jeweler can help the customer arrive at the right design for them.
• Understands that style considerations can sometime be trumped by practical considerations, such as size and/or weight.
• Is willing to ask lots of questions, even the “dumb” ones.
• Wants to have fun with the process.

Of these the most important is asking questions. As a jeweler I am here to serve your needs and that process begins with asking questions from both sides of the relationship.

If you have any questions, are looking to have a custom jewelry piece made, feel free to call 877-526-1070 toll free. There is no obligation and the initial consultation is free.

Organic Freeform Bands in 14K Gold

The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity made in precious metal.

My research has found that wedding rings originated in Egypt as a symbol of a man’s love for his wife. It was worn on the third finger of the left hand because Egyptians believed that a vein ran directly from there to the heart. The tradition was adopted by the Greeks when they conquered Egypt and from them to the Romans. The Romans called that supposed vein “vena amores”.  The early Roman wedding ring was made of iron to symbolize the strength of a man’s love for his wife. I suspect that rust may have had something to do with ending that manifestation of the custom.

At one time what we call wedding rings were given as betrothal rings. Some say this was given as a way to show a man’s wealth. Some say they were given to show a future wife that a man trusted her with his wealth.

Double ring ceremonies are a relatively new arrival on the scene. The tradition of a man wearing a ring got a boost during World War II when men going to war wanted to have something to remind them of their sweethearts at home. This tradition was became more popular with the prosperity of post war America.

Today one can find wedding/commitment rings made of many metals, from titanium to platinum. They can be worn on either hand, depending on the local custom. The most common wedding/commitment ring is still the plain yellow gold band.

White Opal Ring

Opal, one of my favorite gemstones, is a mineraloid gel made of a combination of tiny silica spheres about 1000^th of a millimeter in size, and water. Water content ranges from 2-3% to as much as 30%. In precious opal the lattice arrangement of the spheres causes interference and diffraction of the light striking the stone, hence the “play of color” that makes opals so beautiful. Australia produces over 95% of the world’s opals.

Look for a jewelry professional who is willing to take as much time as necessary to teach what you need to know to make a truly informed purchase. Ask questions until you can’t think of any more to ask. Remember that there are no “dumb” questions.

When purchasing a valuable piece of jewelry you should buy from a professional who you feel you can trust. A true professional has your best interest in mind, not just the sale. After all you are buying adornment that, if properly taken care of, will last a lifetime, and can be a gift to your heirs.

First a wax model is made of the object to be cast is made.

That wax model is placed in a steel tube called a flask with a rubber cap that has a bump (button) to which the wax model is attached.

The flask, now closed on one end by the cap, is filled with slurry called investment, not unlike plaster of Paris. (“Lost wax casting” is also more properly called investment casting.)

This investment has ingredients that allow it to be heated to high temperatures. When the investment hardens, the rubber cap is removed and the flask is placed in a burnout oven (kiln) and slowly raised to 1350 degrees Fahrenheit. During this process the wax melts and flows out of the investment, hence “lost wax”. What remains is a negative space in the shape of the original wax model. It is into this that molten silver, gold or other precious metal is poured and a rough casting is produced.

When the investment is removed the casting is finished and polished.

And there you have a very simplified explanation of lost wax casting.

I wish you all could see the molten gold in the crucible…it’s  pure alchemy.