cateye quartz ring

[VapidLapid]

Well I made another ring. I had this grey cateye quartz from Barry a while back. It was very inexpensive. I made a setting for it in 999fine silver. I felt really free since the total cost was about $30, so there was no pressure. I allowed myself to improvise and make errors, to do things in a strange way, and ultimately it went well.
So I started the usual way, for me, and hammered a wad of metal into rough form and distribution of metal with a taper down to the underside. I allowed myself a tremendous excess of material, because I was going to carve the seat and bezel out from the metal. That was a lengthy task, and there were a number of forms in the process that I liked, and might have been content with as they were, but I pressed on with the goal I had set.
Here then a barrage of pictures in sequence.

 

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[chrono]

VL is an awesome hobbyist bench.

 

[minousbijoux]

Very nice.

 

[minousbijoux]

How did you secure the stone? Is it a bezel? Is it glued? Impressed. Love the pic of the silver shavings - makes it look so easy, like carving wood.

 

[chrono]

I think VL made a small lip/rim which he folded over the cabochon like a little sleeve to hold it in/down in the seat.

 

[VapidLapid]

the bezel was carved out of the ring. The bottom of the seat was 2.6mm down and what was left above became the bezel as the shoulders were carved away. IT was a rather thick roll of metal, not thin like a normal bezel. I had visions of the bezel being a round bead, not flat, but I hadn't quite thought through how that would survive the setting part. In the end I used some dental scrapers to clean up the top of the bezel and restore the round as much as I could, not really as successfully as I would like.
That tiny hand chisel was so sharp, I used more bandaids than the pictures show!

 

[dk168]

First time I have seen an East-West cats eye, unusual setting and very unique, thanks for sharing!

Wish I could make my own jewellery!

DK

 

[minousbijoux]

Haha! I wondered if you would address the bandaids.

 

[pregcurious]

The rustic setting is perfect for the cat eye. VL, you are so talented

 

[caf]

Loved seeing the step by step. Final product is terrific. I want to do this.

 

[T L]

Very cool ring.

I wish I could make my own jewelry too, think of all the $$ I would save.

 

[gemandjewelrylover]

You're so creative! And I love your photos. Nice craftsmanship!

 

[mariedtiger]

That's one beautifully made ring. I loved the pictures, they showed all the care and time that went into your work. Makes me appreciate my hand made rings more.

 

[VapidLapid]

I gave the ring to my friend Susan, who I had in mind when I made it.

Here is a claw shot and a hand shot

 

[chrono]

It's a lovely gift; I'm sure she'll love it.

 

[fauxpaux]

Very fluid, deep stone! Good craftsmanship!

 

[txgreeneyes]

You are talented!

Very nice!!

Poor fingers/thumbs. But, it's the price we pay for beauty...