Emerald Ring - Anniversary Upgrade and Recycling Project

[Tanzigrrl]

Hi All,
I really enjoy recycling jewelry that I'm not wearing so much anymore into things that I will love and will wear all the time. It's a hobby of mine and I like being creative with my gemstones. I had these approx .68ctw Asscher diamond studs (G, VVS2) that I thought were kind of small for diamond stud earrings and this 1.45 carat emerald-cut Columbian emerald pendant that I never wore that was just languishing in my jewelry box. My husband actually was the one who first suggested that they be recombined into a ring. I'm definitely a "ring person."
I worked with a very talented artist to have these stones set into a new platinum ring. I wanted an organic, sort of ivy-like feel to the ring setting and preferred a "trellis" type setting over a basket for the purposes of this ring. He hand-carved the wax and made a very organic-feeling ring, incorporating my emerald, the 2 Asscher earrings, and 26 of the melee from my original emerald pendant into this new ring. (Only 4 of the melee from the original pendant didn't make it into the ring - they didn't fit.) Otherwise, everything was reincorporated.
My DH and I will be celebrating our 8th anniversary in August and while I always had an idea that I'd get a 10 year anniversary upgrade ring - well, what do you know - this one came early and will more than happily satisfy that role as the "upgrade ring!!!"
Picture time! Here are my originals - earrings and pendant. Fine, but just not doing it for me anymore. Here are the "Before" photos:

 

[Tanzigrrl]

Hand-carved wax:

 

[Tanzigrrl]

The Finished Ring

Platinum, size 5ish (it's a tight size 5 so it fits my right and my left)

 

[colorluvr]

I love the new ring design... posted before you posted the new pics, so I deleted what I wrote - GORGEOUS!

 

[Tanzigrrl]

Side views. It is very difficult for me to get nice pictures of the "ivy" on the sides. This is the best I could do. It looks much better, IRL.

 

[Kismet]

What a great recycle project. I love that organic design. And happy 8th anniversary!

 

[Tanzigrrl]

Slightly better photo of the "ivy" on the sides.

 

[T L]

Beautiful emerald ring, and very unique too in its organic, yet classic feel. Congratulations on your anniversary.

 

[distracts]

Tanzigrrl, it's beautiful! It's definitely much more unique than the earrings and necklace were. I love the organic motif and the way the prongs look like tendrils of ivy reaching out to ensnare the stones.

Congrats on your anniversary!

Also, you should probably post a picture of the ring with your bunny. *nodnod*

 

[Tanzigrrl]

Colorluvr- thanks! I think it's a successful remodeling job!

Kismet - I've never had anything organic-looking before, so I thought it would be a good time to try it out.

TL- I appreciate the compliment and I, too, am glad that it still reads as having a somewhat Classic design while it's organic as well.

Distracts - Here's Oliver Rabbit modeling. You can see my Ethiopian opal pendant in the photo, too! (a little blurry)

 

[minousbijoux]

It is lovely and so much nicer than having a generic pendant and earrings! Would you care to share the craftsperson's name?

 

[Tanzigrrl]

Minous - Stephen Hollis, also of Aurum Studios, Athens, GA

 

[minousbijoux]

I just stopped by for another look. I just noticed - are those melee in the shank, in between the wonderful twists? Very creative, definitely original!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Your emerald ring is gorgeous! I love the design of the setting and it looks lovely on your hand.

 

[Arkteia]

Fantastic ring. Beautiful stone, very interesting design. It is noticeable, I am sure you get many compliments on it.

 

[Kim Bruun]

That is a beautiful ring! And quite an upgrade for your emerald - from a slightly anonymous pendant to a glamourous ring! At 1.45 carats, it's a fairly large stone (emerald being a light stone - a 1.45 zircon would be small), and it has a perfect "big" size for your hand.

 

[Enerchi]

Love the new ring, Tanzigirl!!!!!

I'm seriously partial to anything 3 stone and trellis... and lookey lookey --- both my favourites are in your ring! Its stunning - I love the design on the shank - so flowy (is that a real word or a PS word??) and the use of the melee is perfect there. Enjoy that beauty - its awesome! Congrats on the 8 years too!

 

[Lilia]

I am usually a lurker here, but this ring made me come out. This is simply stunning.

 

[bright ice]

OH, that turned out incredibly well. I think you were wise to put them together in a ring. Beautiful!

 

[Tanzigrrl]

Here's another photo of my emerald ring out in sun on this warm, sunny birthday of mine.

Minous, I'm also hoping that this photo will better showcase the melee on the sides. The "ivy" contains 13 melee diamonds on each side of the ring, going down the shoulders, for a total of 26 diamonds. It covers about 3/4 or so of the outer shank. It's exceptionally hard to photograph. I've done about all I can. I need Kenny and his macro lens!

LisaRN- thanks so much! It's surprisingly comfortable to wear, too. Some rings aren't but this one just "fits."

Arkteia - I was staring at my hand at Lowe's today - hardware store lights are the best. I've only seen a few friends since I picked it up the other day, but they did all notice the new addition, immediately.

Kim Bruun- thanks! I was worried about it looking "too small." I'm used to quite large CS rings, so with a somewhat smaller than my usual sized stone, I was a little concerned. Telling me it looks big is a huge compliment in my emerald's case.

Enerchi - I love organic and trellis settings. I had him combine the two. I was making odd hand gestures to show how I wanted the interwoven ivy and the trellis to look and I'm sure others in the design studio must have thought I was out of my mind. Worth it though, he interpreted into platinum what I gesticulated with my hands.

Lilia - huge compliment - you came out of lurking for my ring. Given the stunners on this site, that is an enormous compliment. Thank you so much!!!

bright ice - I just didn't love the earrings and pendant enough and as a result almost never wore them. Like others mentioned, I went from having a generic pendant and earrings to something one of a kind and original. Even the stones are now more significant to me.

 

[NKOTB]

Happy birthday!! And anniversary! I LOVE that ring - everything about it. Great idea, perfect execution.

 

[motownmama]

That's a definite WOW!!! You should post it on SMTB too! Where did you originally get the emerald from? Very very cool ring. Enjoy and congrats!

 

[Tanzigrrl]

You can see a little bit of the fire from the melee in this shot.


NKOTB - thank you! The idea and execution are the artist's. I pretty much knew I wanted my pendant and earring stones turned into a ring - but that's about is creative as I get. I suggested an organic theme, too. Otherwise, the credit is all his.

motownmama- thanks! The Columbian emerald pendant was purchased a couple of years ago in a B&M jewelry store at 50% off when my DH and I were traveling. I saw it through the shop window, walked in and bought it, which is rather unlike me. Meant to be, I suppose.

 

[distracts]

Distracts - Here's Oliver Rabbit modeling. You can see my Ethiopian opal pendant in the photo, too! (a little blurry)

Bun+bling = the best kind of pictures!

and lol do not worry about it looking small - it looks HUGE!

 

[missk8]

Love that color. Emeralds are the best! The stone works better as a ring that it did the pendant, much more attention grabbing.

 

[Tanzigrrl]

distracts - bun and bling photos are definitely the best

missk8 - thanks so much. I'm just so much more a "ring" person than I am a pendant person and this ring is more interesting to me because it isn't the standard pendant mount design.