Latest design work - fire opals and cab emeralds

[Ionysis]

So I am continuing to very slowly set my loose stones and (mostly) resist the urge to buy any more before I’m done.

My next two projects are to set the yellow fire opals I bought from Lola (MDmaya gemstones) and the three leftover cabs from my emerald bracelet project.

None of these are expensive stones in themselves so I wanted to do something unusual in the setting.

The opals are going to be three bee-like brooches / pins, meant to be worn together like a little swarm.

The emeralds have some black speckles in them and I kept them aside on purpose because I wanted to play up the inclusions using black enamel in the setting.

I have all the stones except for one diamond.

Here are my sketches. I am taking them into the jewellers next week for CADs and costing.

 

[LilAlex]

I love all of these! You have amazing drawing skills and design vision!

The only caveat I have concerns the big, curved swaths of black enamel on the dome ring. Can that be done? And will it look smooth? I can not recall seeing anything similar but, although I love it, I have not seen too much enamel-work. Spouse has a YG dome ring with a petite, high-dome rubellite cab and the area where you have black enamel is "granulation" technique, IIRC (like YG bird-shot). (I think it is a Turkish ring and not high-end.)

 

[Ionysis]

I’ve seen plenty of examples online but I guess until I take it in I won’t know what my bench can do. Will update you and let you know what they say. I’m definitely not an expert in enamel work as I’ve never had anything made quite like these designs before.

 

[Timor]

What a fun and creative idea!

 

[lambskin]

Your drawings are amazing too!

 

[Ionysis]

So I’ve got the CADs for my little bees.

We decided to go with black enamel on the bee bodies instead of rhodium.

I’d wanted the wings rather straight but when I saw the chubby little bee body in 3D I had to change the wing shape to a more rounded look as they were too flat.

I had a little loop added at the back so they can be worn as either a pendant or a pin. My daughters could have one little each and I could have the big one. When they are old enough to be trusted!

Here is the final CAD.

 

[fussykiki]

Did you check out Chaumet attrape moi si tu m’aimes collection. They have variations of bees you can make reference too.

 

[Ionysis]

Did you check out Chaumet attrape moi si tu m’aimes collection. They have variations of bees you can make reference too.

Actually the shape for the wing design for the original sketch was inspired by this chaumet pin!


But then I felt the fat body needed chubbier wings.

I just looked up the attrap moi series - there is a stall in the mall near me that does a fashion jewellery version which is almost identical to that design - but with glass not stones. That’s what gave me the original idea for these opals. I almost bought one to show my bench but the design wasn’t quite what I wanted. I wanted an actual body in the middle.

 

[fussykiki]

I have this pair of earrings. Will you consider making one into a spider ?

 

[Ionysis]

Oh wow they are beautiful (and expensive!).

I love the spider design but I’m actually terrified of them. I’ve thought so many times about buying spider brooches in the past but they freak me out so much LOL!

How big are they as earrings? My finished pieces will be about three quarters of an inch.

 

[Catmom]

I can't wait to see your bee brooches when finished! They will bee awesome. I have a little swarm of fun bee brooches that I like to wear.

 

[fussykiki]

Oh wow they are beautiful (and expensive!).

I love the spider design but I’m actually terrified of them. I’ve thought so many times about buying spider brooches in the past but they freak me out so much LOL!

How big are they as earrings? My finished pieces will be about three quarters of an inch.

It is small and like smaller than half an inch. I think it was HKD8600 each when I got them over 10 years ago.

 

[Ionysis]

So two of my baby bees are done. The big one is still with the bench. I wore them out tonight and I love them so much. So glad I got them made to wear either as brooches or pendants.

 

[Pomelo]

So two of my baby bees are done. The big one is still with the bench. I wore them out tonight and I love them so much. So glad I got them made to wear either as brooches or pendants.

What a stunning photo and your baby bees turned out beautifully! May I ask whether you got Mama Bee back, and what about those emerald cabs?

 

[JackTrick]

So two of my baby bees are done. The big one is still with the bench. I wore them out tonight and I love them so much. So glad I got them made to wear either as brooches or pendants.

What absolute perfection. Your jewellery style is so iconic.

 

[RRfromR]

You are incredibly talented.

 

[musicloveranthony]

So two of my baby bees are done. The big one is still with the bench. I wore them out tonight and I love them so much. So glad I got them made to wear either as brooches or pendants.

These are so awesome!! wonderful design choices