Opal ring from Seven Fingers Jewelry

[Kismet]

I found [http://www.sevenfingers.com]Seven Fingers Jewelers[/url] quite by accident, but I'm sure glad I stumbled upon it. This definitely has been a different custom experience for me. After reserving my completion date of Sept 30 (and this was just time he marked off for me in his calendar, I didn't have to pay to reserve a spot), I scoured the web for inspiration pictures. On Sept 12, I sent off my opal with the inspiration pictures and a list of likes/dislikes/needs. Today I received my ring. There was a phone call on Saturday when he had a question about accent stones. So no CADs, no drawings, no nothing. This was not a surprise, btw, because this is how he told me he operates. If I wasn't happy with his design I just send the ring back, he removes my stone and returns it to me, not charging me anything. His rationale is that he would just cut another stone to fit and sell it anyway. So anyhow, my point is if you need a lot of control over a custom project, this is not the vendor for you.

Anyhow, on with the pics. The opal is an Australian semi black of about 2.5cts.


Lotus flowers were one of my inspiration pictures


love the double mille graine around the stone


I love his maker's mark. Apparently it's his own hand prints... he lost 3 of his fingers in a farming accident when he was a kid.

 

[Kismet]

He even put mille graine on the underside of the ring.


And all around the band


Hand shot


It sits pretty low. My opal is pretty flat... maybe 3-4mm

 

[Kismet]

Even with all the carving, it's pretty comfortable to wear


And distance hand shot to show the size.

 

[Arkteia]

The stone is excellent. The ring fantastic. Kismet, you should make "The Kismet's list" of jewelers you have used, you always find such awesome talents!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Fantastic ring, Kismet. When you first mentioned Seven Fingers Jewelry, I was so excited! I am a huge admirer of his work and I couldn't wait to see the results. He certainly doesn't disappoint.

 

[minousbijoux]

1. It is a beautiful ring - I love rings that highlight the stone but also have detailing. Really beautiful.

2. Now I get the name Seven Fingers. He's got a gallows sense of humor, doesn't he?!!

 

[VapidLapid]

WoW, that is a gorgeous piece. I love the design and the execution. beautifully hand made and proudly showing all that hand work, it just revels in it's being a product of a focused lone goldsmith. wonderful trellis work holding your opal aloft. And he did the whole thing in 2 weeks!?!?

 

[kt]

OMG that reminds of a museum type piece - it's so unique and artistic and unusual!!! Just lovely.

 

[pregcurious]

This is so stunning, and one of the most beautiful settings I've seen on PS. Congrats and thank you for sharing!

 

[VapidLapid]

I just spent some time on his website and am even more floored than before. I would go to Denver to take his 4 day class coming up but it is , understandably, already full. Wonderful find, Kismet!!

 

[NKOTB]

I think it's lovely, too. Do you like it?

 

[stargurl78]

I love opals! Yours is beautiful and that setting is just stunning! Very unique ring.

 

[movie zombie]

i absolutely think you have the best opal ring i've seen to date! it is unique, classy, and timeless!

 

[JewelFreak]

Gorgeous work, Kismet, and just right to show off an opal; yours is such a nice one. The skill in that ring is superb! And he does it without 3 of his fingers, yike, what a talent!

-- laurie

 

[talamasca]

STUNNING! I love the design and millgrain

 

[siamese3]

Wow! That is simply stunning on your hand. I think the setting really suits your stone in such a beautiful and unique way. Well done!

 

[Kismet]

The stone is excellent. The ring fantastic. Kismet, you should make "The Kismet's list" of jewelers you have used, you always find such awesome talents!

Thanks crasru! Heh, after reading that I had to count up the jewelers that I've used and it's actually not all that many. Peter Lees x2, Andrew Sarosi x3, Hubert x1, BGD x3, Bostonian Jewelers x1, Michael E x1, TC Jewelers xa lot. And now Seven Fingers x1

Fantastic ring, Kismet. When you first mentioned Seven Fingers Jewelry, I was so excited! I am a huge admirer of his work and I couldn't wait to see the results. He certainly doesn't disappoint.

Thanks LD! The ring is beautiful and so well done. Have you seen his work in person?

1. It is a beautiful ring - I love rings that highlight the stone but also have detailing. Really beautiful.

2. Now I get the name Seven Fingers. He's got a gallows sense of humor, doesn't he?!!

Thank you minousbijoux. Heh, yes I think he does have a gallows sense of humor.

WoW, that is a gorgeous piece. I love the design and the execution. beautifully hand made and proudly showing all that hand work, it just revels in it's being a product of a focused lone goldsmith. wonderful trellis work holding your opal aloft. And he did the whole thing in 2 weeks!?!?

Thanks VL! I was really surprised when I received the stone yesterday. I was not expecting to get it until next week. All I can think is he either worked only on my ring or is super efficient.

OMG that reminds of a museum type piece - it's so unique and artistic and unusual!!! Just lovely.

Thanks kt! I think it's not only the style but also the gold looks antiqued in some way.

This is so stunning, and one of the most beautiful settings I've seen on PS. Congrats and thank you for sharing!

Thanks pregcurious! I'm really very pleased with how it turned out.

 

[Kismet]

I think it's lovely, too. Do you like it?

Thanks NKOTB! I don't like it, I love it.

I love opals! Yours is beautiful and that setting is just stunning! Very unique ring.

Thanks stargurl78! I never realized how much I liked opals until I owned one, they're so mesmerizing.

i absolutely think you have the best opal ring i've seen to date! it is unique, classy, and timeless!

Thanks MZ! I'm so pleased with how it came out. I'm sure it's conceited but I think my nieces will be lucky little buggers one day when they inherit my jewelry collection.

Gorgeous work, Kismet, and just right to show off an opal; yours is such a nice one. The skill in that ring is superb! And he does it without 3 of his fingers, yike, what a talent!

-- laurie

Thanks JF! Heh, that was my first thought too when reading about him on his website. Well, ok, that was my second thought... my first thought was 'I need to have one of his rings."

STUNNING! I love the design and millgrain

Thanks talamasca! I love all the millegraine too! I can't believe he put it on the underside of the bezel! Talk about finishing.

Wow! That is simply stunning on your hand. I think the setting really suits your stone in such a beautiful and unique way. Well done!

Thanks siamese3! I'm glad you think it looks good. I was a bit worried that the E/W setting made my fingers look pudgy.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I just spent some time on his website and am even more floored than before. I would go to Denver to take his 4 day class coming up but it is , understandably, already full. Wonderful find, Kismet!!

I know - I have been stalking him. My workshop list in the US is pretty short (since few teachers warrant an international trip): Cogswell, Good, Myra Grey, Revere and Thomas Herman (I already did Charles Lewton-Brain!). Next year, I hope to be able to afford the trip and strike Cogswell off the list and, hopefully, Herman as well.

Do you have Revere's Art of Jewelry Making book? He has a project there (master class level, of course) and it is very interesting to see how he combines all techniques in making a piece: wax work, fabrication, chasing, engraving...

Kismet - I saw his work once, on a very elegant lady who collects fine jewelry. So amazing!

 

[lavatea]

I may have to change my plans and buy a stone as yet not planned for a project just to work with this guy. It seems like an adventure to use him, and if the whole project is built around that adventure, I think I could let go of the details.

Hmmm...what stone type and what type of budget?

Thanks for the review and the pictures. It is such a beautiful piece.

ETA - Do you feel comfortable giving a ballpark range on what you spent on the setting? I understand if not, but it would be helpful in planning a project.

 

[Kismet]

I may have to change my plans and buy a stone as yet not planned for a project just to work with this guy. It seems like an adventure to use him, and if the whole project is built around that adventure, I think I could let go of the details.

Hmmm...what stone type and what type of budget?

Thanks for the review and the pictures. It is such a beautiful piece.

ETA - Do you feel comfortable giving a ballpark range on what you spent on the setting? I understand if not, but it would be helpful in planning a project.

Thanks lavatea! When we first talked on the phone he said a ring for that stone in a size 7.25 would probably cost between 2400 and 3400 depending on the details. I told him I'd rather not pay more than 3k unless he had a really great idea that would push it over. In which case, he should give me a call and we'd discuss it. I ended up paying under 3k.

 

[Kismet]

Also, if it helps. Here are some of the inspiration pics that I sent him. I think I sent him a couple more than these 4 but these are the main ones.

This was probably the main inspiration piece. I liked the negative space, the slender stems and the not wholly open flowers.


I loved the look of the lotus flower but didn't want one as opened as the pic. Just use the center bit.


I love the sweet pea curlicues.


I love the contrast of the geometric border with the organic center. This one didn't really get incorporated into the design, which was fine as I wasn't expecting everything I sent to be incorporated. The double bezel made it in though.

 

[tsavvy]

Gorgeous ring -- thank you for the great photos, as well as sharing your inspiration photos. It looks substantial, but also finely crafted with delicate detailing. Lovely

 

[Aoife]

That's a gorgeous ring, Kismet!

He's a really incredible artist and craftsman. I especially enjoyed seeing the inspiration pics you sent him, because seeing those, and then what he came up with, gives a tiny window into how his mind works. I love that!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Wow!

cheers--Sharon

 

[JewelFreak]

Kismet, I just took a look at his site -- wow, what beautiful work! His designs are incredibly graceful, as well as organic without being too much, a not-so-usual talent. AND he works with outside stones, how perfect can he get?

Oh boy, got to add him to my list of places I gotta go.

--- Laurie

 

[ForteKitty]

The craftsmanship is exquisite. I actually like it more than VC rings... it's got more flow!

 

[Kismet]

Gorgeous ring -- thank you for the great photos, as well as sharing your inspiration photos. It looks substantial, but also finely crafted with delicate detailing. Lovely

Thanks tsavvy! It is pretty delicate for being a relatively large ring.

That's a gorgeous ring, Kismet!

He's a really incredible artist and craftsman. I especially enjoyed seeing the inspiration pics you sent him, because seeing those, and then what he came up with, gives a tiny window into how his mind works. I love that!

Thanks Aoife! It was definitely interesting sending off pictures and getting back his interpretation.

HI:

Wow!

cheers--Sharon

Thanks canuck-gal!

Kismet, I just took a look at his site -- wow, what beautiful work! His designs are incredibly graceful, as well as organic without being too much, a not-so-usual talent. AND he works with outside stones, how perfect can he get?

Oh boy, got to add him to my list of places I gotta go.

--- Laurie

I know! I love his pins especially. The one with the red rose is so different. And the thistle bracelet... TDF!

The craftsmanship is exquisite. I actually like it more than VC rings... it's got more flow!

Thanks ForteKitty! Yes, I think he's more organic than VC.

 

[kelpie]

Such amazing craftsmanship! Reminds me of Wink's late bench he wrote a touching tribute to.

 

[Deia]

Such a beautiful setting, the detailing is gorgeous. I'm not much of an opal fan, but I love this ring!