|
|
Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 18, 2024 19:36:42 GMT -5
Last summer I cut two cabs for the RTH Benefit Cab Contest. This plasma agate is the one that I didn't enter. It was cut in an unusual shape to feature its prominent druzy, and it just sat because I couldn't decide what to do with it until Saturday. To deal with its odd shape, I chose to extend the pendant's backplate to create a basic shield shape. That provided a traditional and familiar frame for the cab, while also providing a high contrast illusion. The druzy also forced the cab to have an open bezel. That worked well, but I really, really don't want to set and polish any more inside/concave bezel curves! The shield shape is finished with a 600 grit scratch texture. That helps to catch and reflect indirect light (while obviously eliminating bright reflections) and it's an easy way to make smithing scratches disappear. That also reduces the silver's ability to compete with the cab. The back is also scratch textured, which I routinely do to my pieces. |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Feb 18, 2024 19:42:37 GMT -5
(I moved it)
What a visually interesting piece. I love all the little details. That's a nice cab, too!  |
|
dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
|
Post by dillonf on Feb 18, 2024 20:22:49 GMT -5
Very cool piece of jewelry! Beautiful.
|
|
|
|
Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 18, 2024 20:49:04 GMT -5
(I moved it) What a visually interesting piece. I love all the little details. That's a nice cab, too! Thank you for snagging and moving it, Tela, and for your kind words! Very cool piece of jewelry! Beautiful. Thank you, dillonf ! |
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
|
Post by khara on Feb 19, 2024 7:06:22 GMT -5
Turned out really nice.👍 I like the combination of matte/scratched surfaces and high polish ones. Definitely a unique piece. I have the sister cab. If I ever start finding time again it’ll be a fun one to make a setting for.
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Feb 19, 2024 7:26:34 GMT -5
Very nicely done !
And you kept the cab as the star.
Thanks for sharing,
Patty
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 19, 2024 8:42:23 GMT -5
I really like this piece, Gary. The matte texture of the backplate really helps accentuate the cab and bring it in focus. I love that you used a hidden bail on the back to avoid eye competition with the stone. I can only imagine what would have been coming out of my mouth trying to burnish down those inside curves!  |
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Feb 19, 2024 10:53:46 GMT -5
I like that alot. I can see a different chain on it and it becomes a men's piece. I can also see this as a really cool bolo
|
|
goldfinder
Cave Dweller 
Member since December 2020
Posts: 273
|
Post by goldfinder on Feb 19, 2024 12:38:51 GMT -5
Very nice work Gary opalpyrexia! It looks like quite a challenging, but rewarding, cab to set. The partial bezel really helps accentuate the nice druzy. The bail on the back looks flawless and a very neat design, is that just a flat sheet you cut and shaped for the bail? |
|
realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,496
|
Post by realrockhound on Feb 19, 2024 14:32:06 GMT -5
Smart call on that. Feel like the druzy would be lost if not backed like how you did. Nice piece overall
|
|
|
|
Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 19, 2024 14:40:06 GMT -5
Turned out really nice.👍 I like the combination of matte/scratched surfaces and high polish ones. Definitely a unique piece. I have the sister cab. If I ever start finding time again it’ll be a fun one to make a setting for. Thank you, Khara! Have you posted your sister cab? I would really like to see it. Very nicely done ! And you kept the cab as the star. Thanks for sharing, Patty Thank you, Patty! I agree that there should be only one hero. I really like this piece, Gary. The matte texture of the backplate really helps accentuate the cab and bring it in focus. I love that you used a hidden bail on the back to avoid eye competition with the stone. I can only imagine what would have been coming out of my mouth trying to burnish down those inside curves! Thank you, Robin! My vocabulary got some exercise at those points. Polishing was ever worse. I like that alot. I can see a different chain on it and it becomes a men's piece. I can also see this as a really cool bolo Thank you, Ali! Very nice work Gary opalpyrexia ! It looks like quite a challenging, but rewarding, cab to set. The partial bezel really helps accentuate the nice druzy. The bail on the back looks flawless and a very neat design, is that just a flat sheet you cut and shaped for the bail? Thank you! Yes, the bail is from 20 gauge sheet. |
|
|
|
Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 19, 2024 14:46:58 GMT -5
Smart call on that. Feel like the druzy would be lost if not backed like how you did. Nice piece overall Thank you. Yeah, the druzy was at risk of disappearing. I had considered making it more prominent with radiating graver cuts or perhaps sawing a backplate cutout, but finally decided to leave it as is. I think that makes it more of a surprise. |
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
|
Post by khara on Feb 19, 2024 15:15:06 GMT -5
Oh what I meant is that I bought the entire lot of cabs so I have yours that you did enter.
|
|
rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by rocknewb101 on Feb 20, 2024 9:19:07 GMT -5
Wow! So nice! I love the shape and the metal work!
|
|
|
|
Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 20, 2024 9:48:48 GMT -5
Wow! So nice! I love the shape and the metal work!
Thank you for your kind words.
|
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Feb 21, 2024 8:49:31 GMT -5
Beautiful piece. I love the interesting shape and the setting.
|
|
|
|
Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 21, 2024 10:45:56 GMT -5
Beautiful piece. I love the interesting shape and the setting. Thank you, Diane! |
|
johnthor1963
starting to spend too much on rocks
Cattle dogs rock
Member since June 2023
Posts: 236
|
Post by johnthor1963 on Feb 25, 2024 9:14:10 GMT -5
Great looking piece. I’ve been looking at this piece for a couple of days now and it keeps getting better.
The open bezel is really cool where it starts and finishes off at. The live edge of the rock is awesome the attention it draws to the piece. Your silver design works very well for this piece. Did it take a long time to settle on that design. Thanks for sharing
|
|
|
|
Post by opalpyrexia on Mar 23, 2024 9:38:29 GMT -5
Great looking piece. I’ve been looking at this piece for a couple of days now and it keeps getting better. The open bezel is really cool where it starts and finishes off at. The live edge of the rock is awesome the attention it draws to the piece. Your silver design works very well for this piece. Did it take a long time to settle on that design. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, John. Sorry for the late response. I spent a couple of hours sketching and refining the general idea. I knew that the cab needed a contrasting shape: I did't like the how it looked with simply a bezel and a bail.
|
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Mar 24, 2024 9:38:08 GMT -5
So many ways to do a stone! You picked the best way for that one.  |
|
