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Post by Cher on Nov 10, 2004 17:55:18 GMT -5
Here's a couple of Doc's wire-wrapped rings. The red one on the right is a Mexican Opal that Doc faceted. The one on the left is Tiger Eye. These are gorgeous Doc, I love the Mexican Opal. Oh heck, I love them both. ;D   |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Nov 10, 2004 18:03:56 GMT -5
OOOOHH and AAAAHH! Just stunning. So intracate. Is th ring it's self wrapped as well? Beautiful work!
cookie
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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 10, 2004 18:09:12 GMT -5
detailed close ups are required here to examine every minute detail......but yes, we are humbled by a masters work. (we are lucky to have Doc in here with all us bumbling wanna-be's. )
ok, so what kinda wire is it, Doc?
about how much would you sell those pieces for? (ballpark)....
thanks Cher for all your efforts in posting the pics!
KD
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Post by sandsman1 on Nov 10, 2004 18:13:54 GMT -5
hey doc lookin good man i like them both but i think my fav is the tiger eye,, very nice work
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Post by docone31 on Nov 10, 2004 19:30:56 GMT -5
My express thanks to Cher for posting my pictures.
The cabachon ring is patterned after the coronation ring of King Henry the VIII. The prong set ring is my attempt at setting a faceted stone with prongs in wire.
There is no gold or silver solder involved with these rings.
The gold ring, I sell the setting for $85, for us, $65. The sterling setting, I sell for $65, for us $50. I apologize for the poor picture quality, I have a cheap camera, and lousey skills in photo taking up close. I like the quality of Sands pictures and I hope to someday take photos like those.
The rings, the gold ring, and it is in 14K20 wire, hard, has five wires, .032. Depending on the size, the lengths usually are five inches. Depending on the size, the wraps seperate the setting wires, and band wires which are the same wire. The setting goes under and over the stone, either cabachon or faceted. I can also make either of these designs into pendants, or bracelets. It takes about 6hrs to make each one.
I twist the wires after the wrap wires for the setting. The band is .032 1/2 rd, in either flavor. The band has 15" of 1/2 rd., wrapped around the band.
People like these designs, they are strong and comfortable, let alone unique.
To all my friends, and folks who read this.
When I started jewelery, I was a drunken bum, with no hope, an attitude, too many degrees, and no skills. I have taught myself what I and my wife do. I have gone from a drunken bum with no hope to having the shop in Docs pics. It took time. I never quit. I never settled. I haven't had a drink or other intoxicant for over 20yrs.
My point aside from seeming to stand on a soap box. If I can do it, we all can. It takes want power.
I make it a point to never forget where I came from. I make it a point to never take for granted a single person, piece, or stone to be cut or tumbled.
I thank you for your encouragement when I first started, and today. I thank you for your patience in my ramblings, musings and level finding. I have posted a few tutorials for those who seek. They are the steps I took.
When I first started I had some copper telephone wire and a pair of rusty needle nose pliers. Today, I just installed my steam cleaner, ultrasonic cleaner, Ionic cleaner, My chamois buffing wheel, my Benchmate Plus package. Today I did three diamond rings for a person who wanted to wear what was left of her late husband. He had three small diamond rings she wanted to have sized from 13 to size 4. She dropped off the rings, no questions asked, no name, no number, she will be at the shop saturday and they are done. There was a time when people wouldn't trust me with an used newspaper to throw away. She handed three precious heirloom pieces to me with just our word.
I will teach anyone of us who want to know what I know.
Thank you for being there for me.
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Post by connrock on Nov 10, 2004 19:39:23 GMT -5
You da man Doc!!! Tom  |
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Post by Cher on Nov 10, 2004 19:48:54 GMT -5
Your welcome KD.  Doc, you are very welcome. It is very little I do in return for the knowledge you are so willing to share with all of us. ;D |
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Nov 10, 2004 20:09:50 GMT -5
Oh Doc, those are beautiful! I love both, but esp. the Mexican opal. Love that color and the pear shape.
llana
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Post by rockyraccoon on Nov 11, 2004 1:11:47 GMT -5
doc i truly am awed by your skill here. i tried a ring some many months ago and it is here somewhere. it caused one of those hysterical laughing sprees i have where i try not to wake the whole house. it would tear your clothes and scratch someone's eyes right out. not an easy task to create the laughable ring so i cannot even imagine creating one that i would be proud to show. thanks so much for sharing that with us!
kim
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Post by docone31 on Nov 11, 2004 8:28:50 GMT -5
Kim, I must have made thirty or forty copies before I was satisfied. I used .028 sq. brass practice wire. I made copies after copy. They scratched, they were off center, the stones fell out. I threw rings across the tent. I tried soldering the rings, I tried annealing the rings, I would get a beautiful copy, and the final wires I cut one too short and the whole design went south.
Measure the wires, 4.5". Mark the center, divide 1.5 X 2. That will give 3/4". Once bent around a mandrel the 1.5 will hold the stone on the cabachon ring.
Always use even numbers, and use hard wire. The 1/2rd holds the ring wires to shape and size.
You can do it.
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Post by Toad on Nov 11, 2004 11:54:11 GMT -5
Hey, Doc. Any books on wire-wrapping you would recommend?
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Post by docone31 on Nov 11, 2004 14:20:29 GMT -5
The book moods in wire is a good book to start with. Ed Sinclair is a good writer and makes it plain.
I learned to wire wrap first, then started reading books. I have learned some things from them.
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