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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 17, 2021 14:00:56 GMT -5
I recently had two customers request opal rings within a couple of days of each other, which had never happened before. The first was a basic ring with a 3.8 carat, solid, semi-crystal cab that I had cut a few years ago from Coober Pedy rough. I finish all of my bezel-set cabs with a bright cut around the rim using a flat graver. I really enjoy doing that and I think that it gives the bezel a clean, professional look. The second customer's ring was a little more challenging. She sent me a photo of an opal pendant she had purchased and requested a ring with a similar design: This made things interesting because the band had to wrap around behind the opal. That meant making 3 additional bends. I used oval wire and had lots of fun trying to make it bend on the thick dimension. It didn't like that. The wire required annealing 7 or 8 times in the process followed by lots of muscle exertion in between. There were also lots of little pushes and pulls along the way to get everything just right. My ring stretcher came in handy several times to "sneak up" to the required size. But I left the ring just a little short of her finger size because I noticed that the offset band gave the ring some freedom of movement.
She had chosen a really flashy, high dome doublet:
When your customer sends you a photo of their jewelry, you know that they're very happy...
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Post by Pat on Feb 17, 2021 14:15:35 GMT -5
Wow! Beautiful work. Especially like the bent ring.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 17, 2021 14:21:59 GMT -5
Dang! Those are what I call impressive! The first one is a knockout of an opal. Wow! I love big beautiful opals. Well, I love small ones, too, but the bigger the better when they are flashy and colorful.
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Post by miket on Feb 17, 2021 14:38:28 GMT -5
Oh boy, Gary!
Those opals are fantastic and you did a great job with them.
Bravo, sir!
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Post by MsAli on Feb 17, 2021 15:50:27 GMT -5
Beautiful job on both of those.
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller 
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360 
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Post by lookatthat on Feb 17, 2021 16:12:42 GMT -5
That ring goes beautifully with the pendant. Nice work.
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jasperfanatic
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 455
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Post by jasperfanatic on Feb 17, 2021 16:29:25 GMT -5
Gorgeous! Great work!
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 17, 2021 16:29:46 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for your comments and appreciation.
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Post by lpl on Feb 17, 2021 17:24:36 GMT -5
I really enjoy seeing your work Gary. Those are simply amazing pieces. Thanks for sharing!
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 17, 2021 18:12:56 GMT -5
Both the opals and the rings are gorgeous Gary! Thank you for graciously explaining the tribulations you went through in making that second ring...which just solidified my desire NOT to start making rings! LOL
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 17, 2021 18:41:25 GMT -5
Both the opals and the rings are gorgeous Gary! Thank you for graciously explaining the tribulations you went through in making that second ring...which just solidified my desire NOT to start making rings! LOL
Thank you, Jason.
Now we just need to work on desolidifying your ring apprehension. Really, simple rings are simple to make. Even my ring with the twisted band is a simple ring. Metalsmithing is fun! You can do it!
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 17, 2021 18:43:35 GMT -5
I really enjoy seeing your work Gary. Those are simply amazing pieces. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, John. I really enjoy your designs, too.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 17, 2021 18:48:44 GMT -5
Both of those rings are beautiful, Gary! I can't decide which one I like most.
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 17, 2021 18:50:03 GMT -5
Both the opals and the rings are gorgeous Gary! Thank you for graciously explaining the tribulations you went through in making that second ring...which just solidified my desire NOT to start making rings! LOL
Thank you, Jason.
Now we just need to work on desolidifying your ring apprehension. Really, simple rings are simple to make. Even my ring with the twisted band is a simple ring. Metalsmithing is fun! You can do it!
I'm about to start attempting wire-wrapping (don't tell anyone!)...I'm sure somewhere down the road it will lead me into wanting to making rings...as I have found everything about this hobby just kind of snowballs into the next "phase"! LOL |
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 17, 2021 19:21:50 GMT -5
Gary, two sweet rings. I can sympathize about the bending the long way, beat into submission I say. Nice work! That second opal sure is flashy.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,494
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Post by Brian on Feb 17, 2021 20:58:11 GMT -5
Fantastic job on both of those! You did a great job matching the style of the pendant on the second one. To be honest, I think your ring improves upon the design of the pendant as the craftsmanship looks far superior.
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Feb 17, 2021 20:58:28 GMT -5
Oh yeah! Two nice ones for sure!
The extra touch on your bezels really does make them stand out.
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Post by agatewhisperer on Feb 17, 2021 23:12:23 GMT -5
:-0
That's so cool
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 12, 2021 23:22:20 GMT -5
Nice, I love opal, wish I knew how to cut it. I think the small stones would have made great earrings. Fantastic work!
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Post by opalpyrexia on Mar 13, 2021 10:40:09 GMT -5
Nice, I love opal, wish I knew how to cut it. I think the small stones would have made great earrings. Fantastic work!
Thank you. Cutting opal is pretty much the same as working most material, although it's best to cab very slowly, frequently examining the opal's fire. Working beyond 600 grit goes pretty fast unless you're dealing with a thin color bar (layer). I had one small opal that doubled in brightness at 50,000 grit — a big surprise that I'll never see again.
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X - Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's rocks
- O Henry