How It's Made
Depending on the design, pieces are sometimes hand fabricated with metal sheets and wires. In other cases, wax models are carved to minimize the waste of precious metal. Then the wax is cast in a lost wax technique.
See Video how it's made: 14k White Gold Opal Pendant with Diamond
Fabricated Wedding Bands
1. The shape of each piece is traced and sewn out of the gold sheet. |
2. After the inside edge is sanded and polished, the two pieces are soldered together. The metal then is trimmed down to the width of the band. |
3. The strip of metal is carefully bent into a circle and soldered at the bottom. |
|
4. The ring is now rounded to a perfect circle and trimmed to the final width and size. |
5. After filing and sanding the band the stones are flush set into the hole in the center. |
|
Riveted Wedding Bands |
||
1. The circles are traced and sewn out of the gold sheet and drilled in 6 even spaces around the ring. |
2. Small jump rings are created to create the necessary space in between the individual bands.
|
3. The jump rings are inserted between the rings and held in place with rivets. |
4. The rivets are soldered to prevent the jump-rings from turning. The rivet heads are created using riveting tools. |
5. The diamonds are channel set into the bands. The ring then is polished and rhodium plated. |
|
Wax Models & Casting |
||
Wax models are carved into the desired shape. A sprue is attached to the wax. Investment is then cast around the wax. For several hours the investment-cylinder is fired in a kiln to burn out the wax model and create a negative form of the piece. Metal is molten into the hollow space. The piece then has to be filed and sanded to prepare for the final polish.
|
||
Chain Making |
||
Most chains today are made by machines for it is too time consuming to make them by hand. Some artists however take special pride in fabricating their own chains. Design by Janja shares the love for creating chains and still fabricates the crochet and mesh bracelets/chains by hand. |
||
