by Aimee | Feb 8, 2017 | All
Over the last month or two, I have been eagerly asking for votes on my Bridebook Profile page. Bridebook.co.uk is a website providing happy engaged couples an easy to use free wedding planning service with one of the largest wedding supplier directories and a budget planner.
The first round of judging took place on January 31st and with over 180,00 votes I am so pleased to say that I have been shortlisted as one of their finalists within the wedding jewellery category. Thank you to everyone who voted for me, I couldn’t be happier.
If you would like to see the full list of finalists Here is the short list of fantastic wedding suppliers
by Aimee | Dec 26, 2016 | Jewellery In The Making
Hand make your own ring workshop Bristol
A silver ring laser engraved around the outside
I was recently asked if I could teach someone, to help them make their own ring and give as a gift for Christmas. It wasn’t something I had ever given much thought to but immediately thought this would be great fun, and I would love to share what and how I make your commission jewellery. Every year Mike and his Wife try to make each other’s gifts, you can’t get much more thoughtful than that!
So after discussing the design of a simple wide silver band we set to work with a flat piece of silver sheet, just a little longer than needed to create the correct size ring. Once Mike had finished is amazing work making his ring I would then laser engrave the ring with text around the outside.
The ring was hammered around a ring triblet; a metal stake perfect to hammer rings around. Once Mike had a large round section of silver, using a piercing saw the silver was cut to the correct size needed and then soldered together with a propane blow torch. A little more hammering to a nice smooth round shape Mike then filed all of the surfaces to remove any rough edges and excess solder. He decided to keep the nice filed texture on the outside of the ring and polish the inside and sides of the ring using emery paper and a polishing mop.
Take a look at some of the making processes below.
As you can see Mike was very pleased with his handy work, and I had thoroughly enjoyed the day too. He went away with a finished piece which his wife should be very pleased with. Teaching must be a very fulfilling job. Something I may think about offering in the future, watch this space! Do you fancy making your own ring in Bristol?
by Aimee | Jun 14, 2016 | All
Carl and Sarah fell in love. And wanted the perfect engagement ring.
If you’re looking for a unique ring, this video shows you the easy process of designing and making your ring for you.
Play the video below. If you need any inspiration take a look at my previous commission here.
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by Aimee | Jul 27, 2015 | All, Jewellery In The Making
My task was to create a ring or group of rings using gold and silver engagement and weddings rings and their diamonds. After our initial discussion, we went along the route of creating a suite of wavy rings which could be stacked together using claw settings to allow as much light as possible to the diamonds.
1 Initial ring sketches design process
2 existing rings ready to be melted down
4 making claw settings for a ring
5 Making stacking rings and claw settings
6 remodelled gold stacking ring ready for diamonds to be set
silver and gold set of 3 stacking rings
Once the gold and silver was melted down, it was then rolled out into square wire which could be turned into rings and pressed into a wavy shape. The next process was to create the settings.
The remaining wire was drawn down further into round wire thin enough to create the claws of the settings. I used a jig shown in the photo above to do this.
Once all the rings and claw settings were made I could then solder it all together, hallmark the rings, polish and finally set the diamonds.
I chose not to rhodium plate the white gold as this left a lovely off white variation which complimented the yellow gold and silver with a soft gradient of white to yellow.
by Aimee | Jul 27, 2015 | All
The task for this commission of handmade wedding rings was to create two designs using the 22ct yellow gold in each ring and 9ct white gold in the ladies ring given to them by their families. Both rings had to make use of the 22ct gold in a minimalist way with the white metal being the most prominent feature of each wedding ring. The ladies ring had to fit neatly next to the engagement ring and the gents ring preferred a darker and textured white metal so platinum was decided.
The CAD design for the gents ring, with a textured platinum band inlayed with 22ct yellow gold on the inside.
The three original rings ready to be melted down and remodelled into their new designs.
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The CAD design for the ladies wedding ring. Two D section rings fitting together whilst sweeping around the engagement ring creating a perfect fit.
Each ring being melted down in a crucible using a large flame on a blow torch.
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Once each ring has been melted down it is rolled into the required shape; D section for the ladies ring and flat for the gents ring.
Once each band had been rolled to required length and width they were then turned into a ring and soldered. The 22ct gold was made to size with the platinum band tightly fitting over the top. The 22ct ring then hammered to take the shape of the court platinum ring and holding together with tension.
Each ring was then ready to be hallmarked and finished with a polished and/or matt finish.
Hope you enjoyed my wedding rings in the making, please feel free to leave a comment here or on one of my social network accounts above, I’d love to hear from you. Alternatively if you would like your own pice of jewellery designed, take a look at my
jewellery commission page.
