I was commissioned to make this ring as a 10th anniversary gift by the husband of one lucky lady! The couple planned a renewal of vows to celebrate and invited a small number of friends and family. They had a beautiful, intimate beach ceremony during which he presented his bride with this ring.

Not only did he ask for a diamond in the center as the traditional gift for a 10th anniversary, but also included the birthstones of their family. The stones from left to right are: emerald, ruby, diamond, light amethyst, and peridot.

This ring started out as a tube of wax which I carved and sculpted into the ring itself. After smoothing the surface of the wax, I create a seat for each stone using files and a rotary tool with abrasive burs. I make sure that each stone fits perfectly into the wax so that it will be ready for me to set when I get the ring back in metal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lost-wax casting is the process used to transform my wax ring into metal, in this case 18 karat white gold. I am capable of this process, but it is more economical and time-saving to outsource the work.

When I receive the metal piece, it has a rough texture and needs to be polished. I have to be careful when polishing a cast ring because I need to maintain the integrity of the stone settings. Once the polishing is almost complete, I start the stone setting.

Stone setting involves a lot of measuring, re-checking, and patience; but it is one of my favorite things to do! After all of the stones were snug in their settings I completed the polishing process.

After snapping a few photos I shipped it off to the customer!