Jewelry — Makeshift Design

Digital Jewelry Design

One of Dave’s interests as a digital designer is 3D modelling, and particularly transferring 3D designs into physical objects using 3D printing. We have some experience using third party groups (such as Materialise and Shapeways) to produce bespoke jewelry designs. We’re also looking into manufacturing our own jewelry using resin or ceramics; watch this space for more information on that!

Lost-Wax Cast Metal Jewelry

For most of our metal jewelry, we make use of third party manufacturers who use a lost-wax casting process to produce our pieces. The design is printed in high-detail wax, which is then moulded in investment plaster before molten metal is poured in to cast the design. Several different metals are available, including copper, brass, bronze, silver and gold, although we have found that copper-based alloys like brass are not suitable for rings (they tend to turn the skin green!)

This process is quite expensive for producing stock designs, and while we find the surface quality charming we’re aware that it’s not at the same high standard you might expect from traditional jeweller’s techniques. However, the process does allow us to make one-off designs, for example incorporating text such as names or expressing a sentiment that is personal to you or a loved one, so we think they could make excellent bespoke gifts.

The price is based on the size and complexity of the piece, but for rings and small pendants probably vary from around £40 to £100.

While jewelry can be manufactured in precious metals such as 925 silver (i.e. Sterling silver) and gold (14k or 18k), we do not get them hallmarked as standard, because it’s quite expensive for one-off pieces. While this is okay for small silver jewelry (which can be sold unhallmarked up to 7g, about the weight of a normal sized ring), any pieces outside this range must be sold as "white metal” or “yellow metal”, with no guarantee of the alloy. We’re happy to get any piece you want to buy hallmarked, but be aware it might be a significant fraction of the cost of the piece!

Engagement Ring, Silver with Malachite Stone

This is an early design for Madeleine’s engagement ring, showing a leaf and vine design. It’s sterling silver with a patina to emphasise the detail, set with an oval cabochon of malachite.

Because this is very close to the final design of Madeleine’s wedding jewelry, this exact design is not for sale, but gives and example of the kind of jewelry we can produce.

Wedding Jewelry, Silver with Amazonite stone

The next iteration of Madeleine’s wedding jewelry, this time set with a round cabochon of Peruvian Amazonite. The prototype wedding band matches the leaves-and-vines design, and is contoured to match the larger engagement ring. These rings are in sterling silver with a patina to enhance the detail. Notice the minor printing artefacts on the fine detail, giving a slightly rustic effect to the rings; in some cases this could be polished away, but where it forms part of the intricate detail of the design this isn’t possible. Again, since this is the design for Madeleine’s wedding jewelry, these designs are not for sale but are an example of the kind of work we can produce.

Be Still and Know

This is a bespoke design for my mother-in-law, who asked for a ring with a line from Psalm 46, as a daily reminder to find peace in the midst of the stresses of life. The text “Be Still and Know that I am God” is presented as script cast into the face of the ring, with small quatrefoils as decoration around the shank. The ring is cast in silver, with a patina applied to bring out the detail.

Our Wedding Rings

These are the final versions of our wedding jewelry, in the lovely sunshine on our wedding day in 2019. Dave’s wedding band has a stylised DNA double helix incorporated into the band, made in sterling silver with a patina applied to bring out the design. Madeleine’s rings are in 14 carat gold, with a leaf-and-vine design on both the engagement ring and the wedding band. The engagement ring is set with a round cabochon opal, showing off it’s fire in the sunshine.

Cinquefoil Pendant

One of my earliest attempts at digital jewelry design, this pendant is inspired by gothic architecture. The centre of the brass pendant includes a five-leafed design based on the tracery of stained glass windows, with fifteen small five-petalled flowers linking it to an outer ring. The edge of the ring is set with fifteen small loops, two of which have been attached to a silver chain using jump rings.

Sterling Silver Scarf Ring

Another gift for my mother-in-law, this time a commission from her husband as a Christmas present. The scarf ring has three loops to clasp silk or chiffon scarves. It has a geometric design, incorporating the elegant curves of the loops. The material is sterling silver, with a patina applied to emphasise the detail of the design. Note that this design is heavier than 7g, so could not be sold as silver without a hallmark.

Robot Pendant

More of a sculpture than a pendant, this design shows of the intricacy possible in using digital design to produce jewelry. The print is in brass, with a patina applied to emphasise the detail. Brass tarnishes much faster than silver, but can be quickly brought back to a shine with polish like Brasso. It’s also not suitable for rings or jewelry worn against the skin, since it’s prone to staining the skin green, but is excellent for pendants, brooches and miniatures.

Wax Seal Stamp

Another print associated with our wedding, we decided to try making a wax seal stamp, with a view to adding an elegant, personal touch to our wedding stationery. There are two designs on each end of the stamp, each incorporating our initials (M&D) and the year of our wedding (2019), which work well when pressed into sealing wax. The stamp is about the diameter of a UK 5 pence piece, and approximately one inch tall. This kind of seal could also be designed to be mounted on a wooden press, or incorporated into a signet ring (for example, as part of LARP costume).

Dwemer Spider

Any player of The Elder Scrolls Online should recognise the cutest animunculi, ancient machines left the ancient and mysterious Dwemer. This is not jewelry at all, but a miniature sculpture in brass, showing the excellent fine detail of the process, especially for intricate steampunk-style designs incorporating many cogs and gears.

Scarab Pendant

I was a little disappointed with this design for a steampunk-inspired mechanical scarb pendant. The outer casing is in brass, but It incorporates a model of some gear mechanisms inside the scarab in sterling silver, however as it turns out the silver part is difficult to see, and is no longer accessible for cleaning so is liable to tarnish. While it’s shown as a miniature, it does incorporate a bail and can be worn as a pendant.