I love when I get to work with past clients on new pieces and this is no exception! My first project with this client was her Regal Rosey Trio, but for this project the focus was on a wedding band for her husband, whose original band was long lost. So, for their upcoming anniversary, my client decided it was time for an upgrade. I was really excited when she completely understood the vision I was going for with this piece and she was 100% on board. Read on to see how this Grandfather's Gift made its debut!
Ready to roll
For this band, my client wanted to incorporate the yellow gold from her grandfather's wedding band that she had been given. This client happens to be a travel blogger (check out her blog here), so her and her husband are constantly on-the-go. She wanted something truly unique that would not only include the sentimentality from her grandfather's wedding band, but also be completely ready to roll on all their adventures.
It started with a sterling silver band that I had been playing around with - smooth, streamlined edges on the side, and a more masculine feel. Patina as a surface finish was going to be key as well. The cool part, we could utilize sterling silver as the base and then incorporate 14 karat yellow gold from her grandfather's band into the piece for a two-tone river feel.
A methodical process
One of my goals for this piece was to be able to directly incorporate her grandfather’s gold into the piece itself. To pull that off, this part of the process had to be extremely methodical. I decided to cut the band in half and flatten it, then use a torch to add my signature ripple effect, then form it back into a now ripple-y ring.
I started by creating the silver band in the proper size, and then went on to splitting the ring (middle image). After that, it was time for the melting and rippling process (image on right). Once all the parts were made, it was time to put the piece together.
Marriage of metals
A precise fit was important for his piece, so I started by laying over the 14 karat yellow gold ripple onto the sterling silver band; and getting the piece ready for heating and soldering. This was a true marriage of metals, so to speak. After getting the piece soldered together and ensuring that the fit was smooth and tight, it was time to get going on the clean-up process.
Wowza!
What a showstopper! The sterling silver band came out perfectly and the 14 karat yellow gold really pops with the patina background. The undulation of the 14 karat is smooth and elegant; and the ring is oh-so-comfortable. Perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle! The design is masculine, yet unique and raw. We also opted to do a matte finish on the silver, so that everything would link together and contain that understated vibe.
As an added bonus, we had just enough metal left over from her grandfather's original wedding band, so we decided to make my client a matching stacking ring as well. I love it when things just work out perfectly! My client was so happy with the final piece! But don't just take it from me, check out this review from my client:
About his “Grandfather’s Gift Band” - “I got it yesterday, and it is beautiful! I can’t wait to give it to him. I don’t know how I’ll wait until May! 😍….. I couldn't wait! I gave it to him early, and he LOVES it. It fits PERFECTLY, and he really likes how light it is.”
About her “Itty Bitty Birthday Band” - "I LOVE IT SO MUCH! I love that it’s dainty, I love that it’s ripply, and I LOVE that it’s my Granddaddy’s. I can’t wait to show it off - adorable!" - WOH
I love it when we can incorporate existing materials to create new pieces in my unique and signature style. While I love to design for women, I also love a good challenge and enjoy creating pieces for men too! Reach out and let's talk about your upcoming project. I'd love to chat and hear your story.
