When it comes to styling choices, I’m passionate about layering and stacking. I love it when an ensemble of simple pieces comes together to create a look with a ton of personality and flair. That’s why I was so thrilled when a client came to me asking for a set of custom layering necklaces made from heirloom stones.
While the final pieces appeared simple on the surface, they were actually a perfect synchronization of hand fabrication, technology, and sentimental touches.
Playing on the Petite Pop
Many of my commission pieces are twists or upgrades on my existing designs, and this one was no different. My client loved the Petite Pop pendant, but she had an heirloom diamond from her mom that was larger than the typical “petite” stone I usually use. It was a whole karat! She also wanted a two-toned look which, in addition to being eye-popping, would make this pendant easier to mix and match with other necklaces. This all sounded great to me!
For this upgraded Petite Pop, I handcrafted the custom 18K yellow gold disk and created a white gold bezel for this stone. The result is a lovely two-toned piece that is both elegant and wearable for every day.
Baguette Bar Beauty
The original diamond was in a setting with tapered baguette diamonds. While I don’t usually incorporate baguettes into my jewelry designs, I was determined to utilize some of these heirloom stones in my client’s second piece. Because of their highly irregular shapes and teeny-tiny size, this was a job that called for some technology… It was time to do some CAD work!
Using CAD (computer-aided design), I created a delicate, flowing bar similar to the Veiled Horizon, that ebbed and flowed along with the shape of each baguette. Each of the six settings was integrated into the bar and the stones were set into prongs, to best highlight the shape of the stone and allow light to get behind them while keeping the profile delicate.
A lot of technology and intricate work went into making this necklace sleek and simple!
A Dynamic Duo
When worn together, these two pieces go from understated to luxurious. They represent all the elements of my design working together in balance: handcrafted and high-tech, modern and classic. I’m so proud of the way this set turned out, and my client loves them too!
