tanzanite ring – size 12 – Argentium silver waves – 4 carat
The accent stone is a cabochon cut Tanzanite – a 4 carat oval in a bezel setting. The beautiful natural inclusions add to the beauty of this gemstone.
The ‘waves’ design starts with imprinting Argentium silver sheet with sand – for a nice beach texture. Then I cut my bands to size and shape. Then, with the softest torch, I roll the edges by carefully and gently melting the edges. Tricky – but I love the soft, organic edge. Now I can shape the flat band into a ring.
Once I have chosen my gemstone for the ring, I can make the bezel. Sometimes with a full backplate, and sometimes I grind the bezel edges to a curve to fit the bands curve.
I line everything up and solder the bezel to the band. I check my fit, and now I can begin to clean up the solders and start to polish the ring. For Argentium silver, to set the Germanium and prevent tarnish, there is one extra step. You heat the finished jewellery – before you attach any gemstones – to bring the Germanium to the surface and protect the silver – slowing down tarnish and creating a very white, scratch resistant surface.
For this ring I have added an antique finish. The antique finish is permanent and it never needs polishing.
Once everything is just perfect, the stone can be set. This involves grinding the bezel to the perfect height for the stone. Making a ‘seat’ for the stone, if necessary. And then carefully pushing the silver bezel edges over the gemstone sides to permanently set the stone in place. The bezel setting is the strongest setting for gemstones, and it also protects the stones edge from impacts and getting chipped.
WATER * I Change * FLOWING FORMLESSNESS – Transformative – Playful – Balance – Passionate
This ring is a size 12.
The front is 1.9 cm wide. The back is 0.8 cm wide.
The weight is 12.3 grams.
Argentium Silver is a high quality silver with a silver content of 94% (Sterling is 92.5%). It has the unique feature of having a small amount of Germanium added. Argentium Silver is whiter, harder and slower to tarnish. And it is always nickel-free.
