tanzanite on water earrings – circle with cut-out – antique
With a tanzanite teardrop. The antique finish is permanent and it never needs polishing.
Earrings are 5.3 cm long by 2.8 cm wide.
They weigh 7.0 grams.
WATER * I Change * FLOWING FORMLESSNESS – Transformative – Playful – Balance – Passionate
Argentium Silver is a high quality silver with a silver content of 940. 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.
For the ‘waves’ design (in the Water Design group) I start by imprinting Argentium silver sheet with sand – for a nice beach texture. Then I cut out matching shapes of silver for an earring pair. I always make my earrings in pairs, so that the final earrings are a ‘mirror’ pair – a left and right earring.
Next, with the softest torch, I roll the edges of the sand-textured silver pieces. I carefully and gently melt the edge, just until the silver begins to ‘roll’.
Once I have the soft edges done, I lay out silver waves and granules, to mimic the water and pebbles of a beach shore, and then fuse them permanently in place.
I like to ‘dap’ these little silver pieces. I gently tap the silver into a cup or dome shape. The dapping makes the silver three dimensional, instead of flat silver.
For post earrings I mark the placement of the post – and solder on a post of standard thickness that will fit the Argentium silver butterfly perfectly.
For a dangle earring I either drill a hole to attach the ear wire, or solder on a connecting loop, with which to attach either ear wires or gemstone dangles.
Argentium silver has one extra step. It must be heated. This brings the Germanium to the surface to protect the silver – slowing down tarnish and creating a very white, scratch resistant surface.
With one final check of the silver earrings pieces, I perfect the shape and polish out any scratches or marks from the work process. Then I tumble for work hardening and polishing.
These Argentium silver pieces have been textured, edges rolled, waves and granules fused on, dapped, polished, work hardened and baked.
And, finally, the silver earrings are ready for gemstones.
Every earring goes through this entire process. It is one of my favourite designs and I enjoy making them.
I hand make all the earwires and posts with Argentium Silver, so all my earrings are nickel-free.
