green amethyst ring – Argentium silver
Green Amethyst is a relatively unknown stone. It is purple Amethyst that has been heat treated to alter the colour – and this elegant, subtle green is the result. It is permanent, and it does not damage the value or quality of the stone. This sparkler is 2.5 carats brilliant cut – bezel set on a water design band.
The ring is a size 9.75
the band is 1.9 cm wide in the front and .8 cm wide in the back.
Such a beautiful combination – the subtle green of the gemstone on the amazing white of Argentium silver.
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.
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.
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.
