Iolite – water design pendant. A freeform Water design pendant with a bezel set Iolite gemstone. With an antique finish.
Pendant is 4.3 cm long by 1.6 cm wide.
The weight is 4.9 grams.
Included with the pendant is an 18″ Sterling Silver Twisted box chain – also with an antique finish.
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 cut the shape I want from the sheet of silver.
Next, with the softest torch, I roll the edges of the sand-textured silver. 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 then make a bezel wall to exactly fit the gemstone. This is soldered to the base plate. And I attach a bail for the pendant to hang on a chain.
With one final check, I make sure the shape is perfect, and I polish out any scratches or marks from the work process. Then I tumble for work hardening and polishing.
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.
The Argentium silver has been textured, cut to shape, edges rolled, waves and granules fused on, bezel attached, bail soldered on, polished, work hardened and baked.
Now the silver is ready for the gemstone to be set. To set this stone I make sure the bezel walls are exactly the right height, then I carefully bend the silver over the stones edge. Bezel settings are the most secure and protective way to set a gemstone.
A final polish to smooth out the bezel edge and make the silver ‘mirror finish’ shiny. The antique finish is applied after the stone is set, then I polish the top edges for a contrast against the antique base.
And the pendant is ready to be enjoyed for years to come.
