London topaz ring – size 8.25 – pebbles Argentium silver – 1 carat
The Pebbles design is an intricate layering of beach inspired pebbles. I start with I layer of Argentium silver ‘pebbles’ and then fuse and add more until a balanced and sparkly panel of pebbles is created.
This ring is a size 8.25
with a 1 carat London blue Topaz in a bezel setting.
Band is 2 cm wide at front and 1 cm wide in the back.
Weight is 11.3 grams
LAND * I am * SOURCE ENERGY OF ROCK – Steadfast – Confident – Eternal – Nurturing
The pebbles designs are inspired by our favourite beaches – on the east shores of the Kootenay Lake. It always makes me happy making these designs.
To make the Pebbles design rings I start by laying out the larger sized silver ‘pebbles’ and fusing them together. Then, while the silver is still hot, I lay out a second layer of smaller silver rings – and fuse again. After I clean the silver and check the design, I often go back and add one more layer of silver rings – just to make sure the design is perfect.
Then I make a bezel to perfectly fit the gemstone. I choose a spot on the band for the stone, and smooth it out to seat the bezel. Then I curve the bezel to fit the curve of the ring. Now that everything fits perfectly together I can carefully solder the bezel to the band.
Lots of cleaning and polishing and baking – Argentium has the extra step of heating the silver to set the Germanium and make the silver whiter and slower to tarnish than Sterling silver – and the stone can be set.
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.
