Sterling Silver & Turquoise

Exhibit A

I've been wanting to make a ring from scratch. Not like scratches on the silver, but like
*from* scratch. Literally.

Never mind. 

So today I cut the band for this ring and proceeded.
I'm sure you already know that you can buy all kinds of
bands of silver to be used for the shank, but it was fun making my own.

All the Parts...well, most of them.

The Foredom flex shaft saved me a TON of time with the sanding.

It went soooo much faster than doing it all by hand.

Casting Grain used for Trim

A bit of design was added to the band with my stamping sets and a 

bit more was added by soldering on a few balls of silver casting grain.

The stone is a 6.5 karat Turquoise...with a very high dome. I helped it

sit up a little higher by putting a step under it.

From this view you can see more of the design on the band in addition to the
little balls of silver casting grain to the sides.  In this shot, it has also been dunked in
Liver of Sulfur for some dimension.

And I even got to use my .925 stamp for the first time.

It's just so much fun playing with metal.

And *bonus* --- the assembly was smooth & the ring fits! I thought

the band might feel too wide, but it doesn't. It's 6mm wide and very comfortable. 

I'm trying to find a happy medium between brushed and shiny for the finish. 

I think I'm almost there. 

Next week I get to go to a Gem & Mineral show. I can't wait!

So that's my Sunday.

How was yours?

Carpe Diem!

-L