Custom Jewelry & Repair

Using A Sketch To Replicate A Ring Design

There’s not much worse than losing a piece of jewelry that you love. To make things even more difficult, perhaps you don’t even have a good quality picture of the lost jewelry!

This is where drawing a sketch comes in handy. Did you know that is possible to use a sketch or drawing to replicate a ring design?

Even simple sketches can be used as to create a beautiful brand new piece of jewelry that is a replica of the original lost item. It doesn’t need to be elaborate!

THE SKETCH

This client had lost a very unique ring that would have been impossible to find at a local jewelry store, or even online.

By drawing a sketch of the lost ring, I was able to use that sketch to replicate the original ring design and translate it into CAD renderings.

To learn more about the custom process, visit the custom jewelry page.

FIRST DRAFT

CAD rendering of the sketch used to replicate a ring design

The original ring featured a trillion shaped stone, bezel set at an angle. Using the sketch provided, this was the first CAD rendering that I sent to the client.

While this first draft did look like the original, the client decided that she wanted to go with a different stone shape!

That is the really cool thing about designing jewelry with CAD, the design can be tweaked and altered as you go.

REVISIONS

CAD rendering of champagne sapphire bezel ring

The ring design was revised to fit a 1 carat round stone. We decided to keep the bezel setting offset like the original ring.

After these revisions were made and reviewed by the client, the OK was given to have the design cast in metal!

CREATED CHAMPAGNE SAPPHIRE

For the center stone, we decided to go with a beautiful lab-grown champagne sapphire.

Lab-grown gemstones are chemically identical to natural stones found in the earth. There is extra incentive to use these modern stones. Not only are they radiant, but they are also conflict-free!

Modern Goldsmith specializes in creating beautiful jewelry with lab-grown diamonds and lab-grown gemstones. To learn more, please contact us.

BEZEL SETTING

Jewelers vice holding a ring for stone setting

Bezel set stones are an excellent choice for those looking for a setting that is low profile.

This ring was secured in a jewelers vice (pictured above) for the stone setting process. The gold surrounding the stone is hammered down to overlap the edge of the sapphire.

The bezel also provides a lovely accent. Read more about the benefits of bezel settings.

THE FINISHED RING

Final ring from sketch design. 14K yellow gold freeform ring with champagne sapphire

After the ring was fully polished, it was sent out to our excited client. She loved the end result.

In the end we see that starting with nothing but a piece of paper and a pencil can yield beautiful results.

VIDEO

Watch the video to see how this ring sparkles. We love how the champagne sapphire blends so wonderfully with the yellow gold.

How To Turn A Copper Or Brass Ring Into Real Gold

By Leave a Comment

Before & After: A copper ring duplicated in real gold.

Do you own an inexpensive copper or brass ring? There are many of these types of rings out there.

Copper and Brass rings can be gold plated to give the jewelry the appearance of being real gold.

The downside to gold plating is that the plating can eventually wear off and turn your finger black or green.

Have a question about your ring? Ask a goldsmith!

Gold Plating Can Wear Off

The color difference between the shanks of the copper and gold ring is quite remarkable.

A lot of copper rings that have been gold plated can look really good at the beginning. The problem is that over a period of time as the ring is worn, the gold plating will eventually disappear, revealing the copper base metal.

There is also the problem of uneven wear. The gold plating will wear out quicker on some areas of the ring than others. The result is a less than desirable look of copper mixed with flaky gold plating.

Solid Gold Rings Retain Their Gold Appearance

Copper and brass get dulled out and the gold shines on.

The great thing about solid gold rings, is that they will always remain gold. The color wont change to a copper or brass color.

In addition, solid gold will not turn your finger green. The only way a gold ring will have an affect on your finger is if you have an allergy to gold or other metals in the gold based alloy.

Question: Is it possible to re-plate a copper or brass ring with gold?

Answer: Generally it is pretty hard to find a jeweler who would be able or willing to replate a ring with gold plating. One reason is because it is very difficult to achieve consistent results.

Secondly, even if a ring is gold plated again it will inevitability wear out like it already did the first time.

How To Change A Copper or Brass Ring To Real Gold

CAD renderings allow the client to see exactly how a ring will look before it is cast in metal.

We want to help! Get a FREE QUOTE to turn a copper or brass ring into real gold.

Step 1: Copy The Design

Using CAD software, as well as a 3-D jewelry scanner, the original ring design was copied in it’s exactness.

Step 2: The New Ring Is Cast In Gold

The CAD is then used to print a 3D wax, which is then invested and cast in gold. To learn more about the casting process, read here!

Step 3: New Stones Are Set Into the Ring

peridots and diamonds with their brilliance

The new ring was set with marquise shaped peridots and diamonds. These stones will hold up a lot better than the stones in the original copper ring.

Before vs After:

The end result is a brand new ring, cast in solid 14KT yellow gold. This new ring will be one that can last for many many years without fear of discoloration!

The design was copied in it’s exactness and the results speak for themselves!

To see more, I completed a similar project previously. Read about how to turn a “fake” ring into the real thing.

Custom Trillion Birthstone Ring

By Leave a Comment

Trillion Birthstone Ring With Citrine and Peridot

This year for mother’s day, I designed a 14K yellow gold, custom trillion birthstone ring.

This ring features two birthstones, peridot and citrine, cut in trillion shapes and set into a petite yellow gold ring setting.

The ring design was made to have the the trillion stones sitting up right next to each other, with one of the points running horizontally with the ring band.

What are Trillion Shaped Stones?

2 Stone Mother's Ring with Peridot and Citrine.

Trillion gemstones, simply put, are triangle shaped. The biggest differentiation between a trillion and a trilliant or a triangle is that the term trillion is specifically reserved for gemstones.

Oftentimes trillion shaped gemstones are used as accent stones to a main center stone. In this case, the custom trillion birthstone ring was designed to have the stones themselves be the focal point. They get the lead role this time!

For all custom trillion birthstone ring inquires, or any other custom jewelry inquiry, fill out our customization form!

What is the birthstone for the month of August?

3 loose peridot gemstones. A trillion, pear, and oval shape.

The birthstone for the month of August is peridot. This stone is a beautiful yellowish green. It is found naturally in the earth and is also synthetically produced.

Peridot is only a 6.5 to 7 on the scale of mineral hardness, so it is considered “fair” for every day use. The stone should be shielded from heavy blows and worn with care. To learn more, visit the Gemological Institute of America.

What is the birthstone for the month of November?

6 loose citrine gemstones. An antique square, pear, round, and marquise shape.

The birthstone for the month of November is citrine. Citrine has many different shades of yellow, from light translucent yellow to darker shades.

Citrine is rated a 7 on the scale of mineral hardness and will hold up pretty well with every day wear. It is just a bit harder than peridot, but just that small increase can go a long way in a stones durability. To learn more, read about citrine on the GIA’s website.

Custom Trillion Birthstone Ring: Designed with CAD

A CAD rendering of a custom trillion birthstone ring.

The majority of the time when I do a custom ring, I will first design the ring in CAD. I love doing it this way because it gives my clients the opportunity to see what the ring will look like before it is cast in metal!

Once the clients have the renderings delivered to them, they can request any changes they feel necessary, and we can tweak the design as we go.

Once the design is looking just perfect, then we will proceed to the casting process! For more information, feel free to contact us!

Custom trillion birthstone ring with a thin yellow gold band

The end result is a ring that looks nearly identical to the CAD renderings! The best part is, the real ring will always look better in person than in renderings, so if you are feeling excited about what you are seeing on a screen, just wait until you get the real piece of jewelry in your hands.

The weight of the gold, the reflection of the stones, the shine and shimmer. These are things that can only be handled and seen in person, and the end result is so satisfying!

To see more custom projects, browse the portfolio!

Custom Men’s Oval Cufflinks

By Leave a Comment

White gold oval cufflinks — **Custom made oval cufflinks. 14K white gold.**

I recently had the awesome opportunity to make some custom men’s oval cufflinks.

The cufflinks were designed with a thin oval shape and a locking back to keep them in place.

Many cufflinks you find online or in the store will be made out of a non-precious metal (They are usually gold or silver plated), but these cufflinks are special because they are solid 14 karat white gold.

Brush Finish

When creating these cufflinks, the client specifically wanted high quality jewelry that didn’t look too flashy.

One of the best ways to reduce the flashiness of jewelry is to take the bright shine away. By adding a smooth brush finish to the top of the cufflinks, you create a really cool looking texture that is a lot more subtle.

For all custom jewelry inquires, head on over to our customization page!

Hidden Engraving

Probably my favorite aspect of this design was the fact that we included hidden engravings on the back of the cufflinks.

Engravings on cufflinks can be added on the front or the back. Engravings on the front are usually some type of insignia or design, while engravings on the back can be more personal in nature.

The really cool thing about hidden engravings is it makes the custom cufflinks even more meaningful.

Quality Made

14KT white gold cufflinks — **14K quality stamp with custom engravings**.

The custom oval cufflinks were made in solid 14K white gold to make them extra durable.

The great thing about white gold compared to other cufflinks, is that the plating will not wear out. In fact there is no plating at all, so the solid gold will last generations.

How often I see “fake” jewelry that starts to wear out quickly. To learn more about how to turn fake jewelry into the real thing.

Men’s Wedding Band With Flush Set Diamonds

By Leave a Comment

I recently had the opportunity to make a custom 14KT yellow gold men’s band with flush set diamonds.

The ring was made 6mm wide, with 9 flush set diamonds even spaced apart.

Side note: I’m giving away a pair of 14K rose gold earrings for Mother’s Day! Just subscribe here to enter! Giveaway ends May 5.

Each Stone Has Meaning

When I was collaborating with my client, they came up with the super sentimental idea of having one stone for each family member in their life!

I thought this was a super cool idea and contemplated on whether or not the stones should be all close together or spaced out.

Having them close together could have been a nice way to represent a “tight knit” family vibe.

In playing around with the design however, I really liked doing a design where stones were spaced out. It gives more meaning to each individual.

The Custom Design Process

A vast majority of the time that I do custom jewelry, I’m utilizing CAD software to give the client renderings of how a ring will look before it is cast in metal!

This gives the client the opportunity to see in high detail how their ring will look, and they can also request any changes they might want to make to the design.

Want to work with me on a project? Fill out the Custom Jewelry form!

Why Flush Set

Flush set stones are perfect for men’s bands that want to use diamonds, but also keep a masculine appearance.

Flush set stones are also excellent due to their low profile. That means they don’t have any prongs to scratch or snag on anything!