Category: showpiece

The conclusion of any jewelry piece is putting on the final polish. As you have observed there are many details in building a piece. These details add a great deal to the overall beauty of the brooch.

All of the pieces to this brooch have been made and now it’s time to assemble everything together. I will do so by soldering them in place.

So far creating this piece has comprised of many basic jewelry techniques: sawing, soldering, casting and now the one of the most traditional methods utilizing a hammer and anvil – forging.

Now that the two main pieces – the Ammolite’s Bezel and repousse gold – have been welded together, I can begin the wax carving step for the accent stones.

Now that I have finished the repousse and the bezel for the ammolite, it’s time to start piecing together the brooch. I have to be certain of the layout and how both sections relate to the center fire opal gem. I will accomplish this mostly using the laser welder.

As I continue to build the Ammolite Brooch I have decided to create a gold shape using an ancient technique called repoussé. It will be opposite of the bezel set ammolite. It is a method of metalsmithing that I enjoyed in school.

The ammolite will be set in a full bezel; a narrow band that follows the entire contour of the gem. The height of the bezel is just slightly higher than the thickness of the gem so when it is pushed over (set) it will secure the gem in place.

I like the free form shape of the ammolite in contrast with the traditional round cut of the fire opal. I also like the variation in shapes, textures and even brilliance.

Showpiece; a jewelry piece created to enter into a “show” or competition. It is not commissioned by a customer or to fill the jewelry case. It is a jewelry creation that may take many hours to complete. A showpiece should challenge your jewelry skills at every level… without a concern about it selling.