Jewelry at the Primetime Emmy Awards

September 22nd, 2009 Write Comment jewelry news

You can always expect to see waves of platinum and white diamonds on celebrities at the Emmy Awards, and last night’s festivities were no exception. But look a little more closely and you’ll find some standout colorful gems in the mix. Like Lara Spencer’s turquoise and pink tourmaline cuff bracelet and Melora Hardin’s yellow diamond earrings.

Several women wore dramatic necklaces, including Ginnifer Goodwin, in a rock crystal and diamond piece from Ivanka Trump’s Rose Gold Collection (and made even more striking by Ginnifer’s short haircut).

Photo of Kristin Chenoweth by Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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Weekly Feature – Easy Cuff Bracelet

September 21st, 2009 Write Comment jewelry news


Easy Cuff Bracelet







Even if you aren’t an experienced metalsmith, with a few simple tools, you can make this easy cuff bracelet.



You will need:


Bracelet mandrel

Raw hide hammer

Anvil

Ball peen hammer

Jeweler’s saw and No. 2 blade

Assortment of jeweler’s files

6″ by ½” 16 gauge sterling sheet



1. First use a saw or metal cutting shears to cut a piece of 16 gauge sterling silver sheet into a piece that is 6″ long and ½” wide. Pieces of sheet this size can also be ordered from metal suppliers. They may charge a fabrication fee to precut the piece, but it is very minimal.


2. After cutting the sheet, you may have bent it a little. Don’t worry. Just use a raw hide hammer and anvil to pound the sheet straight again.


3. Next, use shears or a saw to cut off the corners of the rectangle you made in step 1.




4. Now a lot of filing is needed all around the piece of metal. This is required in order to smooth out the rounded ends of the sheet and also on the straight areas so it does not poke or cut the wearer. You will notice the sides of the metal are very sharp. Be careful while handling the strip so you do not cut yourself.


5. Texturing is the next step. Though this is not a required step to make this bracelet, I think it adds a lot to the look and it’s fun to do. Use the round end of the ball peen hammer and lightly tap the strip of metal while holding it on top of the anvil. It does not take a lot of force to create this textured look. Texturing only needs to be added to the side that will be the top (or outside) of the bracelet.




6. Once the piece has been textured, it is time to shape it. I use a round bracelet mandrel, but an oval one would also work. Use your hands to press the sheet (textured side out) around the top part of the mandrel. Hold the sheet against the mandrel with one hand and hit the sheet carefully (watch those fingers!) using a raw hide hammer.




7. Take the sheet off the mandrel and put it on your wrist to see how it lays. Adjust with your hands if necessary.


8. Finally, polish the bracelet using a dremel or polishing wheel.



This cuff bracelet is easy to make and looks great. I wear mine often and have been asked to make a number for friends and family member.




Here’s a printer friendly copy of this file.





All graphics created by Tammy Powley.


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Jewelry Making Hammers

September 20th, 2009 Write Comment jewelry news

It’s hammer time! I had to say that, sorry. Seriously, though, of all the tools you’ll have in your tool box or at your work bench, hammers can be a metal worker’s best friend, and they are really essential to the processes of fabricating metal. Both jewelry makers who work with wire and metalsmiths who work with materials such as metal plating use hammers to harden metals, straighten them, or even texture them sometimes. So they are really tools that are considered multi-taskers.

While there are a surprising variety of hammers available to jewelers, ranging from size and materials they are made of, I’m going to cover two of the “must have” hammers in this article. Most jewelry makers will find over time and practice that they may gravitate to other types of hammers, but this is an individual decision based on preference and the type of jewelry you make. Therefore, while I suggest you have a the two hammers I plan to cover here in your tool box – a rawhide hammer and a ballpein hammer – I also suggest you experiment with other hammers to see how they fit your metal jewelry making needs.

Scroll down and select the next link in this article to learn more about rawhide and ballpein hammers.

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CFE: 500 Silver Jewelry Designs

September 19th, 2009 Write Comment jewelry news

Lark Books has a call for entries for a new book called 500 Silver Jewelry Designs. The publisher is interested in all types of jewelry pieces, such as rings, necklace, earrings, and so on, that focus primarily on silver. At least 80% of the finished jewelry piece must be made from silver. This 400 plus page book will include a variety of designers from all over the world and entries will be juried by Talya Baharal.



The deadline for entries, which requires the submission of high-quality transparencies, slides, or digital images, is December 4, 2009. You can find out all the details about submitting at the Lark Books website.

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