Everything Old Is New Again

From this:

Diamond tension set in aircraft grade titanium

 

To this:

Lesley's sketch - a very good attempt at putting my words into a design

 

 

To this:

Contouring band (image courtesy of Finlayson Goldsmiths)

 

Notching, fitting together (image courtesy of Finlayson Goldsmiths)

 

Checking diamond placement (image courtesy of Finlayson Goldsmiths)

 

 

To this:

Same diamond channel set in woven 18k white and rose gold bands

 

Left side view - rose gold band on bottom

 

Right side - rose gold band on top

 

I took my wedding ring off almost 15 months ago. It was sitting in a pouch in my jewelry box. I offered to give it back to Dave, he declined and said to keep it.  As much as a liked my wedding ring I couldn't continue to wear it as it was.  I had taken it to a couple of jewelers in the lower mainland, but no-one really seemed to able to put my words into a design.  Most jewelers suggested putting the diamond into a prong setting, but to me that was too much like an engagement ring and that I didn't want.

 

So the ring continued to hide a way in a black drawstring pouch in a jewelry box in my storage locker. Dave and I didn't have any children, so there wasn't a daughter to hand it down to.  Such a waste. I thought about selling it. But I am quite like the diamond.  I also thought about resetting it as a pendant rather than a ring.  Then a new friend here on the Coast suggested Finlayson Goldsmiths in Gibsons and I made an appointment with Lesley.

 

Weeks later after an in person meeting and mulitple emails back and forth about what I did and didn't like, we agreed on a design, I took a deep breath and left my ring with Lesley. Lesley and Ian then proceeded to turn my works and Lesley's paper sketch into reality.  Lesley sent photos throughout the process and I met with Lesley and Ian about midway through to approve the work that had already been done and give the final go ahead to permanently set everything in place.

 

I think the whole process took about 2 months, may be a little longer. But I am really pleased with the result.  The ring is a little thicker, wider, taller and heavier than I am used to wearing, so it was taken a few weeks to adjust to wearing it. I like that I can still see the whole diamond, not just the top. I like the one rose gold band in amongst the white gold. I like that the band is wavy.  I like.

 

 

I guess this means I can cross #38 off my to do list!