Mikla, can you, or OMC, or David, or anyone else who has lived thru the process tell me something?  How long a process is it from initial design to wax cast to finished product?  Assuming, of course, that not too many snags hit the works.    

I've never done a custom design before; and also of course, I'm anxious to see what comes of Li'l BLOOO.  Truly, I've got no clue concerning the process that has just started.  I can't bug David to hold my hand throughout the entire process.   You know how good he is about updates, but I'm talking the overall big picture.  

Agree, give or take a week...

Thanks, so much Mikla, OMC, and Trinkette.  This is precisely the information for which I was looking.

Thanks, David. 

I knew when you had told me about the change to the side stones, that we had hit a sizable snag.   Since I never had a clue how close BLOOO had gotten to a wax cast, or how long it took to get from design to wax cast, assuming all the best timing in the world, of course; I wasn't sure how much the timeline was impacted.   

So for me,  it's a very good thing to have at least a rough aproximation of the time it takes to make it through each major phase; not to mention the qualifiers for natural timeline extensions like conventions, vacations, major holiday rushes and overload periods. 

Of course, we all know I have the patience of a cat on a hot tin roof - but hey!  I'd rather dance a little longer and have the results up to DBL standards.  I know it will be well worth the wait.   

Those are 3 very different models.  Why is the first one so much more detailed, compared to the 2cd one? 

I'll simplify this- mainly because I'm not an expert, but I have a good working understanding.

The lost wax process is one of the main methods used in jewelry manufacture.
The first step involves creating a wax model of the piece. More on how that is done below.
We take the wax model and pour plaster around it.
Then you let the plaster harden.
Then you bake the plaster- melting the wax, and leaving a perfect "impression" of the wax model.
Then molten metal- platinum or gold- is poured into - or injected into- the plaster impression.
After the gold or platinum hardens, the plaster is broken away, and you have your part.

Many of the rings we manufacture have quite a few parts. Unless we craft the part in platinum or gold, by hand, each of them must be created in this manner.
It's far easier to work in wax, which is why most parts are made using the lost wax process.

So- back to creating the wax model.
One method involves using a computer. CAD- Computer Aided Design.
The computer inputs the precise measurements of the diamond, and the ring is designed around it.
There's a lot of rings which are perfectly suited to this type of design. Like anything else, there's people that are far better than others- so quality varies.
Here's a design idea someone sent us. and the wax model we made- after repeated attempts.
It was not an easy one.
This is what we worked off of:



Here's the wax



The second method of working with wax is when it's carved by hand.
There's advantages to both methods.
Hand carving can result in a piece that looks ...handmade.
Some people prefer that look.

This is so incredibly cool, Mikla and David; and makes it so much more relevant to know a bit about the projects and the challenges that had to be surmounted.  So what type and color of surprise stones are you planning on using in the 3 stone, Mikla?

So now, I can understand better.  The original design for BLOOO didn't really work out to DBL standards because of the microscopic size of half moons required for a well proportioned, triple halo ring.  That had to happen at almost the end of building the model.   And then using larger, and unframed, side stones made the shoulders need to be changed, as well.  So the bell has rung on round 3 of the design/modelling discovery process. 

I feel sort of sorry for the guys that build the models, or maybe very grateful for their perseverance and dedication to the craft.  I know how frustrated I get when I have to rework a module.  Most times, I'd prefer to toss the whole shebang out and start from scratch. 

 

That is a beautiful combination, Mikla.  I LOVE the color of the sapphires and the rounded trilliant shape.  That is going to be super when it's complete.

Way cool lesson on wax molds David. It just goes to show you what goes into making a custom ring.

Gotta agree. Gorgeous hue of purple and curvaceous, that pair of trilliants rock!

Thanks DL!

Part of the really interesting part of these type of jobs is the "translation"

When DL sent the design ideas, the shank was as you see it now- kind of square on the outside as opposed to totally rounded- but slightly more exaggerated.
Our main designer in this case is a woman- and she used the idea DL had, but gave it a more practical overall outline- softened it up a bit.
Of course we were thrilled when DL approved the look.
Now it's a bit of a waiting game.
As this is a total one of a kind ring, we've never made one before- and we're ALL very excited to see the finished product!!

Very interesting information about how the process takes place! 


Mikla - I LOVE the color combo!


DL - I think the kites are the perfect compliment to the Pink Lady.  I can't wait to see the finished product!

DL, that's going to be awesome!!  Are the kites going to be set flush into the shoulders with prongs or a bezel? The graduated, angled shoulders really do put the focus on the pear shape so it looks smooth and elegant; the center of the universe!  I LOVE this diamond and the kites are just over the top.  This is going to be a stunning ring and I can't wait to see how it turns out!

   Mikla