This lovely ring features a freeform rosecut blue-gray sapphire and a sterling silver cast succulent blossom. In normal to low light, the stone looks dark blue to almost black. I bright light, the stone looks, light blue to gray. The sapphire has been set in fine and sterling silver. The band has been heavily hammered giving it an uneven rustic yet elegant feel.
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My process: I sized the bezel to fit the cabochon and then soldered it closed. The bezel was then soldered to a piece of 22 g sterling silver. The flower casting was then soldered to the backplate just above the bezel. The backplate was cut down to the appropriate size and shape using a jeweler's saw and then hand filed for smooth edges. The flattened wire was then cut to size and shaped into a ring using a ring mandrel and hammer. The ring band was then soldered to the back of the backplate and hammered to create texture. The entire ring took a short bath in a silver blackener. The ring was then polished leaving enough of the darker finish to bring out the detail. The finished ring setting then took a spin in the tumbler to shine and harden. Finally, the stone was set and the final polish was completed.
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For my fellow rock geeks: Sapphires are blue corundum. Rubies are red corundum. Any other shade of corundum is considered a fancy sapphire and should list the color, such as pink sapphire.
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Materials: Fine silver, Sterling silver, Sapphire
Dimensions: approximately 13/16" (20.6 mm) tall by 5/8" (15.9 mm) wide. The hammered band is size 9 1/2.
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Please keep in mind that all pieces of jewelry from Tabby Cat are handmade using natural gemstones. Handmade means that there may be marks from the tools used in the process of making the setting. Natural gemstones are just that- natural. They may have pits in the surface or inclusions visible in transparent and translucent stones. These things just add to the charm of piece.