New Ring with 24K inlay

[Jroettger]

Here's a ring I just finished with 24K infinity symbols inlaid with .65 mm diameter wire. I first engraved deeply then got out a .6mm ball bur to finish the inlay channel allowing it to slightly undercut as I went. This is in 14K white gold. It seemed like with the tight curve and the need to be deep for durability the ball burr was my best option.

[nerosrevenge]

That's gorgeous! Do you have any other pics you can post??

STV.

[PatP]

wow, thats pretty cool.

[winstonklein]

A little bit busy looking ,However it is a great piece.

[Steve Lindsay]

That is beautiful! The 24k inlay gives good contrast to the white gold.

[paulcdfoss]

Love the contrast and scroll work in the shoulder. Great piece. I'm Gonna take "That" step some day... and being a busy jeweler, its easy to procrastinate since we own a house together... This combo with an unheated yellow sapph is what is in my head.
Thanks for showing it and would also love to see more pics.
Paul

[handengraverdave]

I know nothing of jewelry but my wife says its really pretty. I think it looks really good maybe somewhat busy but it does give you alot to look at while your waiting in line somewhere. The inlay yellow gold really stands out and looks good.

David

[Jroettger]

Thanks for the compliments and feed back guys. I always find with inlayed jewelry getting the inlay color to "pop" is a challenge. Here it worked well with the smooth yellow contrasting the line pattern graved white.

[Daniel Houwer]

Hi Jroetger,

It looks very nice!
I just wonder, why inlay it and not solder it?
Love the inlay though, just wondering.

Greetings.

Daniel

[Jroettger]

Thanks Daniel, I think the one step inlay technique is easier than soldering and plenty adequate to retain the wires for a lifetime in the specific area they are set. In the solitaire ring pictured above I used a round engraver to cut the channel including the undercut. I then hammered in .5mm round wire. After hammering it flush I gently hammered the white gold around it to to ensure it was tight to the maximum. I have done some similar work (pictured below) with the wires tapering to a fine end and I used solder to tack the ends down to ensure they wouldn't lift out during the life time of wear to come. I also soldered the junction area. The inlay on these bands is more exposed to wear and so I added the solder step too.

[airamp]

The craftsmanship in these two rings is just world class. Clean, bright, great design and the yellow gold just accents perfectly in these excellently crafted rings in my opinion.

Thank you for sharing, I am sure it will always bring smiles to the owners.

AirAmp

[plat955]

Hello Jroettger,

I had to take a peak at your Website and it isn't very often to stumble across jewelry as well executed as yours. Your stone setting is outstanding... absolutely perfect!

Just curious... I saw a ring with the sides carved in deep relief and no borders. Was this carved in wax first? or directly in the metal.

Thank you, and again it was a pleasure to see your work.
Jason

[Jroettger]

Thanks for the compliments airamp and plat955. Plat955 I think you may be referring to the fancy colored diamond ring with the sides patterned. That was both wax carved and engraved. The things with undulating surfaces are first wax carved and the things with "plane based" surfaces are only engraved. I actually learned engraving by using engravers to clean up and detail my early wax castings. I've kind of lost patience for wax carving because I really don't enjoy working with wax as much as metal. However I have also recently been rediscovering the value of a beautifully carved wax foundation as a basis for ring form not to mention good wax forms can be molded. I fabricate a lot of jewelry too with no wax carving because the metal is so much harder and holds the detail twice as long as cast metal.

[plat955]

Thank you for your detailed response. I agree with your comments on wax forms. Almost all the jewelry work I do is fabricated and wish that I could start with a basic cast form. It would certainly save alot of time...LOL again thanks. It was a pleasure.