Design Process

I begin the jewelry design process by drawing a series of designs to complement and enhance the shape and color of the selected gemstone or suite of gemstones. Then I choose the one design which is the most striking and begin the process of creating a wax model of the selected design.

I create the wax model by building up layer after layer of wax, filing and then shaping after each layer. Creating the wax model is the most time consuming part of the process and can take up to 50 hours to complete.

Once I am satisfied with my wax creation I prepare it for casting: the process of turning the "positive" wax model into a "negative" plaster model and then, finally, into the "positive" gold model. After casting I begin the process of finishing the piece. Following a series of sawing, filing, sanding, and pre-polishing steps, the resulting semi-finished piece of jewelry is ready for stone setting.

After I have set all the stones, I begin the final sanding, finishing and polishing of the piece. I then inspect it with a 10-power magnification to see if I can find any casting blemishes. If I detect any, I correct the blemishes and again finish and polish the piece until it is perfect.

The whole process from beginning to end is very time consuming. With many hours invested in each piece, I only produce about 60 pieces a year. My collection consists of approximately 85% rings and 10% pendants and approximately 90% are one of a kind pieces.