Category Archives: Argentium Silver

A Different Type of Boulder Opal

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As you may know, by now, I love designing settings for un-drilled gemstones and cabochons.  A cabochon is a stone that is cut so it’s flat on one side and not usually polished.  The other side of the stone is finished and usually has curved angles from the bottom of the stone towards the center.  This characteristic allows the stone setter, me in this case, to easily set the stone in metal.

I like to use metal wire for my metal stone settings: Sterling Silver (.925 Silver), Argentium Silver (.930 Silver), 14kt Gold-Filled, and 14kt Gold.  With this said, this post is about a setting for a Boulder Opal. This Boulder Opal isn’t from Australia.  This stone is from Guatemala.  I didn’t know Boulder Opals could come from other places.  I learn something new every day.

I used 22 gauge Argentium Silver 1/2 hard square wire.  Notice the unique shape of the stone.  It’s triangular with rounded corners.  Instead of setting the stone at a straight angle, I chose to set it just off of the angle.  I think it gives the stone a softer appearance.  If you would like to see this stone in person, you can visit my friend Carol Garsten at Nature Gallery in Downtown Los Altos, CA., at –

296 State Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
650 327 8700

Once again, I hope you enjoy viewing this design creation as much as I enjoyed making it. By the way, I’ve attached before the setting and after the setting images for your viewing pleasure.

Guatemalan Boulder Opal Before Setting for Nature Gallery

Guatemalen Bould Opal For Nature GalleryCheers and Happy Super Bowl 50!!!!

 

A Basket Full of Rubies!!!

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O.K., maybe I’m overstating it a little.  What I really mean is here’s the latest addition to:

The “I AM” Collection by Eveolution Jewelry ® – 

While I was getting ready for work one day, recall I am also an Accountant some of the time, I came up with a new design for my latest collection.  I decided a Sterling Silver  basket weave tube bead would make a cool pendant.  I closed both ends with very nice American Blue Turquoise roundel beads and filled the inside of the cut out tube with tiny Ruby beads.  The Rubies are free flowing inside of the tube and are meant to move around.  The Turquoise beads keep the Rubies from escaping.  I added an “I AM ART” tag to the pendant and suspended it from a fine gauge Sterling Silver chain.

I AM ART with Ruby and Turquoise Pendant

Now That’s a Pearl!!!!

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This post is all about a white fresh water pearl pendant.  It’s not just any pearl pendant, it’s a huge beautiful pearl set in 12 wires of 20 gauge 1/2 hard square Argentium Silver wire, with 8 warps of 21 gauge half-round Argentium Silver wire.

The pearl itself is 2+1/4″ high by 1+1/2″ wide (at is biggest point).  Believe it or not, this pearl pendant started out as a bead.  There is a tiny hole drilled at the strangest angle.  It  would have looked really weird strung in a necklace.  I honestly don’t know what the person was thinking when he or she looked at this work of art…

I decided to make this pearl into a lovely big statement pendant.  The pendant can be worn on both sides, depending on preference.  As the images show, the pendant is finished on both sides  Actually, it is finished on all sides.  I hope you enjoy this work of art as much as I enjoyed designing and assembling it.  The retail price of this lovely pendant is:  $995.  If interested in purchasing this lovely design, go to my “Design Gallery” page and select it to buy this one of a kind design.  Or, you can contact me at tracy@eveolutionjewelry.com.  Cheers:)

Fresh Water Pearl Pendant

Fresh Water Pearl Pendant Set in Argentium Silver Wire

 

Alternate Image for Fresh Water Pearl Pendant

Second View of Fresh Water Pearl Pendant

 

 

Deep Blue Pietersite

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Blue Pietersite Set in Sterling Silver and Argentium Silver Wire

A lovely 30x22mm deep Blue Pietersite is artisan bezel set in four strands of Sterling Silver and Argentium Silver wire

The gemstone known as Pietersite was discovered by Sid Pieters in 1964 while he was prospecting in Namibia, Africa.  Pietersite is a very lovely quartz gemstone and can also be known as Eagle’s Eye.  This lovely example shows a deep blue color.  There is also a striking golden bronze hue.  For this design, I used four strands of Sterling Silver 1/2 hard 22 gauge wire and incorporated five Argentium Silver 1/2 hard 1/2 round wraps to form the bezel setting.  Note the decorative spirals at the top and a double bail to suspend this lovely piece from a chain or cord.  I hope you enjoy viewing and learning about it as much as I enjoyed making it.  To purchase this design, contact me at: tracy@eveolutionjewelry.com.  Thanks!

Welcome!

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Multi-Color Flower Agate for Kristy

Flower Agate Cabochon Set in 5 Strands of Sterling Silver Wire

Thanks for stopping by to visit my Eveolution Jewelry blog…My jewelry designs are all about the stories behind the art – As time moves forward, I will feature a new jewelry design. I’ll include a description of the item, the inspiration that guided the design, and points of interest.

Now, for the story about this lovely Agate and Silver wire-wrapped pendant.  Friends of ours live in New Mexico.  One day, we stopped by (O.K. – we flew from the Northern California Bay Area, rented an SUV, and drove to visit our friends living in a small town close by Santa Fe.  While checking out some lovely rocks sitting in a shallow bowl, in the dining room area, I found this lovely Agate cabochon.  I asked if I could borrow it and make a setting for it?  Of course, my friend Kristy said.  My lovely friend, Kristy, got this great pendant, and my husband Kelly and I picked up and adopted a very cute and sweet sighthound-mix dog named Izzy.  Kristy and her husband rescued and rehabilitated Izzy from a dog fighting ring environment.  I am not making this up!  One never knows where a rock will lead you…

With this said, I hope you enjoy this first, very special design and I welcome you back, anytime, to view the design gallery. My intricate plan, yeah – right, is to add a new design image once every month or two.  While I love jewelry design, I do have another business, Iron Dragonfly Inc., that provides accounting, bookkeeping, and small business coaching to a number of clients.  This business does take up a certain number of hours in my day, week month.  We will see if I can meet this lofty goal. In the meantime, enjoy!!!!