From the Bench · Engagement, Wedding & Anniversary
A Turtle Ring with Sunshine Mine Turquoise
An 18k turtle wedding ring with emeralds, topaz, amethysts, the client's heirloom diamond and custom-cut Sunshine Mine turquoise.
Marcie sent her own drawing of a turtle ring, and two more sketches followed from her phone conversations with Bob.
The stones came first: square emeralds, topaz and amethysts, her heirloom diamond, and turquoise custom-cut from the first samplings of the original Sunshine Mine in Arizona, a mine since worked out of its best stone.
The first wax left out the turquoise; after a couple of phone calls, Carol and Marcie arrived at something right. Several days of carving and fitting followed, then casting, a high hand polish and steam cleaning before the turquoise was finally set.
The making, stage by stage
01The client's original drawing
02Our first sketch
03Our second sketch
04Selecting the stones
05First wax, before the turquoise
06Fitting the turquoise
07After several days of carving
08Cast, stones placed
09The underside
10Polished, before the turquoise is set
11Finished