My opal project

[packrat]

Thought I would ask for some thoughts on what to do w/my opal. I''ve got a couple different ideas I''ve been tossing back and forth. I''m not sure if I would do a pendant or a ring. I think one way and then I think the other.

Here is one picture of it. It''s 8x6.

 

[packrat]

Crap. I gotta resize the other one. hold on a sec.

 

[packrat]

Not the best pictures I know. It''s a lavender color w/all kinds of other shimmery colors mixed in.

I know I''ve told the story a bazillion times, but this opal is special to me. When Grampa was alive Grampa and Gramma used to spend a few months every year in Australia, and they had a guy in their congregation who owned an opal mine (if I remember correctly) and this is one of the opals that Grampa mined and cut himself. I was born on Grampa''s birthday, as he predicted I would be, and we always were very close.

Anyway, so I want to do something nice with it, but I''m not sure what. I''ll post my ideas next.

 

[packrat]

One pendant idea I had was to bezel the opal and then do 3 small pink tourm cabs in each corner, prong or bezel set, and the idea came from this ring here.

Maybe rose gold around the pink tourms? I thought cab tourms b/c it''s the other October birthstone and I thought cabs would work better than faceted stones.

Then the other idea is along the lines of this JM ring. I dig the double bezels. I thought the kite sets could be pink tourm cabs (again maybe w/rg around them). It could either be a ring or the same design as a pendant hanging down. I don''t know how that would look in wg tho-I like the yg and the antiquing on the ring, but I think white metal is the best for the opal.

Anyway, that''s what I''ve got so far. Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful!

 

[packrat]

maybe this picture will work

 

[DistinctionJewelry]

I would never, ever advise someone to set a sentimentally valuable opal in a ring.

They are fragile, temperamental stones and not great candidates for rings in the first place, but especially not when the stone means a lot to you. I would suggest having it set as a pendant.

 

[VapidLapid]

I would get another one the same size and make little ear pendants.

 

[packrat]

VL-that would be cute but I don''t wear earrings anymore. Could start I guess tho, right?

Jessi, yeah, you''re probably right! I wouldn''t want to take any chances with it.

What do you guys think of the 2 pendant ideas then? Or do you have any other ideas if you don''t like these?

 

[Upgradable]

I LOVE the pendant idea with the little tourmalines!!! And it would be close to your heart.

 

[PumpkinPie]

I think it would make a lovely pendant. I like both setting ideas - particularly the kite set tourmalines!

 

[packrat]

Close to my heart, that''s right Uppy, good point! I was thinking I''d have 10-29 or Love inscribed someplace..the back or something..that''s our birthday, and Love is what Grampa always called me. (well, that and Mitzy-he could not say Missi for the life of him haha)

So that''s one vote for each..tough decision. I *think* if I smile pretty at JD I might be able to get it for my birthday.

 

[Indylady]

Another vote for a pendant! Definitely safer and I like that it would be close to your heart as Uppy said.

 

[ma re]

Definately pendant! Your ideas sound lovely, it''s just that I''m having problems actually seeing (in my head) how the stones would work together in terms of colors etc. I worry that tourmalines could take too much attention from the opal, and being such an important piece to you, I''d make sure it''s the star of the show. But I might be paranoid.

When you said it''s an opal project and mentioned CS sides, my first impression was that you should go with a design that is somewhat...exotic, oriental, ehtnic or something of the sort. I''d, for instance, think about bezeling the opal in white polished metal, but create a wide frame around the bezel (like THIS, hope the link works), and make it frost finished i.e. snowy white. Then I''d add some diamond-cut (some call it laser finished) scrolls or do some engravings (something ornamental like that) on top of the frosted finish, so that you get various textures - highly polished pattern on top of a crisp white background, and a highly polished bezel in the center, holding your opal. Then I''d add those tourmalines on the left and right of the stone, setting them in rose gold bezels (if RG is what you want) inside that opal''s frame.

Basically it would look quite similar to the example in the link, but with just two side stones and with different metal, it''s decorations and finishes. Shape of the frame can also be whatever you wish, if you want it to follow the opal''s outline, that would look great too.

 

[chrono]

A 3 stone pendant is a great idea; it exposes the opal to a lot less damage and the side stones will add visual excitement to the entire package. However, because the opal is mostly white with a light colour play, you’ll need to take care that the side stones do not overpower the opal. It either needs to be a subdued colour or something pretty small to only accent the opal.

 

[velouriaL]

I like the pendant idea, too.

Or what about building a JTK key around it?

 

[packrat]

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Ma Re, thanks for the picture link-I''ll save it and maybe an idea will spring up from it!

The key idea is a nice one too, Velouria!

It''s a good thought about not overpowering the opal and finding a way to accent it..I hadn''t given that the slightest thought. In *my* head it''s center stage, but, the opal is what *I''ll* focus on, not necessarily what anyone else would, if that makes sense.

Would it be bad to put it in sterling for pocketbook sake or should I wait and save up for white gold? It doesn''t have to be in gold to be a piece that is passed down does it? I don''t want to be a cheapskate on it b/c it is really important.

 

[ma re]

Date: 4/21/2010 7:49:46 PM
Author: packrat

Would it be bad to put it in sterling for pocketbook sake or should I wait and save up for white gold? It doesn''t have to be in gold to be a piece that is passed down does it? I don''t want to be a cheapskate on it b/c it is really important.

Absolutely not, there are many wonderful antique silver pieces, but make sure you''re careful about whom you choose to do the job, opals can be tricky to work with and you wouldn''t want to ruin it in the process.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I think a special stone should be set in a more timeless design - I would worry that the key pendant may become outdated.

setting opal in silver is quite a good idea, actuallly. Since it is softer and more malleable than white gold (which can be quite brittle), there is less chance of damage when closing the bezel. Silver doesn''t need to be plated, which reduces the chemicals that the stone is exposed too, since opal is sensitive.

I love the pendant idea, myself. Or, perhaps, a clasp for a pearl necklace, which can be worn foward.

 

[packrat]

Thanks Ma Re and LD! I don''t feel so bad about doing silver now, thank you. I figured to ask Sally about doing it-unless there''s any other recommendations?

 

[VapidLapid]

I too think silver and sally are great ideas. You might consider asking her to use 999 fine silver rather than sterling. Sure 999 isn''t strong enough for forks and spoons but this is a pendant and doesn''t need that kins of strength. I work with 999 for a few reasons. It is brighter and whiter, more like white gold. It doesn''t tarnish. The copper makes the silver in sterling tarnish because copper loves oxygen, same as how copper causes firescale. 999 anneals at much lower temperature than sterling, and because there is no copper, needs no fluxing! A properly hand made piece in 999 will be work-hardened sufficiently for a pendant or a necklace.

 

[packrat]

Stupid error messages!

Thanks Vapid! Is that what Argentium is, or is that different?

 

[VapidLapid]

Different. 999 is pure silver. Argentium is like sterling (same silver content) but replaces some of the copper in the alloy with germanium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentium_sterling_silver

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Date: 4/22/2010 10:51:29 AM
Author: VapidLapid
I too think silver and sally are great ideas. You might consider asking her to use 999 fine silver rather than sterling. Sure 999 isn''t strong enough for forks and spoons but this is a pendant and doesn''t need that kins of strength. I work with 999 for a few reasons. It is brighter and whiter, more like white gold. It doesn''t tarnish. The copper makes the silver in sterling tarnish because copper loves oxygen, same as how copper causes firescale. 999 anneals at much lower temperature than sterling, and because there is no copper, needs no fluxing! A properly hand made piece in 999 will be work-hardened sufficiently for a pendant or a necklace.

Rather, more like the rhodium plating most white gold pieces receive. White gold is actually a very pale yellow, which get covered by rhodium. Sorry for nitpicking, it is just that I love the real white gold colour and I get sad that it is nearly always covered by rhodium.

I love fine silver as well. Fun to work with, yummy to look at. Fine silver bezels are a dream for softer or brittle stones.

 

[packrat]

Oh I see, thanks for the explanations guys! Sounds like that''s the way to go then. I''ll see what Sally has to say!

 

[LD]

Oooops coming to the party too late again! Oh well, I''ll drink my bottle by myself!

Seriously though, I have a number of opals, and quite a few set into rings. I would have disagreed with the above and said go for a ring because you can then see it often and watch the colour play (I''m a sucker for just sitting and watching my opals as they dance around) BUT then reading how sentimental it is for you, I agree that a pendant would be, for the long term, a better idea.

Sally has some wonderful ideas. Why don''t you describe your relationship with your grandparents to her and see what she comes up with? Definitely wearing the opal near your heart is just a brilliant idea.

I can''t wait to see the finished item now.

 

[packrat]

haha you''re not late to the party!

I''d originally planned on putting it in a simple bezel ring b/c I wear my rings a lot more often..I''m just not sure if it would get banged or anything, and even tho I''m pretty good w/my jewelry, I wonder if it would be safe enough. That''s what got me thinking about a pendant. I did see Sally has some bezel pendants-maybe that would be an option.

 

[packrat]

Cripes, how many times am I going to get an error message today? A lot I guess.

Does this speak of romantic love or familial love? pendant

A plain bezel here pendant2

 

[DistinctionJewelry]

I love the simple bezel pendant.

 

[packrat]

Thanks Jessi! I like that one a lot too. I sent Sally a convo a couple days ago and I was just on Etsy messing around and it''s not in my conversation area. I was pretty sure they show up even when you don''t have a reply yet, right? So now I''m wondering if it didn''t go thru or I clicked out of it too soon or something. Have to send another I guess?

 

[Indylady]

I really like both of Sally''s pendants. If she hasn''t responded to you in a couple days I''d go ahead and send out another message.