Jorgensen Studio Silversmith

Custom Work I've been keeping busy with custom work lately, which I love to do. Its an exercise in problem solving and stretches my creative imagination.  The princess shaped rings were part of a birthstone series for a really fabulous customer.  Lab created alexandrite and citrine were used. The alex was so dreamy in its color I didn't want to send it away when it was finished.   This juicy peridot was damaged near one of the edges and sentimental to the customer, so we decided on a bezel that would hide the damage and protect the stone also. The bright silver really shows off the brightness of this stone.

I was asked by a lovely customer to make a ring for her husband-to-be that matched the band on the ring he bought for her engagement from my shop. For mens rings I like to beef up the width to make them a bit more masculine, so I added smooth sides to the pattern. She requested a citrine to be added which I set in a bezel setting that is set down into the ring. I don't like the look of a bezel that sort of teeters on the top of a band. Setting it down into the band makes for a much more finished look (imho). I think it turned out smashing & I think I will add it to the wedding line. :)

I often receive requests for custom items. The most favorite of these requests is always engagement and wedding rings. It never stops being an incredible honor to make something so special and important in another person's life. The sentiment behind it is so wonderful and to have your work have that legacy is just humbling. Here are some pictures of a new wedding set for a soon to be wed couple.

I use mostly bezel settings in my work. I make my rings so that the bezel is flush with the band and does not sit atop of it for a more integrated look. Having the bezel setting taper allows for a bigger stone to be set while still allowing the bands to sit closer together for stacking rings. Being mostly self taught, I looked to the google first to see if I could find a tutorial on how to make these types of bezels. There were none to be found. I did find a rather heavy bezel block that is used to make these tapered bezels and bought it, but alas, it did not come with instructions. After many failed attempts to make a cylinder turn into a cone, I figured I must be doing something horribly wrong. Wouldn't you know it, there was math involved, much to my dismay. I am going to show you the process I have come to for making this little tapered bezel step by step. Except for the math part ( you will need that to make your template), it is simple. I did come across this nifty cone ca...