In my latest metalsmithing making session, I came across a brilliant blue flash trapezoid rainbow moonstone, which I really wanted to make pop

My handcrafted jewellery making process is chaotic at best , organic and flexible at worst, but that's how I roll.

I always have a rough idea of what I want to make, but the actual design is always dictated by the healing stone I am using.

My stock of rings was quite low, after a busy May and June, especially in the more regular sizes, so I thought this would be an opportune time to make a new range.

Rainbow Moonstone is always a popular stone, and a particular ring on my stand has been popular, but is in a small size.

With this in mind I had a quick search of my geometric rainbow moonstones and found this small trapezoid shape stone with the most fabulous blue flash, when held at a particular angle.

I know that I could really make it pop if I oxidised the sterling silver setting, which I do not do that often because the Liver of Sulphur has the tendency to stink the whole house out, but sometimes you have to suffer for your craft.
 

I thought that if I used the pre-made solution it wouldn't be as bad, but was proved wrong. 

Personally and common sense would dictate that I shoud do this in the backyard, but knowing my neighbours, that smell of rotten eggs would have them all dailing 999, thinking I was upto no goodr, so it's better to suffer for my craft in silence!

I thought, if I am going to suffer this headache inducing smell, I might as well create a collection of jewellery pieces, to make it worthwhile.

I had created a ring setting for a purple blue flash rough top labradorite ring, which again thought the oxidised metal would make the stone dark and mysterious, so it got the Liver of Sulphur treatment too!
 
Personally I love the rustic nature of this ring, due to the roughness of the stone, both mysteriously mesmerising and dramatic and organic.

I am now on a bit of a roll and look at the settings that I have created, and I happen upon a couple of stamped hexagonal rings, which I thought oxidation would elevate the design:
 

Oxidised SS Hexagonal Stamped Ring

Oxidised SS Hexagonal Heart Stamped Ring

To complete the collection, I wanted to see what my huggies would look like oxidised:
 
To be honest I left the oxisidising agent on longer than I was supposed to, and I was going to polish the excess off so that the stamping part retains the oxidation, but I really loved the shiny black effect of the final pieces, especially as the blue flash of rainbow moonstone ring really pops!!!

   

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July 28, 2023

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