Here is a quick look into some of what goes into creating each piece of jewelry. 

I thought it would be fun to share a few of the preliminary sketches that did not end up getting used. I tried to provide a wide variety of styles when determining a starting point. Take a look! Which would you choose?

For this custom Pink Ribbon Ring in 14K Rose Gold, I started with a jeweler's wax ring blank. This is a tube made out of a hard wax that is meant for carving and sculpting. The first step is to carve away the inside diameter to the correct finger size.

The general shape is roughed out and a lot of the wax material is carved away quickly with coarse files and rotary bits. 

Once the shape of the design is developed further, the surface is finished with sandpaper and polished. 

 Not Shown: Wax carving is cast into 14 Karat Rose gold using the Lost Wax Casting method.

Sharp metal engraving tools are used to carve out the stone settings by hand. Each Pink Topaz gemstone is measured with calipers and a corresponding group of drill bits and jewelers stone setting burs are used to drill out each "seat" where the stone will go.

The stones are put in place and an engraving tool is used to raise a bead of metal up and over the top of each stone in four different places.

Millgrain detail which is a row of tiny beading is applied to the outline of the ribbon shape and the Ring is then stamped with the 14K hallmark, cleaned and polished.

I've always felt strongly that jewelry could be more than just decoration. Yes, it can be beautiful and fashionable (of course) but it can also be a symbol of a personal achievement/empowerment, a good luck charm, an expression of identity, or an heirloom that reminds you of your heritage, or loved one. In this case it was many of those things as well as just simply being a thoughtful, handmade gift that was meant to cheer someone up who was going through a really tough time!

Here's another look at the before and after on different wax carved ring.