Process

My jewellery is made using precious metals that require a process and attention to detail. Many different tools and techniques are required. Here I share with you some of the old manual machines that I have used over the years and just a few stages of the process.

Some pieces have carefully chosen precious gems or semi-precious stones and laying them out can help to decide on the best arrangement and combination.

 Sometimes a shell or a curious trinket found in a antique stall makes its way into the design too.

 ...or a jewel-like button...

... or vintage ribbon ...

 The Heat of the Furnace 

The heat of the furnace brings change...

During the refining process, while heating and purifying the precious metals, I often think of how it reflects the beauty of how we grow, change and become refined inside. 

These are the crucibles in which the gold and silver is melted. I love the rustic warm colours that the borax flux leaves behind in the crucible dishes. 

Machines used for Shaping the Precious Metal 

These old manual machines with their history from generations of jewellers can be felt and seen in their characterful cogs, nuts and bolts.

This is a rolling mill used for shaping the recently melted metal into a usable flat sheet of silver or gold.

This one has different shaped ridges for the first stage in shaping metal into wire.

This machine is where the metal wire can then be drawn down into the required size and shape.  

These stamps are used to mark the metal with a desired message,texture or shape.

 A variety of hammers with different weights and shapes are used for different tasks.