Padparadscha sapphires and rubies

It's spring! So exciting. There is so much going on at the studio. We are doing a bit of renovating and refreshing to make space to accomodate our newest addition to the team. Welcome Meredith! We are also taking some new professional Photographs of the work to refresh the website and business cards. It's amazing to think that this is my 10th year at the Distillery.

We will be taking part in our first bridal show coming up on april 15th. It's a small boutique event at one king west here in Toronto called the original wedding soiree. Here is the link http://www.weddingsforher.ca. I look forward to meeting lots of new brides to be.

And then there is the small business of goldsmithing. Today alone I delivered 4 engagement rings and this beautiful pair or ruby and diamond earrings set in red gold. I am starting to see a trend this year towards warm tones. We are making lots if rings and earrings in colours ranging from light lemony yellows to warm ambers all the way to intense cognacs infused with undertones of pink. Luckily sapphires come in every tone and intensity, the most prized is a perfect balance between orange and pink and is called Padparadscha.

New work

January is one of my favourite months at the studio. It brings a slightly slower pace than the summer months and as a result I can take a bit of time and really enjoy the process of making custom rings. I have a fun job!

This spectacular engagement ring was commissioned this month. We used a rose cut diamond with pavé accents and hand engraving to design a vintage inspired ring that channels a bit of Deco and a bit of Edwardian, but with its own unique style. Thanks Marty and congratulations!

This cocktail ring is clean and simple and shows off the cushion cut Rhodolite garnet. With distinctive hints of red and violet it's a very cool gem!
My brother Traven has taken some nice shots of new gems, and I will share them in my next post.

Rutilated quartz ring is finshed!

It's a new year and it's going to be an exciting one here at the studio! We have gotten off to a great start with some very cool new custom projects that I will be writing about next week, including a spectacular pair of ruby earrings. We have also been  finishing up one or two speculative projects from 2011.

The rutilated quartz ring is finally finished and boy is it special! 18k yellow gold and pave diamonds! Wear it to a cocktail party and you will turn some heads.

rutilated quartz ring for Christmas!

Only nine days left for this little elf to get through his list of sparkly things to make. I am happy to report that all projects are on track! I haven't gotten to work on my rutilated quartz ring as much as I would have liked though. I know, poor me, too busy to work on the project for the blog... will take that problem all day long!

I think that I should get a chance to finish it up before the holidays so if you have your eye on it I can wrap it up for you to put under the tree for someone special,  maybe even for someone like yourself! I'll post a pic when it's done.

Rutilated quartz ring

It's November! While many of us will be busy growing moustaches... it's never too early to think about Christmas shopping. If you are the type that is very organized then you will be in to see me in the next couple if weeks to order your custom sparkly thing... and I will have it ready for you to wrap and put under the tree.

If you are more like me, leaning towards the not as organized shopper then you might be in my shop with only a couple weeks until christmas. Certainly not a last minute shopper, but a bit too late to get that custom project started in time for the holidays.

Not to fear. I have been thinking of you and I am putting together a couple of spectacular pendants and rings that will be ready to go. This one is a very unique rutilated quartz set in 18k yellow gold with pave set diamonds. I'll post a picture next week when it's finished!