The Touch Of Love: One-n-Only Fingerprint Rings

1st Picture: Metal Clay CaptureTechnique

2nd Picture: Hand Engraved Technique

3rd Picture: Digital Machine Engrave Technique

"Why would you ever put a fingerprint on your wedding rings?!" my cousin brother asked with doubtful eyes twinkling..... How should I make him understand about this very important issue - a unique wood grain resemble human texture means? (especially to fellow ladies?) 

In terms of sentimental value - a unique and meaningful piece of jewellery is always a huge preference. A genetic generated barcode from our loves one that is possible own by ME exclusively....  unexplainable sensuality feel... not to mention the beauty of each unique fingerprint pattern and the touch of  texture on your wedding ring.

We have been researching this particular technique for months. The crucial part is to capture each individual fingerprint as natural as possible. Meaning the actual dimension and the actual texture must is our 1 st consideration. Then the second important point is the ring quality in term of finishing (i.e. fingerprint texture will be enhance more by mirror finishing - and to get a mirror effect the metal itself has to be strong enough) and the ring surface structure must be smooth  after the fingerprint engraving. (we do not want dented surface that produce from metal clay technique)

There are a few ways to produce it e.g. place your fingerprint mark by physically stamp on a metal clay, hand engrave or machine digital engrave. Below are comparison based on the outcome of fingerprint capture and the metal finishing quality.

1st Picture: 

Metal Clay Technique is quite simple to produce which capture exact fingerprint. Due to the limitation of material hardness, this technique can't produce good mirror finishing. I will say not even moderate quality polish/mirror finishing. This is why you will never have the "expensive" jewellery look but a street jewellery effect.

2nd Picture: 

Hand Engraved Technique create the fingerprint texture on ring by using specific craving tools.  This is a time consuming and highly skill needed job but the outcome is quite organic that does show only 50 to 70% similarity of the actual fingerprint. Due to the carving is done by bare hand which the crafter must good eyesight and stable hand skill. The skills to control the craving depth of each tiny lines of fingerprint is so details that years of experience is necessary to created something near perfect.

3rd Picture:

So we settle down with this perfect technique - Digital Machining Technique. The different size of bandwidth custom made ring is handmade that produce a solid base for fine fingerprint engraving. (if produce by casting there will be porosity issue) Harder metal meaning better mirror polishing. Better finishing meaning sharp contrast between detailed fingerprint texture with the metal surface. That will make the ring looks elegant and dramatic. And results of computerized craving, you will get exact your fingerprints that seems gently touching on your rings - how unique is that!

Fingerprint or thumbprint jewellery design is quite common in the US and European markets. And their price is relatively high after material cost deduction.  The minimum price starts from RM 1690/pair (USD 520) onwards just for a sterling silver or 925 silver ring. 

As from us, we want to offer more and better to our customer. With the price of RM 1200/pair comes with anti-tarnishing material i.e. Palladium Silver. (Learn more about this metal here) You will also have the choice of different color materials like 18K Rose, Yellow and White Gold.

Owned this One-and-Only Fingerprint HERE

Some other design of fingerprint rings from our Facebook Page: Custom Made Jewellery

916 Gold Gloves

 

                                

 This is another project that took three months to complete in year 2004.The client came with a bunch of old gold jewelries and I still can remember his wife sweet smile. She gave a brief description on the design: The red rose should rest on top of each hand that attached to bracelets with her whole name indicate on them.

The design sketches were presented within two weeks. She had chosen the third design but she liked to have the glove to be flooded with stones. We charged according to the total stone set so the workmanship cost will be sky high. The final design is done on the basic of art KISS (Keep It Simple & Stupid)

Total stones: >2000 pieces  (Corumdun Ruby, Saphire, Peridot & Cubic Zirconia)

916 gold weight : 280 gram

2004 market value : RM 200K

Bespoke Wedding Rings

Inspired By Lord of The Ring?

Very sweet idea from the bride. She wanted his ring to be her name engrave on top and his name beneath. Her ring will be vice verse. I am quite happy with my Rolland this time, everything run smooth. The engrave pits was well behave and the casting part leave no headache. I post it on my FB and some feedback saying that they looks like rings from the movie "Lord of the Ring". I think it is because of the structure and the font look a bit similar. Anyway, it is my favorite movie and at least I got something related to it. :)
To make full use of the exiting mold, I have suggested a different material for them i.e. silver which cost extra RM 150 per pair. To serve happy customers is always a win, win and win situation.

Wanna buy something like this? Visit: http://www.bespoke-rings.com/p/design-concepts.html

Bespoke Wedding Rings

I have always like to learn from every deal especially the communicating with client part, which lots of people see it as tedious. This nice couple came to me direct without shop around to comparing price. They have a picture with the ring design they love of. I have quoted them RM150 per ring for design, mold and workmanship fees. To be frank, I did under quote when compare to current Malaysia market just a ring with simple design will starts from RM300 onward.( Base on Little India Retails' price)

I planned to try outsource the rapid prototype production from a friend from China. She has offered us a great price for RP substrates. In Malaysia, the per gram price can easily go to RM 70. This means a normal ring will cost about RM 250 per piece just for the RP mold. If this business deal works, the only limitation of my jewelry design is my imagination. I truly truly hope this business with her does work. .....

Unfortunately, the ring broke (as well as my heart) into pieces during the delivery. When this outsource thing doesn't turn out right, then I have to make my MDX15 to do rest of the job. As such, the outcome of the physical ring will not be 100% similar to the artwork. I would say the similarity reach 80%.

Client finally agreed on RM300 per piece for the design mold and workmanship. Hopefully, the RP service center will succeed in Malaysia, then the dream of having custom made jewelry with fine finishing and reasonable price will come true.

Custom Made Crown Pendant

Cliff and Mikie

This is my first jewelry project that make use of Rolland MDX-15 to engrave on wax to create the molds. The results was not as good as I have expected. I did not realize the taper effect create by the engraving knife until whole mold is finished craved. The rings surface had been thinned to a spoiled original Celtic design. Besides that wax substrates become sticky and clot in between the small gaps of the design. I have done both side engraving and try to solve the taper effect but still can't get the exact engrave point when the mold was flip over. At last I decide to use a really sharp engrave knife and engrave maximum depth of 15mm. It gives a better results. As conclusion, I prefer to use modeling board to run on such patterns mold.

Thanks to Cliff and Mikie, to let me have these photos posted. It is great to see some old jobs, just like seeing old friends.

916 Goat Head Ring

This is an order direct from factory. The work I have done is just the surface of the ring i.e. goat head plus frame. Than the wax sifu will choose a suitable ring base for the plate to attach on. The customer give a rough sketch drawing on the goat head design. I do some research on the net and found a goat clip art that suit the design most. I use rail to do all the relief and make some adjustment on the control vertical point to have this effect. Now the same customer is asking for a sculpture goat head ring and we are still looking for a suitable sculpture in the market for scanning.

Corporate Gift : 916 Gold Pendants Project

This is a repeat order . I am satisfy with this project cause with more experience and new techniques, we manage to provide better quality with lower price products. The first batch does not meet my expectation cause I have used modeling wax the as a mold and the outcome was not as good as I am now using i.e. modeling board. The benefit of utilizing modeling boards is short cut the rubber mold part which I could actually inject direct into the modeling board to create as much copies as I wish. The thickness and surface of the pendents are more consistent. Besides, I do not have to worry about the casting failure which I have to crave the wax all over again. We have chosen the color of the packaging from red to black which also match gold the most. Products description: Average 916 gold weight 1.76g, with butterfly pin, black color jewelry box and a certificate notes. Cost per box: RM 240.00