We finally did it - Wood Ring Project!

the raw wood before treatment

Two tone jewelry really looks wonderful

the wood natural grain enhance the beauty of the ring

All the while I think wood should be pair with metal to enhance its grain beauty as well as to make it more elegant. We were planning to make something out from wood only the matter of time. Finally there came this  lovely lady same "taste" as us who want to make the special wedding for her future husband.
I personally prefer Ebony wood but the colour is to dark for the customer.
So Chin went to source for different local hard wood and finally settle with "Chengal". This is a kind of wood with rich resin which means more "tahan lasak" to water. We did some treatment on the wood before going for setting. Chin broke 3 pieces of wood rings before succeed. To enhance the wood grain texture, we applied some wax on it. The wax will also act as a protector to the wood.

Source from Malaysian Timber Council www.mtc.com.my

Why Chengal hard wood ?

Chengal wood is one of the hardest wood found in Malaysia. It comes with densities of 800 to 1,120 kg per cubic metre at 15%, moisture content. It is naturally durable, containing substances which repel wood-destroying agents. It can safely be used without preservative treatment in all climates. Main uses are in heavy construction and flooring, railway sleepers, door and window frames.

On top of that, every piece of Chengal Wood Carving retain the value over the years, because  it is a piece of art work, not just a piece of wood.

simple wood ring sets with palladium silver

beautiful two tone colour design

Meeting An Old Friend - A Gift With Heart

her basic concept design

the final approved art work

smooth couture of Chinese calligraphy - "heart"

sapphire blue cz with bezel setting

the sand blast like texture shine elegantly under the sun

 A two years back project worked with a very soft spoken pretty lady. She has this beautiful idea in mind, wanted to make the very unique wedding gift for her sister. I presented 4 for similar designs and ended with the most simple one - her very origin idea. We took about half-a-year to complete this assignment. The most challenging but interesting part was the ring finishing. CAD has it limit and the art work did not present whole of her idea of the finishing. So Chin, the pretty lady and me crowded in front of the jewelry bench to discuss about the finishing. We carefully stamp each holes, big and small, near and far, deep and shallow. The results did not show until a few trial attempts. The moment we manage to capture her image in mind, we rush out for the sun set. Cause wanted to see hows the ring shine under the natural light. And the shines like thousands of tiny little diamonds scattered around the "heart". The results was marvellous.
After two years, she brought back for retouching. I just can't stop admiring this master piece, the beautiful curvature of the "心", the diamond bling-bling effect and the antic-rustic finishing. Just like meeting an old friend (^,^)

The More We Get Together

Left foot belongs to HIM and right belongs to HER

inspiration make new design infinite

Meet this lovely couple early this year, presenting very unique ring design - engraved with feet print. I love the concept and suggested them to scan and put their own foot print on instead. They loved the idea. 

The scanning process was easy until the computer touching process. I struggled a lot on deciding the foot print shape. (Decision is always the tough part of design, Always Does!) The ring structure and the finishing type (we call this jewelry make-up) was also an uncertainty. 

Finally I did a few concept designs during the art work presentation i.e. round and flat ring structure, normal and blacken foot print, and finally with or without stones. 

At the end, she made the final decision of flat ring structure, blacken foot print and CZ stones setting. The end result was beyond her expectation. She loves it! Me too! 

Apparently, this is a cute and unique pieces of wedding band. Looking into depth, it means no matter What, When, Who, Where and How, they are committed to "walk together".

When "g" meets "b"......

the very 1st concept of her design

chosen fonts

CZ is firmly hold by initial "g" and "b"

never though of triangle shape highlight gives such unique result

the initials is position in such a way that the flowery shape shown

She emailed me the sketch and the fonts and was very sure of the type of stone setting she requested for tension set. However the ring structure is too delicate to set a 4mm size CZ, then we amend a bit to have a loop to support the bottom of the stone and apparently it still visible as tension set from the top. Her basic idea is to make the letter 'g' and 'b' to design this way so from far the ring looks like a flower with sparkling stamen.

Starry Night

Little pillar supporting the diamond from the back

Material: Palladium Silver
Diamond: 3.75mm(0.16 ct)
Cert: AIGS

beautiful curves that hold the diamond

Painting: 

Vincent van Gogh. (Dutch, 1853-1890). 

The Starry Night Saint Rémy, June 1889 

This assignment was customer refers customer.

No doubt a challenging task due to:
. need to source a right size diamond which have to be within a budget plus must have a cert. (AIGS cert)
. communication was done via email cause customer (the artist) was overseas for a month
. left two weeks to complete the project (from the date of design and diamond confirmation)

When looking at the design, I keep thinking of Vincent Van Gogh's famous masterpiece : Starry Night. The big bright stars were capture in the magnificent swirling breeze. This remind me the great song from John Denver describing Van Gogh's story. (Only able to get song sang by Don McLean)

Celtic Knots Wedding Bands

CAD art works

lovely matching wedding bands

the rings even match the embroidery of her tops

the weaving knots

Material: Palladium Silver

My favorite Celtic wedding ring is the Celtic Knot. The rugged twists and turns of the Celtic knot symbolize the unending love that binds two people together in marriage, and are thought to symbolize the interconnectedness through life. 

In fact this is one of my favorite project. Ample of time to plan and execute, the rings were deliver half a year later. Thanks to this couple - both artists, have full trust in us. Never call until the last month and the timing was just right. 

I took about two weeks to plan (on and off) for CAD drafting. When seeing the knots go, feel just like playing a game. Knowing the restriction of the CNC machine, plus making sure the Celtic knot proportion is right, then have to calculate the total repeat pattern to be fit into their rings sizes. 

At first glance, I though the man ring is more difficult to do but most of the time, I was struggle with the lady's simple knot design. The man's ring was blacken underneath, which highlighted the complicated knots texture. 

Her wedding band is perfectly match to the engagement ring. (as you can see from the pictures) The rings picture was taken with her black fine embroiderer blouse and everything just came out right. Their stylemaah....

House of Chimney Wedding Ring?

i receive this rough design sketch via email

Ring surface: Mirror Finishing

Front and back surface finishing: Matte

Sculpture ring design

Material: Palladium Silver

I never talk to the owner of the ring but his best friend. They are from UK. The only information I got for this custom made ring design is the rough sketch. Not even the ring size. He wanted it to be silver so I recommend him a better quality palladium silver.
We meet the best friend at Ikea in one morning. With nice coffee, hot dog, curry puff and ice cream, we chat for two hours more. We took 20% of the time to discuss about the ring design and the rest was about life. This is always the best part of my work. Meeting and sharing though with  people from differences backgrounds and experiences. Chin and me take turn chatting with him and taking care of our two princesses. (Sign!)
I never have a chance to know the origin of design ideas. Anyway, its structure create a house of chimney picture in my mind.

KISS Wedding Bands

the 1st design:
band type: half-round (male ring) and flat (female ring)
finishing: coarse filed texture (male ring) and matte finishing (female ring) 

material: palladium silver
the amended designs that matches as wedding bands

personal symbols, only the owner will understand :)

I name this K.I.S.S. wedding bands design. Very simple but elegant. At 1st they have different preference on ring design but the outcome did not match as a wedding bands. So Chin make another exactly male ring to pair to the bride's. The design match perfectly to her solitaire engagement white gold ring. They are tattoos artists. Wise choice for them to decide on this ring design. Cause the ring will not take the attention of tattoos on their body but complement them.

Heart Knotted Proposal Ring - where two souls united to one

this inspire him

another inspired design

    

the tiny love plate will hide behind of the finger

the beautiful love knot from front view

        
My very first experience of participate on the proposal process. I mean, in term of emotional. Lets talk about this charming young pastor who was excited to find us. He got this very unique ring design to be materialized. A heart shape knot on top and the a tiny heart plate to be touch at the opposite site. He wanted it urgently so he can immediately propose after that. Ring delivered on time but the plan was postponed. A week later, I received a text from him, mentioning his executing date of "THE BIG MISSION".   That special date was the last day of CNY i.e. Chinese Valentine Day or Chap Goh Mei. On that particular day, although I was not there to witness but still can imagine the trill moment. Worry cause not knowing the results until the series pictures of proposal were post in FB. He was on his knee while she close her eyes for 3 minutes (somebody say she was praying) before the answer : "YES, I DO".  

www.bespoke-rings.com launching

http://www.bespoke-rings.com 

Our very 1st project that make our R&D project being commercialized.

I am definitely not an IT person. But I do enjoy the whole process of pretending to be a IT geek. So many parts need to be organized and put together. Fast decision making plays an important role. Something just have to let go and must make sure I will come back.  No matter who, where, how, when and which, the resistantly must be break to start a life time project.

Message On Metal - A Memorable Jewelry As A Perfect Keepsake For Your Loved One

Font Type: Bold Comfortaa

Font Type: Verdana

 This twp projects are done almost the same time. And their purpose are the same - to make their though on precious metal that can be a good keepsake. I will say this is a timeless gift for their loved one.

The Silhouette Rings with Comfortaa font is ordered by a couple who stay away from each other since their  graduation.They make a wise choice on the font which is more comfortable to wear. (Rounded corners) 

Distant relationship is always a tough challenge to be maintain. They have make it so far, 7 years (hope my memory is still good)  is never a short period. This rings keep their important message of : "You Are My Lucky Star". This should explain why they are still loving couple.

The second design is a working mom's dream design. She really got the design in her mind and now she wants it to be materialized. At the beginning, the whole family name should be on the ring. But the maximum letter is 17 and her two sons name be the final decision. I always like to look on Silhouette ring, cause it gives different views from different angle. That make the ring real unique. I am happy with the result as the Cool Mom does. :)

Wanna own something like this? Visit: http://www.bespoke-rings.com/p/contact-us.html

A Guest From Another Side of Sphere

Arabic Engraved Turquoise Ring

Unpolished Turquoise

The project breaks all of my records:

(1) Longest distance: (to US)

(2) Most mails : Accumulates total of 116 mails

(3) New design concept: Arabic alphabets (Thuluth). Got to outsource for the beautiful fonts.

(4) New technique: Engrave on stone.

(5) Delivery method: Fedex

To read more on the detail of the message : http://materialisecreativity.blogspot.com/2010/09/arabic-letter-engraved-on-turquoise.html#links

Arabic Letter Engraved On Turquoise Palladium Silver Ring

Those words are engraved allover the walls of 
Alhambra palace in Andalucia,  Spain.

They were the slogan of some Arab royal family 
who immigrated from Arabia to spain and built 
the Alhambra Palace there. 
(ولا غالبَ إلا الله)

The final ring conceptual design

Detail design description from a guest from the other side of the world (United State):

"Let me first write it in Latin letters: wa la ghaliba ella Allah. 

all the the words / letters are easy to pronounce except for (غالب  ghalib) , the first letter from the right in the  word written in Arabic letters (غالب) or first two letters in the word written in Latin letters (ghalib) should be  pronounced as a French (R). As i explained to you previously those words were the slogan used by an Arab royal family in Southern in the Spanish region of  Andalucia ( from Arabic Alandaluce.) this royal family wasn't the greatest Arab royal family in Spain and Portugal at all, in fact , they were so weak. their greatest achievement was building the famous Alhambara palace ( the original Arabic name is Alhamra so there is no B)  ولاغالب إلا الله.  could be translated to : No victor but God. God (no one else but God ) will always have the upper hand. 

Those words could be used to praise God or to ask Him for help since He is the one who has the upper hand but it could also be used for non religious purposes such as: to say to your self or to others (when wining or gaining something) that you should not be full of it be humble and remember that you won just because God allowed you to and He could make you lose next time. it could be also used to say to yourself or to others not to feel so sad and devastated when you lose something because what happened to was God's will and He will reward you later for accepting His will in war time it's used to say to the enemies: God ,who is the only real victor , is on our side (therefore you have no hope, you will lose not matter how powerful you are)

When the catholics took over Spain and Portugal they were heavily influenced by the Arab/ Muslim culture and one of the things they fell in love with was having Arabic slogans, poem and even verses from the Quran engraved on the walls of their palaces just like the Arabs did in Spain and Portugal.  ولاغالب إلا الله. was engraved or written on the walls of a few palaces that belonged to catholics in Spain because they thought that those words give power, wealth and luck. "

To continue reading on the ring :http://materialisecreativity.blogspot.com/2010/09/guest-from-another-side-of-sphere.html

One-Of-A-Kind Blackening Silver Rings and Stamping Silver Pendent

Material: Palladium silver and 925 silver
Design : Handmade 9 Bands Ring
Texture: Hammered

Inspired By : Blacken Silver Couple Rings

A design idea that is inspired by  925 Blackening Silver Couple Rings. Client is from Sabah. She has two design ideas of the 9 bands: (1) Color of the metal in black and white alternatively (2) as above. 

Material : 925 Silver
Design: Handmade Name Stamping Pendent 

The pendent is ordered in a pair as a gift to a new born baby and the mother.  The names are results from stamping effects.