Pearls and opals, two of nature’s special creations! Christine collected these baroque (irregular shaped) Cook Island black pearls over many harvests and then added smaller keshi pearls, Australian boulder opals or diamonds to them by inserting a threaded pin into the tips. The necklace is dedicated to Cirque du Soleil, evoking the colourful complexity of acrobat and athlete found in their exquisite performance. A sensational necklace, worthy of any red carpet or, equally, for a trip to the supermarket! In studio. POA. Studio@theartistgoldsmith.com #blackpearls #boulderopals#pearlnecklace#cirquedusoleil#handmadejewelry
Following last week’s soldering clip, here is the finished ring. It sits on the middle and ring fingers of the right hand, the (big) labradorite over the middle. Finger size is medium to small.
Christine soldering on a double ring. Her torch is a favourite from 1970s Germany, no longer available. Stone setting next on the agenda. www.theartistgoldsmith.com/contact #soldering #goldsmith#doublering#artjewellery#nelsonnz
Opal lovers! An Australian opal in cabochon and a Mexican fire opal in Spirit cut (by Munsteiner) as an index finger ring. Set in Sterling silver, with 18kt gold details, notably filings of gold fused to the silver surface. The wide shank is designed to lie on the thumb side of the index finger, offering tactile texture. In studio. NZ$4000. www.theartistgoldsmith.com/contact #opaljewelry #indexfingerring#artjewelry#goldsmith#newzealandjewellery
World Diamond Day: Tambuli diamonds, natural coloured diamonds from India that are cut simply, compliment the beauty of this Biwa freshwater pearl from Japan (1970s) set as a necklace by Christine, The Artist Goldsmith. www.theartistgoldsmith.com/contact #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaker#worlddiamondday#naturaldiamonds#biwapearl
World Diamond Day: A commemorative day and the topic of diamond cannot avoid the image of a heart? Here a 2ct stone brought by a client, set in 18k gold to a forged bangle. The bezel setting is in white gold and the stone is cradled by the arms of the bangle, in gentle embrace, by Christine, The Artist Goldsmith. www.theartistgoldsmith.com/contact #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaker#worlddiamondday#naturaldiamonds#heartdiamond
World Diamond Day post 3. Bernd Munsteiner, lapidary extraordinaire, devised two diamond cuts, selling the patents to Freiesleben diamond cutters. This is the Context Cut. Only 8 facets are on the stone but it displays all the beauty of the diamond and fascinates the wearer and observer. Set by Christine, TheArtistGoldsmith, in 18k gold. www.theartistgoldsmith.com/contact #jewelrymaker #worlddiamondday#jewellerymaker#naturaldiamonds#contextcut
Celebration of World Diamond Day today, 8 April (yes, USA is not there yet, but NZ has made it already!). Here a raw crystal of Earth colour Argyle diamond from Australia, set in 18k yellow and white gold by Christine, TheArtistGoldsmith. Natural diamonds have so much variety and excitement to offer, offering way more than just the ‘perfection’ that a synthetic can replicate, letting you express your individuality in the stone of your choice. www.theartistgoldsmith.com/contact #jewelrymaker #jewellerymaker #goldsmith #worlddiamondday #naturaldiamonds
An Easter ovation of opals! Eardrops with Mexican opals in Spirit Sun cut (by Munsteiner) with drop Australian opals below. Worth noting: three prong claw settings for the Spirit stones, each carefully distributed for a rhythm. The conical casing for the Australian drops, covering a threaded pin and providing extra glue surface. Very delicate articulation rings mid piece, to give movement without excessive swing. Colour variation in the Mexican stones. Yellow and white gold interplay, for variety. There is more than meets the eye, when the details are noticed! In studio. $$. www.theartistgoldsmith.com/contact #opaljewelry #earrings#handmadewithlove❤️ #artjewellery#munsteiner
All made up and finished! The main stone is known as chlor chlorite; paua shell from the NZ form of abalone; an emerald. Set in silver, with a setting in 18ct gold. Lots of textures and some incidentals, as usual. #silverring #paua#handmadejewelry#artjewellery#goldsmith
A silver and gold ring jumped the queue in front of opal earrings! A chlorite, some paua shell and an emerald will find their places. Should be finished today….. #silverring #oneofakindjewellery#goldsmith#gemstonejewellery
Spotted on the bench today: the very first stages of a pair of opal earrings with Mexican opals in spirit sun cut and drops of Australian opal. I will try and keep up with developments…. #opalearrings #spiritsuncut#artjewellery#goldsmiths
Forged! A double ring made from ONE piece of silver, rolled to tapering and then forged to shape. The challenge lies in transitions from round to flat and then keeping fluid lines through the piece. With fossilised coral, Mexican fire opal and aquamarine. Sold. #doublering #jewellerysculpture#fireopal#artjewelry#goldsmith
A compilation photo for an advert in Kia Ora, Air New Zealand’s in-flight magazine. Featuring tourmalines, a citrine, greenstone (Pounamu, nephrite jade) and black pearls, it gives a picture of Christine’s love of individual gemstones for her designs. #artjewelry #18kgoldjewelry#oneofakind#tourmaline#doublering
Just one of many MEN sporting a brooch on the Oscar red carpet today. Having promoted this habit for so many years, it is wonderful to see it coming of age. (The silk lapels of their jackets will not be too happy at being pinned; using strong magnets is a good alternative. But they return the clothes after the show, I suspect?) In support of brooch-wearing!
Vergangenheitsbewaeltigung - Coming to Terms with the Past. Brooch, 1990. Berlin Wall series. The initiator of this concept, Juergen Habermas, passed away last week. He was a German philosopher grappling with identity and allegiance, working to reconcile Germans with their country’s past. The durability, and value, of jewellery materials frequently brings such notion to Christine’s studio: Granny’s brooch, Mum’s wedding band, the necklace Aunty left you and the now invalid gifts from an ex-partner all sit and wait in a box. Combining them to a contemporary, personal piece of jewellery, retaining sentiment but relieved of ill-feeling by dint of fiery melt tells the story of a life well lived, both ups and downs represented. This brooch, containing an East German cap badge, fragments of graffiti painted Berlin Wall and a rising star in diamond, was Christine’s expression of Vergangenheitsbewaeltigung following the re-connection to her native land in 1990. Bring your treasures and let’s tell the story? www.theartistgoldsmith.com/contact #jewelrymaker #jewellery#jewellerymaker#jewelry #goldsmith
