As a jewelry designer, I love the challenge of designing around an unusual stone.  Interesting cuts, shapes, and even inclusions in the stone can be a great source of design inspiration.   As a jeweler, however,  I usually shy away from working with one-of-a-kind stones presented to me by well-meaning clients.  The reasons for this are practical.  I don’t want to be responsible for replacing something that may or may not be what my client thinks it is, or be liable for a gemstone that has irreplaceable sentimental value.  Not to mention that badly cut or damaged stones make my work much harder and more time-consuming.

With all that said, I’ve been mulling over a project for a relative that presents the good and bad of such challenges.  My aunt-in-law commissioned me to make a pendant around this sunstone:

Flat Cabochon Sunstone

While I like the interesting veining and the luminescence of the coppery shiller inclusions, the flaws and damage in this stone make me want to run very fast in the opposite direction.  But I don’t want to disappoint my aunt-in-law, and so am setting forth bravely with this project.  I’ve come up with this design:

Colored Pencil and Gouache Sunstone and Silver Pendant Rendering by Joana Miranda

The leaves are strategically placed to cover up the dents in the stone.   The silver will be given a patina to echo the dark veining in the stone and the bezel surrounding the stone will be high polish.  My goal is to post a picture of the finished pendant hopefully sometime next week!  Stay tuned…

Comments

  2. Thomas says:

    Joana,
    Lovely design as you always do…glad to see you like Sevan as much as I did, saw some beautiful rings this summer on Capri. Are you and your husband in NYC? And most of all how are you?
    Happy New Year
    Thos.

    • joanasjewelry says:

      Hi Thomas,

      Thanks so much for your nice comment! I’m still working to make New York a reality…for now I’ve been the one doing the flying back and forth and I’m ready for that to be over! But I do have freelance design work which I’m enjoying and hoping will lead to a lot more.

      I love the ladies rings on your website. Those are new, right? Are any of your pieces currently in NY on display? I’ll be there next week and would love to go and see them and try them on…a woman can never have too many rings (or jewelry!) and I don’t own any concrete jewelry yet.

      All best wishes,
      Joana

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