Tagged designer-cut gemstones

A Design a Day – Day 76

Watercolor and Gouache Designer-Cut Blue Sapphire, Gold, and Seed Pearl Earring Rendering by Joana Miranda

Tonight’s rendering was inspired again by one of John Dyer’s designer-cut gemstones – in this case, a 2.26 ct fan-shaped Kenyan sapphire.  To complement the richness of the blue sapphire, I chose to use yellow gold together with the warmth of a slightly peach-colored seed pearl tassel.

In rendering the gemstone, I was reminded again of the need to toss away rules and render what is in my imagination.  I feel like my best renderings tell a story that transcends jewelry.  Maybe fitting is this quote by Betty Smith, an American writer who lived between 1896 and 1972:

“Look at everything as though you were seeing it for either the first or last time…then your time on earth will be filled with glory.”

A Design a Day – Day 57

Two days ago in “A Design a Day – Day 55”, I posted a pendant rendering based on a Michael Dyber concave-cut beryl gemstone.  Today’s design is also done around a Michael Dyber designer-cut gemstone, this time a very organic shaped, vibrant light blueish-green chrysoprase:

Michael Dybe blue stone resized
Watercolor and Gouache Chrysoprase, gold, diamond and sapphire pendant rendering by Joana Miranda

The result of designing around such different stones is two pieces of jewelry art on as opposite sides of the spectrum as Gustav Klimt and Georgia O’Keefe!

While neither rendering was done with any artist in mind – just my own imagination and the inspiration drawn from a very talented gemstone cutter – I’ve re-posted each pendant rendering below alongside a painting respectively by Gustav Klimt (The Kiss) and Georgia O’Keefe :

Beryl rendering final resized Klimt

Michael Dyber blue stone resized Georgia O'Keefe

A Design a Day – Day 55

I often design around traditional gemstone cuts.  However, gemstones can be cut in many fascinating, innovative and gorgeous ways and there are masters of gemstone cutting as there are master goldsmiths and designers.  For today’s design, I chose to design around a designer-cut beryl by multiple award-winning gemstone cutter Michael Dyber.

Beryl rendering final resized
Colored Pencil and Gouache Beryl, Gold, and Diamond Pendant Rendering by Joana Miranda

I echoed the bubbles in the beryl’s cut with dapped and blackened gold circles together with round brilliant diamonds.  This combination further enhances the effervescent quality of the gemstone’s cut.  To see more of Michael Dyber’s gemstones in finished jewelry pieces, please take a look here.

A Design a Day – Day 25

Colored Pencil and Gouache Pendant Rendering, Variation #4 on John Dyer Morganite, by Joana Miranda
Colored Pencil and Gouache Pendant Rendering, Variation #4 on John Dyer Designer-Cut Morganite, by Joana Miranda

The fourth and final variation (at least for now!) on John Dyer’s designer-cut morganite, features a frame of bead-set diamonds to showcase the morganite.

Like what you see?  While some of my designs involve more expensive gemstones and goldsmithing techniques, all of my designs are producible.   Please contact me for more details!

A Design a Day – Day 24

Colored Pencil and Gouache Pendant Rendering, Variation #3, by Joana Miranda
Colored Pencil and Gouache Pendant Rendering, Variation #3, featuring a John Dyer designer-cut Morganite, by Joana Miranda

Variation #3 would require a basket setting with tube prongs so that the round brilliant diamonds could be tube-set.  One designer who uses this technique to great advantage is Julia Behrends. Tomorrow I’ll be posting the 4th and final variation I created around this beautiful designer-cut morganite by John Dyer.

A Design a Day – Day 22

Colored Pencil and Gouache Pendant Rendering by Joana Miranda Featuring Designer-Cut Morganite
Colored Pencil and Gouache Pendant Rendering by Joana Miranda Featuring Designer-Cut Morganite

I’ve been very fortunate to become friends with John Dyer, multiple award-winning gemstone cutter.   John is an inspiration to me not only because of his extraordinary talent and drive, but because of his love for gems and jewelry making, and his warmth and openness to people and cultures around the world.  John is also fluent in Portuguese (he spends a good part of his time in Brazil) so we have something else in common!  I did a series of four pendant designs inspired by one of John’s designer-cut Morganites.  This is the first of these.  Please visit John’s website to see more of his wonderful work.