|
 Professional PMC:
Galaxies Far Away Pin/Pendant
by Bridgette L. Rallo
Big and Bold is Twice as Nice
We live in a world where nearly everything we own serves more than one function. Computers are multi-purpose gaming machines, work stations, stereos and movie screens. The humble station wagon has morphed into a sport utility vehicle that can transport you over a snowy mountain as easily as it gets you to work on time. So why not design a piece of jewelry that you can wear in more than one way?
Convertible pins/pendants are not a new concept in jewelry. In fact, they used to be quite popular back in your great-grandmother’s day. But Great Grandmama’s cameo encrusted with pearls is nothing like today’s bold “look-at-me!” designs. These big beauties are all the rage on runways around the world and with good reason: they are sleek, contemporary, and assertive without being gaudy. And, they are the perfect compliment to fall’s chunkier clothing.
This lesson makes use of two trends in PMC jewelry: larger stones and better findings. I’ve chosen to use a big, beautiful “Midnight Sun” bull’s eye agate from Brazil set in a “turbulence” pattern that compliments the natural design on the stone. The agate has a small crystal druzy pocket, an unexpected “extra” that give it a dash of sparkle.
I’ve also made use of a new kind of pin finding that you don’t have to solder. Marketed by Fire Mountain Gems and Beads, it’s made of fine silver, comes in two pieces and is fired in place. The pendant loop is fashioned from bezel wire and attached to the back of the piece before firing.
Finally, I’ve added three 24 karat gold casting grains to this project; I feel that they add a complimentary dash of color to the piece and that their cost – about $20 per grain – is warranted because of the value of the stone. You can substitute silver grains for the gold ones if gold is too expensive.
Notes: Really large cabochons are not available from most jewelry suppliers. You’ll have to go to a web site or store that specializes in mineral and semi-precious cabs. And, you’ll have to pay attention to the cut and shape of the stone. Keep in mind that a shape like a marquis cut won’t work for this design because it’s too narrow on the top for a pendant loop. Nor will a cab that is wide rather than tall work here because it won’t look very good as a pendant. Most importantly, choose a cabochon that has strong patterns and/or colors for the biggest impact. This isn’t a delicate Victorian design and it requires a stone that has “presence.”
These stones can be expensive. Very good quality stone cabochons can run into the hundreds of dollars (this one cost $150) so keep that fact in mind when selecting materials for your work. If you are on a tight budget, you can always use a large cab of dichroic glass. Just set it in a bezel, as if it were stone. The result will be just as striking.
For detailed step-by-step project instructions with full color illustrations and photographs for this project, please click here to download the file. This service is FREE to Premium  Subscribers and is available to Standard Subscribers for a nominal fee. For information on becoming a Premium Subscriber click here
|
