How to Create a Piece of Custom Jewelry |
By: Susana Gormen Posted: 2008-01-05 07:03:27 |
If you are tossing around the idea of having a piece of custom jewelry created, there are a few things that you need to know first. One thing that you will want to know is that there are jewelers out there that will work with you but it will cost you if they have to do all of the design work.The design work is first done in wax, because jewelry is cast using the "lost wax" casting method. This means that you will want to present your wax sculpture to the jeweler "ready to go" that is that all that has to be done is to encase it in plaster, set it up for a pour and then pour it.A jeweler that is going to do the casting for you will gladly give you some sculpting wax to work with. You can't use bees wax, because it is too soft and paraffin wax is too hard and brittle. Sculpting wax is the same wax that dentists also use and it comes in solid chunks and in sheets.Working with wax takes time and practice and you will find it rather hard to work with. Pieces don't stick together easily like clay, so you have to "work" two pieces of wax together carefully. Use fine dental type sculpting tools to work on your wax piece and handle it very carefully.One thing that you will find is that the warmth of your fingers will cause your wax piece to bend out of shape when you handle it. The solution to this is to keep your piece in the refrigerator and periodically dip your hands in ice cold water when you are working on it. Make sure that nothing gets into the wax when you are working on it, because dirt won't melt out and will end up being stuck in your piece of jewelry.Written by Susana Gormen. Find the latest information on David Yurman Inspired Rings as well as David Yurman Inspired Bracelets |
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