Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Artistically cut rough gemstone with hand sculpted Twig and Leaf designs by Dawn Vertrees

Ruby, Sapphire, Emeralds and More!


Most people are surprised to hear that rubies,sapphires, and emeralds have been found in North Carolina. They are even more surprised when they learn that there are about a dozen locations in North Carolina where anyone can look for gemstones and keep anything that they find.

Gem materials found in North Carolina include aquamarine, beryl, citrine, emerald, garnet, moonstone, rose quartz, ruby, sapphire, smoky quartz, staurolite, topaz, tourmaline, and many others. Members of the North Carolina Legislature declared emerald the state's official gemstone.

Partially cut Rough Gemstones for Wedding Rings, Anniversary Rings, Birthday Rings, Promise Ring  Amethyst found in   Catawba County, NC
Amethyst found in
Catawba County, North Carolina
A small piece was taken from this North Carolina Amethyst Crystal and was artistically hand cut for me. It absolutely blows me away seeing something so beautiful in its crystal form and then artistically cut to give me a beautiful gemstone for me to sculpt my wax around it.

Cutting our own stones have taken my designs full circle, with hand cut stones and hand sculpted designs using the lost wax method.

This gives new meaning to one-of-a-kind creations. Each stone is cut based on the rough gemstones organic shapes. The shape of the stones dictate how the gemstones are cut...we simply just follow the lines.

Rough Amethyst
Artistically Hand Cut

These stones will not have the traditional common features such as a crown, girdle, and pavilion. They will not be calibrated or cut for a set size. I am looking for fewer cuts on these gemstones so that they would work with my organic designs.

Not being calibrated means that each design will have to be hand sculpted around the stones each time. No two designs will look alike.

The primary material will be 14k and 18k Yellow, White and Rose Gold which is Cruelty-Free and refined here in the US.


The wax model I am sculpting below is only partially completed. It will be my first
Hand Sculpted Twig
using the lost wax
method.
design using our new gemstones.

Once the wax model is completed, it will be cast in 14k Yellow or Rose Gold and the amethyst will be set afterwards. The twigs will become the prongs.

This ring would make a beautiful Engagement Ring, Anniversary Ring or just simply a Fashionable Statement Ring.

Once completed it will be available on Etsy. You can email us at dvjewelrydesigns@gmail.com or just contact us through Etsy, you'll see that button on our front page.

We will start production this week on additional stones starting with Aquamarines, Morganites and Peridot.

Once into full production we will be adding these new designs at our sister store in Newton, NC to purchase. Additional Information will be coming soon.

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