Monday, November 25, 2019

1 ct Custom Leaf and Twig - Moissanite Diamond Wedding Set - Engagement Rings

Handmade Engagement Rings
Hand Sculpted Leaf and Twig
Engagement Ring

This ring will hold a .75ct up to a 1ct Round Moissanite Diamond or Gemstone.

Hand Sculpted Engagement Ring
1 carat Moissanite Diamond
This will be my Leaf, Twig & Vine Engagement Ring

Wedding Set that will be cast in 14k or 18k Yellow, Rose or White Gold.

Gemstones will include Sapphires, Opals, Amethyst, Garnet, Topaz, Tanzanite, Rubies and Aquamarine just to name a few.

Diamonds will consist of Natural Diamonds as well as Moissanite Diamonds.

This ring will be completed in two weeks and will be on our Etsy Website. I will be posting the completed ring here as well.
Leaf and Twig Custom Engagement Rings
Created using the Lost Wax Process

Friday, November 22, 2019

Lost Wax Artist

I am a
Lost Wax Artist

It's not an impressive title to have but once you understand the 
process you will understand a bit better why I am called a lost wax artist
and I am so proud of it.

Lost Wax Process:

The intricate lost wax process has a rich history in our world. Also known in French as cire perdue. It is a process that allows me to hand sculpt a wax model and cast it into a unique piece of jewelry. Each cast piece is solid silver, gold or platinum once my wax model is melted out of the investment. Investment is a finer type of plaster used by jewelers and is poured around my wax model. Once the investment is dried and then heated, my wax models disappears or known as being burned out and is replaced with melted gold.

My leaf model piece above is a one-of-a-kind hand sculpted wax model that will be cast in 14k gold. Each wax model is hand sculpted to fit our rough uncut diamonds or our hand cut gemstones. We do not mass produce our jewelry, in fact because they are hand sculpted, we choose to only cast a few at a time.

I have tried many different mediums, such as clay, ArtClay, etc.. until 16 years ago, I found jewelers wax which allowed me to get details I was wanting in each piece. With different tools I was able to give my leaves, twig and vines the look I was wanting.

Once in a while I will make a rubber or silicone two-piece mold on some of my pieces which may take up to a week to create an original piece. This is needed to keep the cost down for my customers because creating original works take many hours and some clients need their rings much faster than I can sculpt them but I still insist, to this day to modify each wax model to fit my customers needs. I can also modify the wax model to make it into another unique one-of-a-kind piece.


The History: The oldest known example of this technique is a 6,000-year old amulet from Indus valley civilization. Other examples from somewhat later periods are from Mesopotamia in the third millennium B.C. and the objects discovered in the Cave of the Treasure (Nahal Mishmar) hoard in southern Israel, and which belong to the Chalcolithic period (4500–3500 BC). Conservative estimates of age from carbon-14 dating date the items to c. 3700 BC, making them more than 5,700 years old. Lost-wax casting was widespread in Europe until the 18th century, when a piece-molding process came to predominate.


Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Meet the Artist!

Dawn Vertrees Engagement Rings
Dawn

I love what I do!

I express myself & my personality through my love of sculpting and designing! We all start somewhere to end up where we are and where we want to be. 

I'm was born and raise in Rutherfordton, North Carolina.  I currently live in Huntersville, NC.  Not to far from Lake Norman.  The area is beautiful and growing fast! I am very close to my family, as most all still live near by.  

This isn't a resume so I'm not going to start at the very beginning of how I got to where I am, but I have been through a lot of growth, business and the ups and downs that come with it. 

In 2011 I decided to really put my passion for designing and sculpting to work for me. What started out as a hobby, quickly became a business.  I took my new designs of bracelets, rings & earrings on the road with me to show and sell at art festivals, art shows and Artisan markets.  I developed a nice following and did custom designs for the people that followed my work. 

I then decided to branch out and put myself online, so I joined Etsy.com. 

Raw Diamond Twig Engagement Ring
I started out with one of a kind sterling silver bracelets, rings and necklaces. As time went on, I learned more techniques, learned about raw diamonds and gemstones. These unique raw materials fascinated me! 

The raw rough uncut natural diamond twig engagement ring quickly became my most popular design and still is. (photo left)

As business started to grow, I needed extra hands on deck.  I hired my daughter, Missy. Missy quickly became my right hand man when it came to working with customers, marketing and keeping everything running so I can do what I do best, design, sculpt and create new products! 

I love what I do! I love to create and talk with customers.  Our customers share their proposals stories, their wedding & anniversary photos with us all the time! It's the best feeling in the world to make something that is a part of their special occasion. 

I am introducing new gemstones, moissanite diamond and hand crafted designs all the time! I hope you enjoy the designs I am so passionate about and I hope I can create something special for you! 

Thank you for stopping by to get a little glimpse into my little design world! 

-Dawn











Monday, November 18, 2019

2.43 ct. Moissanite Leaf and Twig Engagement Ring - Yellow Gold Wedding Band

Leaf and Twig Engagement Ring
Leaf & Twig Engagement Ring

Item Details:
Handmade Engagement Ring
Handmade
Materials:
Solid Gold
Gemstone: 
Moissanite Diamond


14k carat Solid Gold Moissanite Engagement Ring
Leaf and Twig Engagement Ring
Hand Sculpted and Handmade
Engagement Ring
This ring was hand sculpted by Dawn using the lost wax method. Each leaf was hand sculpted and placed on the twig vines and then cast in 14k Gold (shown).


Top Width: 10.60mm
Bottom Band Width: 2.57mm
This ring is available in 14k and 18k Yellow Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold.


Moissanite Engagement Ring
2.43 Carat Moissanite Diamond

The Forever One Moissanite diamond is a 2.43 DWT (3.78 grams) Radiant Cut Moissanite Diamond.

Size: 9mm x 7mm
Description: Colorless; eye clean; excellent brilliance; good cut; good polish

Note: Certified Authentic Forever One comes with a certificate of authenticity.


ABOUT MOISSANITE:
Charles & Colvard is the original creator of moissanite. The process is lengthy, complicated and expensive, which limits the output—it takes two to three months for the creation of a single gem. Charles & Colvard’s manufacturing process and years of expertise in creating the gemstone.


Thursday, November 14, 2019

Black Rhodium Unique Wedding Band - Raw Uncut Diamond Ring - Tree Branch Rings - Diamond Engagement Ring





Hand sculpted Raw Diamond Wedding Set, a true one-of-a-kind creation.

My Process: These rings are hand sculpted by me (Dawn) in wax using the Lost Wax Process. I have been sculpting my twigs, vines and leaves since 1987 and enjoyed creating every single one of them.

Metal: 14k or 18k solid Yellow Gold gold with black rhodium plating, distressed to highlight the textures I put into my rings.

Our Diamond adheres to KPCS, Kimberly Process Certification Scheme, so it is genuine and comes through legitimate sources only.

Additional Information, please click here.


Our Engagement Rings:

● Rough Diamonds are approximately .65 carats

Optional Stones include hand cut and rough Rubies & Sapphires

● Our 14k and 18k Golds are solid Gold, Cruelty-Free Refined Gold from the US.

● Leaf & Twig Engagement ring is 9.5mm wide at top and 3.67 at the bottom.

● Matching Band is 3.9 wide at the Leaf and 2.7mm at the bottom of the band.







Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Raw Diamond Rose Gold Engagement Ring - Engagement Ring Set


Twig Engagement Ring
Twig Engagement Ring

 Item details:
Handmade

Materials:
14k or 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, White gold

Gemstone Options: 
Rough Diamond, Moissanite Diamond or Hand Cut Gemstones

Raw Diamond Bridal Set using a uncut diamond in our 
hand sculpted Twig Design.

There is something inside me that appreciates the details found in nature. Whether its in the shape of the leaves and how they touch each other, the tree's many textures or how the limbs reach out to the sky. I see it all as something that grows with passion and has a valuable purpose in our lives. I want that exact feeling in every ring I create.

Those same thoughts go into every design I create in my studio. When I sit down at my bench, I will look at that diamond or gemstone and visualize how those limbs will hold that little jewel up in the air. I want to sculpt the branches and leaves as if its a presentation to you, so I hope you find something of mine that touches your heart as much as it has touched mine.

Hand sculpted Diamond Wedding Set, a true one-of-a-kind creation.

Items Descriptions:

● Premium Rough Uncut Raw Diamonds, all Are Cruelty-Free Diamonds.
Our Diamond adheres to KPCS, Kimberly Process Certification Scheme, 
so it is genuineand comes through legitimate sources only.

Engagement Ring/s:

● Rough Diamonds are approximately 1.5 carats up to 2 carats

● Our 14k and 18k Golds are solid Gold, Cruelty-Free Refined Gold from the US.

● Twig Engagement ring is approximately 11mm wide at top.
● Matching Twig Band measures 1.7mm wide.
● Both Bands together at the bottom is 3.3mm wide.
● Finish: Twig Finish and Polished.

● Your Engagement rings will come a black velvet ring box.

This item ships USPS Priority and International. Please Check Policies concerning Customs, Duty and Taxes for International Shipping.


Monday, November 11, 2019

Handmade Leaf and Twig Moissanite Diamond Engagement Ring

Handmade Engagement Rings
2.43 Carat Radiant Cut Moissanite
Diamond Engagement Ring

Beautiful 2.5 ct 
FOREVER ONE COLORLESS Moissanite Engagement Ring hand sculpted using the Lost Wax Method. I hand sculpted 8 leaves on my twig band to feature this amazing brilliant radiant cut Moissanite diamond by Charles & Colvard.
Hand Sculpted Details
Handmade or handsculpted as I would like to say is all about the details. Instead of the traditional bar needed between the prongs, I incorporated a tiny leaf to keep the prongs from spreading.

On the other end of the prongs I chose to have a circular vine. This creates a softer look to my design.

I have a few more hours of sculpting to fine tune my little piece of art, but I'm so excited to be casting this ring in 14k yellow gold.

Handmade Engagement Rings

This ring will be completed on Friday, November 15th 2019 and will be featured on Etsy. I will be posting the Leaf & Twig Engagement Ring which will be available in 14k and 18k Gold.

I am so excited about this ring and I hope you will come back to visit and see the finished ring.