Our customer from Hong Kong, Brian, had purchased his magnificent platinum wedding set in February 2011. He contacted us again in July having purchased a magnificent 5.75 carat (10.3mm) square cushion cut aquamarine from Jeff White and wanted us to create a pendant as a wedding gift for his future wife.

 We are looking for a pendant with a back that allows the chain to slide through, and a front that is free of distractions.

He originally wanted the Barbara pendant with a bezel finish but aquamarine is a soft stone and if we bezeled it there was a 50/50 chance that we would either scratch it or it would break when heat for the bezel process was applied. We explained this to Brian and he wrote back:

We have been browsing through the website to look at more prong settings for ideas and came across the V-Prong Lever Backs<http://www.briangavindiamonds.com/home/ring-details/?product_id=5373>. We like how smoothly the prongs and basket fit together. Is it possible to adapt the basket and prong design for our pendant?

After some discussion we decided to create the back basket similar to that of the v prong lever backs and set it with 4 split claw prongs. In addition, Brian wanted her to have the option to wear the pendant both straight and kite set. We explained that the design would not allow for it and so we created it to be kite set with an invisible tube like bail to allow the pendant to move on the chain.

We set about creating the wax model for the pendant, cast it in platinum and then very carefully set the magnificent aquamarine.

Hi Shandel, We picked up the pendant last night and it looks absolutely amazing. Please send our most sincere thanks to Jamie, Lesley, Brian, and everyone else involved in the process. Thanks, Brian

The process and results are in the gallery below.

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

You Ruined My Proposal…

Hi Lesley & Brian, It's been a little over a week since I proposed to my girlfriend, now fiance.  I just want to write a quick email to update and thank you both for making this beautiful ring in such a short time frame.  Oh, and most important of all, the ring fit her perfect! Hope you're not shocked by the email subject line.  But if you are, you only have yourself to blame.  ;-D    Here is the reason….

Ryan contacted us the third week of September and needed his custom engagement ring no later than October 7. He selected a beautiful 1.21 carat Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows diamond and wanted an 18K white gold custom ring incorporating Brian Gavin Signature round melee and marquise diamonds. We created the setting using CAD, printed the wax, cast the ring, set the diamonds and got the ring out in time.

I am sure all our readers will agree that the result is beautiful!

© 2009, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

A customer recently contacted us to create 2 custom pieces using two colored spessartite garnets that she had purchased. Evidently it has been difficult for her and other colored stone lovers to find a custom jeweler to create custom settings for their stones. Most custom jewelers shy away from colored stones as they are softer than diamonds and easier to scratch or break during the setting process. Being that we have two master jewelers on staff that specialize in setting colored stones, we felt comfortable taking on the projects, although we always clarify the risk of setting colored stones with our customers.

Needless to say, the customer was very pleased with both projects, even though the ring had to come back and be remade in a slightly larger size, using the same head.

PROJECT ONE:

An 18K white gold split shank rope style solitaire for her 2.27 carat cushion cut medium dark strong reddish orange Malayan pyrope-spessartite garnet.

PROJECT TWO:

An 18K yellow gold half bezel pendant with a split bail, with Brian Gavin Signature melee F/G VS set into the bail for her approximately 3.5 carat 8.5 x 6.7mm emerald cut medium dark, strong yellowish orange spessartite garnet with a radiant cut bottom.

The two projects are best described in the pictures below.

© 2009, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

1. The width of the shank is 2.1mm at the bottom and 2.6mm at the top.
2. The shank is 1.5mm thick at the bottom and 3mm thick at the top.
3. The setting is $750 in 18K white gold and $1150 in platinum.
4. **There is a surcharge for diamonds weighing over 2 carats**
5. Each setting is made from scratch for the correct diamond size and in the correct ring size.
6. Production time will depend on the volume of work in the jewelry workshop at time of order, but will usually range from 7 – 10 business days.

…Lesley!!!! My heart is literally RACING! I'm super super THRILLED! Thank you so much for the pics! You've really made my day! …

© 2009, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.