Live, Love, Laugh
by Rena Wells.
(Reno, Nevada USA)
Once a ring…now a pendant
This pendant was once a ring!
A customer brought me her father’s ring. The ring had been a 25th wedding anniversary present which he had worn for forty plus years.
It was falling apart when he gave it her. My customer wanted me to make a pendant for her.
First the ring shank was separated from the stone’s setting and cut into two pieces, flattened and soldered to two different pieces of silver.
The ruby stone was removed from the setting, the old bezel was filed down, a new bezel was shaped and soldered to the original setting.
The refurbished setting was soldered to a third piece of silver.
Sterling wire shapes were hammered and soldered to the design.
The ruby gemstone was put back in the setting upside down to expose the facets.
Gold filled wire was wrapped around portions of the silver wire for additional accent.
The finishing touch, was to add the charm, which I couldn’t resist since my customer signs all her emails “Live, Love, Laugh”.
The best part. . . my customer. . . she couldn’t believe her eyes.
She had given me free artisan license to create this piece. She had no idea what the finished pendant would look like.
I was a bit nervous at first because she didn’t say anything for several seconds which felt like an eternity.
When our eyes met I was surprise to see tears of joy, a big smile – and I received the best hug ever.
Rena Wells
Comments:
Wow!
by: Zoraida
What a fabulous, personalized pendant you have created. I’m sure your customer was totally flabbergasted when she saw it. It is unlike anything I have seen. Great work!
Live love laugh
by: Kate
Brilliant design idea, beautifully carried out.
It is a Wow!, as Zoraida said
Amazing!
by: Joan Williams
What a great piece of custom jewelry – and a wonderful story!
AWESOME
by: Kathleen Davis
Awesome! I looked at this necklace and was just taken away by its beauty. Very different, and your design is fabulous.
Kathleen Davis
Kathleen Davis Designs
Beautiful pendant and story
by: Rena
Rena, thank you for sharing the lovely story of this piece. I loved hearing how you turned her father’s treasured ring into a beautifully personalized pendant that embodies both your customer and her dad.
And your work is incredible!
Stunning!
by: Dianne
Wonderful piece of work, I really love the design.
I’m the daughter – It was my Dad’s ring!
by: Linda H
Rena did a splendid job of creating an awesome piece of jewelry…. But MORE importantly she designed and made me an extra special “Gift From My Dad” who had worn the ring for 40+ years before giving it to me and who is now 89 years old!!
Thanks again Rena for creating my treasure!
Love it AND my Dad was soooo pleased too!!
Live, Love, Laugh
by: Charlene
What a beautiful pendant. There is so much to take in and I love the fact that the pendant has a story behind it. It really is a stunning piece. I too, don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.
Thank you!!!!
by: Rena Wells
Thanks to all for the amazing comments. Creating this piece was such a pleasure. So many emotions and thoughts ran through my mind during the entire process. I have to share, during the design mode my daughter was looking at all the different drawings I came up with. I pointed to one in particular and said the 3 hearts represented wife, husband and daughter. She said it was very nice but she personally would not like it because she wasn’t a “heart” person and proceeded to ask “Is the person you are designing this for a heart person?” Hmmmmm, I made a call and asked the question and low a behold she wasn’t big on hearts either! She said one lop-sided heart would be okay. Lesson here is ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS when designing a piece for a customer who says to you “surprise me”.
