7 December 2013

Golden Ratio Rings

Golden Ratio rings.
Formula with Feeling- that's my intention.

26 November 2013

Golden Fiori



Fiori Earrings in vermeil. These have extra flowers too.

30 October 2013

Acquired




David Neale, Colour Fold
Acquired by National Gallery of Victoria

16 October 2013

Diamond Ring


David Neale 'Emerald-cut' Diamond, 18k Gold Ring
Simple, simple.
Golden Ratio proportions.

10 October 2013

Golden Ratio Ring

Golden Ratio Ring.
 Made of gold (what else?)

I really like just a simple, simple ring, dont you?
But I often think, what is it that would make a simple ring good?

Answer: pleasing proportions.



Also known as sectio aurea and the Divine Proportion.

7 October 2013

Flower Earrings

A pair of earrings I made today. The design has in mind a methodology that doesnt require sanding or polishing, mainly just shearing and flame-work (a bit like etruscan?). I would love to make these in 22k gold (of course!) Please contact me if you'd like a pair in gold.
The silver version is available in The Golden Smith Shop. US$250
 Here is the method:


First, roll out silver to a thin sheet, using rolling mills.

Cut out discs, then petals. I use scissors for this- snips or saw would be too awkward.

Flatten and texturise the flowers on a rough anvil, with an antique hammer.

Scribe lines on petals using a double-pointed tool and on a heavy paper pad to allow the right amount of push-out.

Close-up of said tool. I fashioned this from a broken twist drill and hold it in a pin vice.

Dome the shapes using a wooden punch and matrix.
I dont use steel versions of these tools as these would probably spread the already-thin material.

I also stone-washed (not shown) these components to de-burr the edges.



Little backing cups are made using the same method.
 All components, including ear wires are organised for assembly.


The backing cups are soldered to the ear wires. Soldering (not shown) is done under an exhaust hood and I also wear a respirator- to protect myself from potential fume hazards.


The flowers have holes punched through their centres, and are attached to backing-cups with a ball rivet. These rivets are formed from short lengths of wire with little heads melted on each end- and will allow the flowers to move a little.


A hot little flame is needed to quickly melt this rivet-head without heating the adjacent solder join 
-which has a lower melting temperature. In other words, if you do this wrong, the whole lot melts together... or falls off!

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat... Repeat!

Assembly complete.

Bend assemblage into earring configuration, with ear-hooks.

 Looking a little grey at this point, I immerse them in a bath of citric acid, 
which brings them to a bright colour.


I burnish the ear-hooks to be bright and smooth, and give them a soapy wash.
Finito.
I may try some similar versions with elements other than flowers? 

9 September 2013

Engraved Wedding Ring

A recent wedding band I forged and hand-engraved.
Best wishes for the happy day, M 'n' C!

31 July 2013

Reborn

Rebirth; some Sentimental gold (a grandma's locket) 
combines with an unusual natural pearl (porcelaneous, rather than nacreous)
 -to become a new ring.




22 July 2013

Gold and Lapis Lazuli Signet Ring



Keeping it simple.
Lapis Lazuli and 18 carat yellow gold.
I cut this Lapis to a flat tablet, and gave the oval shape a slightly more oblate outline.
The gold has a stonewashed and hand-burnished finish.
Now at Pieces of Eight Gallery in Melbourne.
Of course I can make one just for you, just ask.

22 June 2013

Good Gold Again





Folks sometimes ask me to take photos of their jewellery as it is being made. This makes for an interesting keepsake, I'm happy to oblige!
I never get tired of this task; take a spoonful of native gold nuggets, melt into an ingot, forge into wedding ring. Keep it earthy. Its good. Again. 


11 June 2013

Iron & Gold Ring- from a scythe.

































I cut this ring from the chine of a 19th century scythe blade.
I cold forged this to the desired thickness. This kind of old iron blackens easily- a good contrast to the 18k gold ball.
My method for making the ball (you can just buy them):
-calculate volume of gold req'd
-melt gold into a round cavity in a charcoal block
-attach this resulting crude sphere to a brass rod
-fasten rod in drill (voila: rudimentary lathe)
-turn on drill and file the sphere to perfection as it spins. Then cut off the rod.
-It looks a bit 'hard' and 'perfect' at this stage. To soften the perfection, I then rolled the sphere round and round between two marble slabs imparting a nice stone texture.
A little olde world scythe inspiration:



20 May 2013

Quanto Costa Questa?





I love old jeweller's tools, especially hammers, and I hoped to find some in Italy somewhere!
At a huge flea market in Chiavari I asked a few vendors:
"Avete... strumenti di oreficeria?" ( have... tools of goldsmith?)
One gentleman mocked me;
"Che cosa!?? Ora?! Ora?! Ha ha ha! I no speak inglese!!!"
I guess my Italian is unintelligible!
He was adamant that this hammer was a only a cobbler's hammer, (but it is certainly a silversmithing hammer!) so he made it 13 Euro and threw the small one in free.
Ha ha HA!


7 April 2013

Post Card from Jardin De Marqueyssac

Hi! There's me, waving to you.
Love
David





19 February 2013

Platinum Leaf Ring

Fresh off the bench; a Leaf Ring in Platinum 950.
For those who like a cool colour and a very precious-feeling weight.

6 February 2013

Peel an apple




1.Neaten hair  (:-/)
2. Peel and eat apple
3.Tick that off list
4. Time-check; back to work