Hi all back from a digital detox.
A customer gave me a very large asscher cut blue topaz to set into a
ring of my making.
Design “do what you want” love that brief. When I am given freedom
to do what I like I charge a very good price for the customer, I am in
play land. This will be a massive cocktail ring.
Will the ring be easy to make? NO.
Will the stone be easy to set? Not for me.
Will the ring look great? Oh yes.
Will I have fun? You bet!
I have made the setting and ring blank, it is going for a check for
size, bespoke demands that.
I am making it in Argentium, the world’s finest silver alloy, a real
joy to work.
I am charging a very good price $150 because she will be a repeat
customer and will refer others to me. She is also a colleague, I will
tell her that to tell her friends that the setting/ring would cost
$350.
Stone cost on top.
So what will I have done?
Had great fun making a ring. And made a profit.
Got a repeat customer, she has many stones to set.
She will be great free advertising.
But more important than the above I will have tested my skills,
learnt a great deal and have had a very relaxing time on the bench
doing what I want. After 25 years on the bench it is a real joy to
push myself where I have not been before.
all the best
Richard