Holiday Feature! Bittersweets NY + Giveaway- 11.30.09
Happy Cyber Monday! I’m so excited to share this holiday feature with you! Our friends at Bittersweets NY have sent us an incredible look inside their studio, sharing not only a peek at their space, but also the making of their latest diamond rings inspired by nature - resembling twigs holding the diamond! From sketches to final product, it’s fascinating to see how it comes to be. AND, on top of that, they have been generous enough to offer one of their 14K Gold Diamond Twig Bands for a giveaway as well! See the story on the next page as well as details on the giveaway!
BITTERSWEETS: MAKING OF THE TWIG RINGS
Feature & Images by Robin Adams + Caroline Freedman
The Bittersweets Twig rings were inspired by two things: Gavin & Katie and Spring.
One day I got an email with this drawing attached and the explanation that Gavin had proposed to his lovely girlfriend. I loved the colors and the delicate feel to the design. It was a challenge though, due to a huge hand-cut diamond, passed down through his family. How to make sure this beautiful stone was secure!
After many failed attempts, and as many months had passed, I noticed the tiniest, neon sprigs, grazing the chain link fence on my way home. They seemed only days, even hours old and I wondered if their delicate features would be preserved by the casting process. I plucked one branch for him and one for her. Working on this project, I realized how connected marriage and spring are. They both represent a new beginning, and yet are part of a cycle.
The first step to recreating spring in the Bittersweets studio is making the raw castings:
Then it’s time to play with fire … soldering the first joint:
Before it’s ready for a finger, I need to make it the right size on the ring mandrel:
Then I cut a bit of tubing to make the setting:
When human hands aren’t enough … my “robot hands” hold everything together:
The stone needs to be secured in the delicate sprigs, so measuring is important. Almost done!
Finished!
THE GIVEAWAY!
While we can’t quite give away the wedding rings ~ Bittersweets NY has been generous enough to offer us one 14K Gold Twig Band with a Diamond in the center! So, for a chance to win, please leave a comment telling us what this golden twig would symbolize in your life! A winner will be picked on December 7th, 2009.
Tags: fashion - gift - giveaway - jewelry
I would love to wear Bittersweet’s Golden Twig ring in place of my wedding ring because I lost my original ring. :( I had lost weight and my ring didn’t quite fit, so it was loose and must have gotten lost somewhere. I have been going sans ring, but have been looking to get a new one. My hubby doesn’t mind that I don’t wear one, but I would really like to wear this symbol of our love. I’d try not to lose this one! Haha!
----- ann 30.11.09 10:54