Ametrine Elegance takes 1st place
Randy Erickson from
Richardson Jewelers started using Artcam 4 years ago. After 2 days on
the ArtCAM training program he was able to make simple rings and
pendants immediately after going home. Randy recalls the first year
that Richardson Jewelers had the program, “our custom jewellery
increased 100%. Each year, we have followed the same trend to an
increase of 700 to 800% as of right now, in our 4th year.” Richardson
Jewelers distinguish themselves in the marketplace by offering a unique
design service “if we don't have what you want, we will design it WITH
you.” With no prior CAD experience Randy was amazed to see how easy
the program was to use.
This year Richardson Jewelery
entered into the yearly Michagan Jewellery Design contest with an
Ametrine Necklace worth over $2500. Quick to produce “Ametrine
Elegance” won 1st place in the CAD division of the competition.
Initially
the piece was inspired by a beautifully cut Ametrine stone that Randy
wanted to frame. Creating the back first, he mimicked the design cut
into the stone itself. It was a rectangle plate with areas left open
for 3mm hollow tubing to be lasered to it. From there, a simple design
was created for the front of the piece. The main frame around the
stone was accented with beautiful pave' set diamonds, with arcs of
complimentary colours pave' set to steady the centre stone.
Scanning
the Ametrine stone Randy was able to trace it and bring the image into
the 2D view of ArtCAM. This allowed him to see where the tubes would
run through the centre stone for setting. Bezels were then created in
order to laser into the tubes on the top and bottom as well as to set
the centre stone. Once the pieces were cast, they were cleaned and
polished and the stones in the front panel were set.
Each
bezel was lasered to a 3mm tube cut to the actual size and the stones
were set into them. The next step was to assemble it so that the centre
stone was tension set into the mounting with the tension coming from
the tubes. The tubes were then laser welded to the top and bottom of
the face plate, after which, the distance required to give the culet
enough clearance in the back was measured and the tubes lasered to the
back plate. Tubes were then run through the centre stone and pulled
through the back plate to give them enough tension to hold the stone in
place. With the correct tension, they were held in place as each one
was lasered into place. After cleaning the piece was the ready to
enter the competition.
Randy believes that “It really has
been a life changing experience from the standpoint of falling in love
with creating jewellery. There once was a time when I could see in my
mind, a piece I would like to create....but I was unable to because I
am not an advanced wax carver. With ArtCAM, there hasn't been anything
that I could dream up, that I could not create. The fact that I can cut
a wax while I'm working on my next design means that I can create more
pieces and make more money for the company. ArtCam's service has been
outstanding with their resellers help at a moments notice if I ever
need it.....and with the new features being added each year, it just
continues to get better.”
|
