Here are a few recent sapphire rings I have made, photographed on cockscomb flowers that are currently in bloom at PSJ HQ.
Wedding Bands in 14k palladium white gold with 3mm salt & pepper diamonds, .82 carat oval brilliant sapphire with color-change properties from pink/lavender to sky and royal blue.
Honeycomb Eternity Anniversary Solitaire in 14k Palladium white gold with 1.61 ct oval brilliant teal sapphire. The natural, unheated sapphire was mined in Queensland, Australia and has color change from emerald and sage green to cornflower blue. We are calling it teal,and it has brilliant flashes of distinctive greens and blues depending on lighting.
A note on white gold: These rings were both made in 14k palladium white gold rather than traditional white gold, which contains nickel. Nickel is a known carcinogen and I have gotten away from working with it in order to prevent creating nickel dust in the finishing process. Because nickel traditional white gold is a pale yellow color AND many people are allergic to it, it also must be rhodium plated approximately every two years to maintain a bright silvery white metal look. Most white gold sold at fine jewelry stores is rhodium plated traditional white gold but I prefer 14k or 18k palladium white gold because they are hypoallergenic, low-maintainence and better for the environment and the health of my colleagues and I. Some may ask, why not silver? Gold is historically preferred over silver for fine jewelry because of its imperviousness to oxidation, its beautiful changelessness. Platinum is another good choice for carefree white metal fine jewelry, though it is more expensive than gold.
A Correction: Last month I enthusiastically and inaccurately announced that sapphires were the birthstone of August. Shortly after posting, I realized Sapphires are the birthstone for September! I had somehow forgotten all about peridot- the real birthstone of August. In fairness, peridot can be a very boring wallflower of a stone. I know of clients who have purposefully aimed their childs' births for September just to avoid peridot! It could very well be I have psychologically blocked out peridot for some unexplored reason. In any event, sapphires are officially the birthstone of September, however we might feel about it. I suggest sapphires are great gems for a person born any month and one of the very best choices for anniversary and engagement rings, since they have a mohs hardness of 8 vs peridot's 7, come in a rainbow of colors including green, teal and color-change, and can be mined by artisan and small-scale miners.
Before next August I will attempt to source an outstanding collectible peridot in order to prove to myself and to the world that peridot does have special qualities worth remembering.
I have other special new custom projects I am looking forward to sharing soon, and progress on my journey to learn mokumegane and diffusion bonded laminated metals and incorporate them into my new designs. I am also currently open to commissions. Email info@peggyskemp.com. Orders for the Holiday '22 should be placed before mid-october.
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