Rope Ring

This is the first project in Stage 4 of the Silver Program at Jewellery Training Solutions. I’ve been looking at this project ever since I found this program, and I’m so excited to finally get to make it! This one always intimidated me. It took me a little while to understand how to carve the pattern, but I think I get it now. This is one I’m keeping for myself, and is definitely something I’m planning to make again. Wouldn’t it make a fabulous mother’s ring, with all the birthstones? There could be any number of stones…

What were the challenges?

Boy, were there challenged with this project! The ring shank was very thick to begin with, so bending it was a struggle. My next order is going to include a ring bender! Then I had trouble figuring out exactly how to carve the pattern. I couldn’t really “see” the rope pattern I was trying to achieve. Setting the stones was a challenge, too. He teaches a way to set stones using a hart bur instead of a setting bur, and it’s taking some getting used to. I think I like it, though. I finally got the stones to pop in nice and snug, but then I had trouble setting them so they didn’t move at all.

Where could I improve?

One of the stones in particular is out of line with the others, so I need to be extra careful to get the pilot holes exactly straight. The carving is a bit wonky, too, but now that I understand it I think the next one will be much better.

What did I learn?

The projects I struggle with the most are definitely the ones that I learn the most on. I understand how to carve the pattern now (I think, anyway). I also have a much better grasp on the way he recommends setting stones. I just need a lot more practice!