NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Apr 29, 2011 21:48:36 GMT -5
Here's an opal intarsia I made for my wife for our wedding anniversary. Tomorrow I'll be married 17 yrs. The opal is lightening ridge, and the black is local gabbro I got from behind the barn at my in-law's house, where my wife grew up. I guess you can say it's a little bit of home, and a little bit of the world. The wire is 16 ga soft Argentium silver. I wanted a very simple prong type setting to not take away from the opal. I think I could have ground into the opal a little more to expose more fire, but didn't want to ruin it, so I stopped where I was. I bought a nice sterling omega chain at a local jeweler for Jennifer to wear it on. I would like to thank Mike (mc2) for all his help and advise with this project. I appreciate it immensely! Thanks Mike!  I bought Jim McIntosh's book on "Wiresmithing", and used his basic pendant instruction for this. Here's a video of his on you tube about it. I watched these videos and decided to buy his book. This techinque is really quite simple, but can be made more intricate if you want. I really enjoyed creating the setting this way. Here's 2 pix of the back.   Thanks for looking, Nate |
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Post by tntmom on Apr 29, 2011 21:55:55 GMT -5
Well done Nate! HAPPY 17th! Jennifer is one lucky lady! Congrats!!!!!
~Krystee
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Post by gr on Apr 29, 2011 21:57:43 GMT -5
Real nice work Nate! I like it. Any chance of a back pic? I want to learn to do prong settings because they allow so much of the stone to be shown. I was just curious as to how your bail is attached.
gr
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Post by NatureNut on Apr 29, 2011 22:05:41 GMT -5
That's just beautiful. Congrats Nate! Jo
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Apr 29, 2011 22:08:19 GMT -5
Thank you ladies.
Thank you too Gary. I'll get a pic of the back for you tomorrow. I thought of that as I was putting the pic of the front on here.
Now it's all wrapped up nice and cozy waiting to be gifted in the morning.
Nate
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Post by gr on Apr 29, 2011 22:44:49 GMT -5
 Thank you Nate
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TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since December 2010
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Post by TByrd on Apr 29, 2011 22:59:49 GMT -5
Happy Anniversary.
TByrd
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Post by Toad on Apr 30, 2011 6:26:20 GMT -5
Looks great. She'll love it.
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Post by rockmanken on Apr 30, 2011 6:58:04 GMT -5
Great work and congratulations, but I don't understand how she put up with you for 17 years. Lol
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Apr 30, 2011 8:23:43 GMT -5
Thanks guys.
LOL Ken! I don't either... Maybe there should be tickets for a carribean vacation stuffed in with that pendant!
Nate
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Post by roy on Apr 30, 2011 8:41:15 GMT -5
nate's going to get lucky tonight !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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metalartz
having dreams about rocks
Member since January 2011
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Post by metalartz on Apr 30, 2011 8:45:11 GMT -5
nice work Nate!
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
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Post by adrian65 on Apr 30, 2011 9:33:41 GMT -5
Perfectly done intarsia, very good contrast between the opal and the local stone. Perfect shape, too.
Happy anyversary, may you have many more together in joy and happyness!
Adrian
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TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
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Post by TByrd on Apr 30, 2011 10:23:42 GMT -5
Happy Anniversary!!!
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NDK
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Apr 30, 2011 10:31:06 GMT -5
New pix of the back added in the first post.
Thank you all for your kind comments. Jennifer loved the pendant! I think she was a bit puzzled on how I did it. She asked "is the opal part of that stone, or how did you get it in there?" I explained it to her and she was a bit amazed I think.
I have to take the necklace back to the jeweler though, as there's a bur on the end near the clasp that pokes into her neck. I may have them add a larger jump ring on it too, as it's barely large enough to hook onto the clasp. It's less than a 2mm ring, so it's very difficult to hook by yourself with it around your neck.
Nate
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Post by tandl on Apr 30, 2011 14:55:45 GMT -5
Hurray for gabbro, does work great for contrast , You done a great job on it Nate  |
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Apr 30, 2011 15:16:01 GMT -5
Thanks Ted. It's not really sparkley, but it does have some nice flashy type areas in the gabbro like the first pic sorta shows.
Nate
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pporky
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2007
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Post by pporky on Apr 30, 2011 18:11:59 GMT -5
fantastic piece Nate thats a work of real art. Bill
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Post by MyNewHobby on Apr 30, 2011 18:30:21 GMT -5
How Beautiful!!!!
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Post by tanyafrench on Apr 30, 2011 19:23:46 GMT -5
That is just awesome! Great job and congrats on the 17 happy years with many more to come.
Tanya
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Thank you Nate
