Konstanze, the talented designer behind Nodeform, visited us as part of the Moissy Mavens Event we held at Charles & Colvard® HQ back in April. During her tour, she was given the chance to select a gemstone from our vault for use in a custom jewelry design. Below, she describes her creative process and shows off her stunning original ring!
In April, I had the pleasure of visiting the headquarters of Charles & Colvard® in Morrisville, North Carolina, where I learned how moissanite gemstones are made. What a fun experience!
During the tour, we three invited designers were given the opportunity to select one of their fabulous created gems to use in an original ring design. The other amazing designers, Kristin Coffin and Heidi Gibson, have a very different design aesthetic from mine, but we all selected the same gem to work with: a stunning 2ct (8mm) moissanite with a natural gray color.
The 2ct/8mm natural gray moissanite gemstone
Once back in the studio, I kept playing with the moissanite in different lighting to see which metal could best complement the beautiful cool gray color of the stone. My favorites were rose gold and palladium. For a while, I was thinking of doing a mixed metal design with a rose gold bezel and a palladium shank. In the end, I kept it simpler and used my signature style featuring a minimalist palladium ring that allows the moissanite to be the star of the show. A semi-bezel seemed the most appropriate to allow for more light play in the gemstone.
I created a model of the ring on my computer using CAD software, then 3D printed that and made a silicone mold to create a wax replica. The wax model of the ring was then sent to my palladium casting firm.
The 3D printed model in blue and the purple wax replica to be cast into palladium during the lost wax casting process
Once the rough casting came back, it went through multiple stages of sanding and polishing until it was ready to be set with the moissanite.
Here is the rough palladium casting of the ring at the top left along with other rings I was working on at the same time
The cleaned up palladium ring on my bench ready for stone setting
Below are photos (and a video) of the finished ring! The palladium was given a satin brushed finish on the shank with a polished bezel rim.
I am planning to keep this ring for myself and made it purposely in my own ring size. However, I had purchased a second identical gray moissanite stone to offer to my customers. The stone sold quickly, and the customer has requested it be set in the same ring style as shown above, but in 18k yellow gold rather than palladium. I can’t wait to start on this new ring and see how this gray gem looks in stunning, richly colored yellow gold. Follow my Instagram account to see progress pictures of the yellow gold ring as I create it.
~Konstanze
We will certainly stay tuned, Konstanze! Check out the original version of this post on Konstanze’s website: 2ct Gray Moissanite Engagement Ring
