Observatory Ring Workshop

Spruill Center for the Arts Atlanta, GA

April 24 , 2010

10:30 am - 5:30 pm

The desire to encircle the fingers with symbols of loyalty, wealth, and power is an ancient tradition dating back thousands of years. Rings are the most personal and most coveted of adornments.

In this one-day intensive, make an "observatory" ring, with a pierced spinning top that rotates around a stone and a creative shank, which can be used for a variety of ring styles. Victoria's internationally acclaimed DVD, Rings, has sold all over the world. This is a special opportunity to make one of her most requested projects with her in person. Students must have beginning jewelry skills and know how to solder with a torch.

Registration information

Observatory Ring

Crescents & Starlight IV

Observatory Ring Workshop Supply List

Please do not wait until the week before class to get your supplies!!!

You can get most of these supplies from JFF.
5269 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30340; (770) 455-1871

If you choose to do any of the ring in gold, I recommend getting the gold from David H. Fell in CA, www.dhfco.com. Their 18k Yellow Gold Standard is zinc free and much easier to work with. Their 22k gold bezel wire is also acceptable.

This ring is constructed of a base sheet and a dome with a wire shank. You may bring stamps or chasing tools for the dome or use roller printed or other textured metal in 24 gauge, either sterling or gold.

Stone: Any round cabochon between 3mm - 9mm and not exceeding 7mm in height. This ring works well for fragile stones.

Metal
24 gauge sterling sheet, 2 x 2
20 gauge sterling round wire 4”
18 gauge sterling OR 18k "yellow gold standard" round wire, 4"
16 gauge sterling silver round wire 8”
4mm x 28 gauge bezel wire in fine silver or 22k gold or a combination of both, 4” total (2” for outside bezel around dome, 2” for the stone)

Optional: 1” x 1” sheet of gold/silver bi-metal in either 18k or 22k for the dome on top. This can be purchased from Reactive Metals or Hauser and Miller. Please note that their minimum order size may be different. (If you have a small piece from the All That Glitters Is Gold class, you make work with that as well.)

Easy, medium, and hard silver wire solder are provided. Please be aware that if you are incorporating gold, you may need to bring 18k easy gold solder.

Tools & Equipment
Many of the tools listed are available in the studio, but please bring your own if you have them.
Tweezers
Solder pick
Joyce Chen kitchen shears or other sharp scissors
Ring sizer
Scriber
Metal ruler
Dividers
Round ring mandrel
Round and flat pliers
Nylon ring bending pliers
Nylon flat pliers
Steel bench block
Optional: Stamps or chasing tools

If you have a dapping block and dapping punches, please bring them. It will speed up the process!

If you have any questions, please email me at victoria@victorialansford.com
Thanks