How It Was Made: The Peoria Symphony Orchestra 126th Annual Commemorative Pendant/Lapel Pin
I was given the honor of designing a beautiful convertible pendant/lapel pin commemorating the 126th year of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. Please join me as I take you inside the intricate details of how it was made.
Design Concept
All KM Jewelry Design pieces start with a design sketch or concept. For this piece, I used the Peoria Symphony Orchestra logo string instrument for my initial concept.
Computer Aided Design
Once a design has been conceptualized, I start the process of 3D design. Each detail of the piece must be completely accurate down to the mm of each gem and prong as the 3D design will be the model for the casted piece.
3D Printed Model
Once the 3D design file is finalized, a mold is created based on the digital model using a 3D printer.
Raw Casting
The mold is used to produce wax replicas of the jewelry piece. These wax models are then attached to a sprue, creating a tree-like structure that will be used in the casting process. The wax tree is encased in a heat-resistant material called investment (ceramic, plaster, or plastic). Once the investment has hardened, the wax is melted out, leaving behind a cavity in the shape of the jewelry piece. Molten metal is then poured into the cavity and allowed to cool, forming the final metal casting.
Finishing and Cleaning
The metal casting is removed from the investment and cleaned to remove any remaining investment material. It is then polished and finished to achieve the desired surface texture and shine.
Stone Setting
If the jewelry piece includes gemstones, they are carefully set into place using specialized techniques. This may involve prong setting, bezel setting, or other methods depending on the design. This particular design is a “shared prong” setting.
Ready to wear! The only piece of its kind, 1/1. Jewelry about YOU. For YOU.
Peoria Symphony Orchestra 126th Annual Commemorative Pendant/Lapel Pin - 14K Yellow Gold set with 0.40 carats natural diamonds and 0.20 carats natural black diamonds.
Follow @kmjewelrydesign on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for more fine custom jewelry design and gemstone related posts, fun facts and articles! If you are ready to explore the thought of designing a special piece of jewelry, click or tap the button below to schedule your complimentary jewelry design consultation.
