Outback Memories Design Challenge: Design 7
Arthur Gordon, Oklahoma City
I kept reading Tess and Chloe’s story, looking at the stones, and playing with the ideas until the design came to me. Here were two people who were close and there was a loss. I lost my father a few years ago and those feelings helped me with this story. I ended up thinking, what would create fond memories?
I felt that breaking up the three stones and creating a suite of 14k yellow gold jewelry would offer Tess versatility. I wanted at least one of the pieces to be appropriate for any occasion in Tess’s life, so I designed a pin/pendant set with the round chrysoprase. It can be worn informally as a pendant on the provided cord or slightly more formally as a pin. The necklace with inlaid opals and pavé diamonds surrounding the square stone is the most formal piece of the suite, while the ring with prong-set opals and diamonds is suitable for any occasion.
I chose opals for the necklace and ring because they both go well with the center stones, making the green of the chrysoprase pop. Also, they enabled me to incorporate another Australian element into the design of two of the pieces.
As a reminder of the love of knitting the women shared, each of the pieces incorporates a woven design. The chain that is attached to the necklace echoes the look of knitting. On the pin/pendant, the woven design encircles the chrysoprase, and on the ring it weaves its way around the shank.
To help keep the project in the right price range, I minimized hand work and cast all of the pieces. The one handmade detail is the pin made of wire that turns the pendant into a brooch.
I can imagine Tess will want earrings to complete the suite. Perhaps she’ll take a trip to Australia with her family and pick up the stones then.
