Every design begins with a conversation and lots of ideas go into developing the right design for each person. The actual production of a piece starts with a concept that is rendered as a scaled drawing. From that point we decide whether the piece needs to be hand carved, as in the case of animal, foliate or other representational forms, or produced as a CAD (Computer Aided Design). This decision is usually made in consultation with one of my goldsmiths, who are, as far as I’m concerned, the best in the business.
Customers are welcome to see the CAD renderings. The only drawback to sharing this part of the process is that CAD’s are so good that it can be confusing to look at them. It’s important to know that even though they can look like photographs they are just another form of drawing – but done by computer.
The color in the CAD is what usually throws people. There are two types of images – the schematics and the projected finished product which can look like a photo. Schematics are like an architect’s plan and are rendered in black and green, blue or other colors. It can be hard to mentally replace those colors with the color of the metal that will be cast.
Projections of what the finished piece will look like can look surprisingly real. However, the color in the computer rendering of the projected finished piece is not actually as the metal or stones will appear. It can be a little disconcerting to someone not familiar with the process when the yellow of yellow gold looks alarmingly bright or the color of the stones is oddly intense for instance. Just remember that CADs do not show the finished work – just a scaled, colored projection of the design.
The wax is made from these renderings, as it would be from my hand drawing, and refinements to the execution are made later in the process. CADs address the shape, detail and scale of a piece just as a hand drawing does. The process is basically the same as with a hand carved wax. Here’s how it works:
- I do a scaled pencil drawing with specific notations
- I send it to the CAD maker who renders the drawing in computer format. (In the case of a hand carving, it goes to a wax artist.)
- A schematic is made and a wax model is carved
- The piece is cast by one of our talented goldsmiths
- Once the piece is cast the finish work starts
- Everything is assembled
- Stones are set
- The piece has special finishing touches completed and is given a final polish
Custom work takes time but the result is worth the wait!