A New Website for Sozai Designs

Sozai Designs has a new website!! Please take a look at our new creations and jewelry designs.

http://www.sozaidesigns.com

A wonderful jewelry book

If you are looking for a little jewelry inspiration, try this gem:

Happy New Year

2013 was a great year and I am excited about all things I will be working on in the current year. My "inbox" is already full. Here are some of the things that I am currently working on:

• Turquoise and sapphire cocktail ring
• Sapphire and diamond ring
• Gold and pearl earrings
• Pave and gold earrings

I will post pictures as I get through these pieces.
 

Aquamarine and Diamond Ring

 

I am working on a new ring.  It will have a large round semi-opaque aquamarine center stone surrounded by diamonds.  I am making it out of wax and then will cast it in gold.  Here are some early pictures.

The first picture shows the diamond halo that will surround the aquamarine.  The ring is still looking very crude at this stage but has been marked on the wax block.

The ring shank is beginning to take shape and is being measured against the diamonds that will be added to the halo and shank.

Here is the wax piece close to being finished.  The shank and the halo are now joined.  The setting positions for the stones are set.  Just needs some smoothing out on top. 

Once I have it cast in metal I will show you the steps to set the stones.

Peridot Jewelry

From early times through the middle ages, Peridot was considered a symbol of the sun. An early Greek manuscript indicated that Peridot bestows royal dignity on the wearer. The Egyptians fashioned Peridot beads as early as 1580-1350 BC. It was brought to Europe by Crusaders in the Middle Ages and was often used for ecclesiastical purposes. During the Ottoman empire (1300-1918) Turkish sultans amassed the world’s largest collection. Very popular during Baroque period. The largest cut Peridot weighs 310 carats and was found on the island of St. John, in the Red Sea. It is currently on display in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Other Large cut stones: 192.75 carats belonging to czars in Moscow, 146 carats in the Geological Museum in London. The intensity and tint of the green depends on how much iron it contains.

Peridot also occurs in certain types of meteorites. In Russia, there are some cut Peridots that came out of a meteorite which fell in 1749 in east Siberia!

Peridot is the birthstone for August. Peridot goes well with white and yellow gold as well as silver.  And of course, Peridot goes well surrounded by a Halo of diamonds in a pair of beautiful earrings or pendant.

Orthorhombic. Indistinct cleavage double refraction. Olivine.

Hardness 6 ½ -7

Michelle Obama wears Kimberly Mcdonald hand made Ring

Michelle also wore a custom designed diamond ring by Kimberly McDonald and Jimmy Choo shoes. Her clothes and accessories will be donated to national galleries after this evening's balls.

Michelle Obama Gemstone Cuffs at Inaugural Ball

Michelle Obama wore a stunning set of gemstone cuffs to Presidential Inaugural Ball. They are absolutely beautiful and will no doubt set a trend for colored gemstone cuffs. I will be writing more about them in the days to come.

Michelle is no doubt a leading trendsetter in American fashion and very savvy with her jewelry and clothes.

 

Champagne Diamond Engagement Ring

Some of these diamonds are up to 1.5 carats in weight.  Any of these diamonds would look great as a center stone with a halo of smaller white diamonds surrounding  it.

Champagne Diamonds

 

I am working with a Diamond Dealer that specializes in Champagne Diamonds of all sizes.  Here are just a few samples. Each one of these stones are about one carat and would make a beautiful center stone in an engagement ring.

Blue Star Flower Pearl Pendant

 

 

Made of blue Topaz with an 11mm fresh water pearl, this beautiful sterling silver pendant was originally make for a friend. The Blue Star Flower pendant can be made in any color you wish. The pendant can also be made into a ring or earrings.