How To Draw Gemstones

Young jeweller will sparkle

A YOUNG Ballina jewellery designer has topped the “gems and coloured stones” category in a national jewellery design competition.

Kirrilly Halvorsen, 24, of Ballina, was one of five finalists who attended the Jewellers Association annual conference in Sydney at the weekend.

The Australian Jewellery Student and Apprentice Design Awards required the trainee jewellers to draw and paint a design of a piece they would like to make.

“We sent in a painting of the piece, and those who got accepted as a finalist then were supplied with the materials they needed to make it,” Ms Halvorsen said.

“The whole process has taken about a year. I was given the metals and gemstones, made the piece, and then heard I had won in my category.”

Ms Halvorsen has been serving her apprenticeship at Jewellers’ Workshop in Byron Bay, while attending five month-long blocks of training at a TAFE college in Brisbane.

“At work, I’ve been learning how to do everything from making jewellery to doing repairs and serving customers,” she said.

“And I’ve just finished my final assignment for TAFE, which involved designing and making three pieces which will be judged in the Queensland Jewellery apprentices competition. I’ll know the result of that in November, when I’ll be fully qualified as a jeweller.”

Ms Halvorsen hopes ultimately to start her own business, creating a top-end collection of about a dozen original designs a year.

Choosing the Right Sterling Silver Ring - Jewelersbenchwest.com ...

Let’s face it: We love rings. No, we adore rings – especially sterling silver rings. But not every ring looks good on every finger. When choose a sterling silver ring, it is important to consider the size and shape of your fingers and the size of your hands. While trying on gold and sterling silver rings is an excellent way to determine which ring suits, here are some general guidelines to help you find the most flattering sterling silver ring.

Sterling silver rings for long fingers : Sterling silver rings inlaid with round gemstones, such as pearls, are usually the most flattering to longer fingers. Marquise-shaped gemstones – which are oblong gemstones with pointed ends – can make long fingers look even longer. Similarly, pear-shaped or oval stones may not be flattering to long fingers. Alternatively, elongated sterling silver rings without gems can emphasize a finger’s length.

Sterling silver rings for short fingers : Sterling silver rings with Marquise-shaped gemstones, with their tapered tips, can draw the eye along the length of the finger, making shorter fingers seem longer. Pear- and teardrop-shaped gemstones such as amethyst, tourmaline and citrine, may have the same effect. Round stones, such as pearls or round garnets, however, tend to have the opposite effect, and so do not usually flatter short fingers. Chunky, rectangular sterling silver rings are probably least flattering to shorter fingers.

Sterling silver rings for narrow fingers : Heart-shaped and round stones in a sterling silver ring add softness to the narrow finger and so flatter it. Sterling silver rings with thick bands emphasize the horizontal line of the finger and so make it look wider. Any small gemstone – whether peridot, smoky topaz, or carnelian – will give a narrow finger the illusion of width.

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