October 2013Sterling silver, cubic zirconia Normally when I'm working on a piece—especially when it's a custom piece for a client—I start with a story and and work towards a design that tells it. Sometimes, however, the process creates its own story.I came across my rounded-square ring mandrel while cleaning my studio one day and lamented that I don't use it enough. Naturally, this inspired me to find a use for it—and, as one does in a situation like this, I fixated on squares everywhere. I decided to make a rounded square ring out of square wire stock, and to make a square setting out of giant square prongs. The setting wound up reminding me of an absctracted tulip, and since everything was square, I decided to call it the Cubist Tulip Ring. Continuing in the square/cubist theme, I decided to set it with a 3mm cubic zirconia (always with the jokes).I was pleasantly surprised by the way the setting winds up lifting and enhancing the small stone, and making it seem brighter and sparklier than if it were set in a bezel or more size-appropriate prong setting.
