My Large Citrine Silver Flower Ring


Have I told you  before? I love using the Repousse technique when designing and planning a new  piece of jewelry. Somehow I prefer this to making models in wax, which is what most designers do these days. Instead of using wax  I like to simply pick up a piece of flat silver and hammer it to a certain form . I carefully hammer to my heart's delight, measure, cut etc. until I am satisfied with the result. This flower ring is one example.

Giant Citrine Silver Ring by Rioritajewelry

For this ring I hammered two pieces of silver separately. I gave the larger piece a shape of a flower, to  the smaller – A shape which would be able to embed an oval bezel for a stone. I soldered them together,one facing the other, and finally soldered the bezel on top and set the Citrine stone in it, a silver band ring was added on the back.

I find the result is not bad at all. Don't you agree?

On the back you will find the Sterling silver hallmark and my personal signature. 

It is a One of a kind (OOAK)  item.

As for the Citrine stone - it belongs to a mineral quartz group. The Citrine colors range from yellow , reminding us of the  more expensive Yellow Topaz – to brown which resembles Smokey Quartz.  There are orange variations too.

Citrine is also known as the “stone of the mind” because there were ancient cultures which believed that when placing this stone on  a human's  forehead,  it would increase his psychic abilities. Well, as I have a few Citrine stones, and am not so very young any more, only at heart that is, I will try this on myself. Perhaps I shall even let you know the results...(Laughing Out Loud).

Getting serious again - When  Citrine crystals and  Amethyst stones are formed together by heating,  a  bi-colored gemstone is created - the Ametrine.

And more – most Citrine stones in the market today, are heat-treated Amethysts and mostly arrive from Brazil Although Brazil  sells natural stones too. More  Citrine stonescome to us from The Ural Mountains in Russia,  France and Madagascar.  The brown stone in my ring is a NATURAL Citrine stone.

Lower grade Citrine stones result from being heated at  high temperatures.  By using this process we receive a variety of orange,  and Cherry  colors.  The darker they get - the more valuable they are.

Thank you for watching!

Riorita - Handmade Jewelry Designs

Riorita - Handmade Jewelry Designs

New Handcrafted Ancient Roman and Greek Coin Jewelry

Being a person who loves to indulge in ancient history, I am always somewhat excited when I add a new Ancient coin to my collection. I keep many of the coins in my collection, but when I have similar items, I allow myself to create jewelry with them and try to market them, hoping people will discover the charm of wearing ancient coins, which have been around for thousands of years, as much as I do,

Lately I have handcrafted three different jewelry pieces with some of my favorite Antique coins:

1.  ancient silver Roman coin necklace

 Authentic bronze coin which was struck around 337AD. The front of the coin reveal the image of Constantius II , sun of the great Constantine I, who was the emperor of Romebetween the years 337AD and 361AD. On the back you will observe an oak wreath with monograms. The coin is set in a Sterling  bezel.  I decided to create a minimal design. The coin pendant hangs from a Sterling Silver foxtail necklace.

Sncient Roman Coin Sterling Silver Necklace - Constantius

The length of the  necklace can be readjusted acc. to customer's requirements

The necklace can be worn two sides.

 2. Ancient Greek Coin Necklace - Goddess Athena

Another necklace, with a very rare bronze Ancient Greek coin.  On the front of this coin you can see the image of Greek Goddess Athena. The coin was struck in Thessalonica, Macedonia - Greece, between  158-149 B.C.  Athena's head is shown with a helmet, which is one of her attributes.On the back you will find an oak wreath with monograms. This coin is from a short period after the Romans had conquered the Macedonians.  The style of the coin is rather Roman than Greek, as in Roman coins from that period.

I hammered a round pendant with a design surrounding the bezel of the coin. I set the coin in the middle. I added two loops on each side of the pendant. To each loop I added an industrial loop chain. The necklace has a hammered hook close to the pendant, simply because I personally like it that way. However, if customers prefer to shorten the chain or change  the hook to the back, I can change this. I will appreciate it if customers let me know prior to purchase.

It is a a statement necklace and a one of a kind item ooak).

Ancient Greek Coin Necklace - Athena

3.  Ancient Roman Coin Ring

This is another coinfacing  Constantius II. The coin is set on top of a Sterling Silver ring. I decorated the sides by wrapping a fine silver thread. The inside  of the ring shows us the large winged Goddess Nike who is the Goddess of Victory. Her name in Roman mythology is - Victoria. 

Ancient Coin Ring Constantius

Goddess Nike (Victoria) inside the ring.

I found a sculptured image of Nike on the net. This can be found in Ephesus, today's Turkey :

A great weekend to you all!

My New Giant Silver Ruby Ring

As July's birthstone is the Ruby, here are a few important facts about this stone:
Rubies are naturally created from aluminum oxide -  corundum -  which also exists in Sapphires.  The Ruby's range of colors is from Pink to Blood red. The red colors  come from the element chromium in the mineral. The name "Ruby" originated from  Latin "ruber" which means "red".The most valuable Rubies are the brighter ones. They are called "pigeon blood-red". What also determines their price is clarity and weight (carat) . Every authentic Ruby has needle-like inclutions such as in authentic Aquamarine stones. A Ruby whithout the "needles" is probably a stone which was treated.

To handcraft my new giant Ruby Ring I hammered a flat piece of sterling silver to the shape of a flower. Then I picked a dark oval Ruby cabochon and set it in the middle . The color of the stone is  dark red and it has the needle inclusions I've mentioned above.  Finally I attached a hammered sterling band on the back, oxidized it and gave it a satin finish.  The other side of the ring is oxidized too.

Last month I had added another red gemstone ring to my Etsy shop. The stone is a lovely Rhodocrosite stone which I set in a sterling silver ring which I had handcrafted for it:

Silver and Rhodocrosite Ring

Rhodocrosite is a mineral with  multiple shades. The range is  Raspberry red to rose pink and even slightly orange hues. Most of the Rhodocrosite stones are found in Argentina.

Rhodochrosite is said to create for you a harmonious life with love and friendship, kindness, tolerance together with self-love. It is said to improve eye sight. The Incas believed this gemstone contains the blood of their ancient kings which has become stone. Therefor they call it  "Inca Rose".

This ring has a most beautiful pink color. reminds me very much of a Ruby without needle inclusions.

Thanks for watching!

December stone - Black Onyx Defence

What is Onyx?  It is a semi-precious stone, Chaldedony, which in nature, is found mostly in  brown, red, white, and black. Chalcedony is a large range of stones formed from silicon dioxide better known to us as quartz. 

Here is what they have to say about what Onyx does to you- Have you had any feelings of anger lately? the kind  that makes you feel small and bitter against almost everyone who comes your way? You get up in the morning and you just hate how your partner drinks his coffee in the morning? you want to yell at your new neigbours in your apartment  building to stop slamming their door whenever they go out, ..but  know you have to restrain yourself and have a nice polite little talk with them and you simply can't get yourself to do it?....Or - your favorite pet has  passed away..or something  you have heard on the news which made you feel uncomfortable?...

Well, it is said that when you wear an Onyx stone on your body, it helps release all these negative emotions.  Do you want to end an unhappy relationship? Onyx will give you the energy to do it. It  guards you against negativity from others.. Onyx will defend you against your own bad feelings and of others toward you.

It is also said that as black means the absence of light - invisibility, the dark protects you. Therefore,  In the dark, your senses and awareness are sharpened. You love yourself more!

Model Maital wearing my Onyx and Silver Necklace

Well.......this is what they say about Onyx. I personally believe that when I get up in the morning, I should say to myself: "I am strong! I can control myself! I love myself! I love everyone and am able to accept them as they are! and..... I am going to wear these lovely Onyx earrings I left by my bedside because they go well with my outfit and will show everyone what a wonderful positive person I am!!!".......(?)

Between you and me - you should teach yourself to be positive if you wear Onyx or you don't. but one thing is definitely most certain - Onyx makes most women look their best!

I handcrafted a pair of Onyx earrings and a necklace.
Here they are for you:

1. Elegant Silver and black onyx necklace .Oval Onyx stone and sterling Necklace handmade by hammering flower shapes with  dispersed  tiny granulations which are soldered around a Silver bezel with a large oval Onyx stone. The result is a  romantic elegant pendant, which is hung on a thick industrial sterling silver chain.

size of the pendant: 50mm x 45mm (about 2" x1.8")
Length: 45cm (18")
2. Black Onyx and silver dangle earrings,  I used  13x16mm (about 0.10" x 0.12") bezels.  In them I set black oval rosecut Onyx stones. The bezels are of sterling silver and they dangle from elegant sterling earring posts too.The bezels are soldered to an oval flat oxidized silver plate 0.6 m"m thick . The  length from the end of the posts is 27mm.

So now that I've told you my thoughts - get up, wear your most charming smile and wear my earrings or  my necklace

Happy Holidays everyone!

Happy teardrop Earrings

I have searched the internet for the term  "Happy Teardrops", to find something suitable  for this  post, but there  were  too many sad teardrops.  The only "happy tears" I found were a title of a song and a play, but they  did not fit here. 

I guess the only really  happy tears, are the ones I intend to write about - My earrings. Why  HAPPY? because who needs SAD?

OK now. Enough with the blah!

Here are three pairs of teardrop earrings directly from my Etsy shop:

 Green Apple quartz earrings:

These stunning teardrop earrings are handcrafted from sterling silver with  a tiny 14k gold ball and Green Apple Quartz stones. I chose these unique rosecut stones, because of the exceptional colors.

Their length from top to bottom: 1.45"(about 3.6cm).
Stone sizes: 9mm x 13mm.
Thickness of the earwires: 0.8mm
Weight: about 2.4 – 2.7 grams.

The next pair are the ones I handcrafted with small round Amethyst cabochons

These earrings are created from sterling silver. A tiny 14ct gold ball was added, and on the bottom there is a 7mm diam.  Amethyst cabochon. There are hooks behind the earrings .

Length:0.70" from end of the ear-wires

The third pair are similar to the Amethysts but with the difference that they are set with Garnets

. 
My Garnet and Silver dangle earrings.

As I searched, I found a favorite country  song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2coalL7HsEI


Hope you all enjoy your holidays and if you must have tears, let them only be HAPPY ONES!

Affordable Quality Jewelry Gifts with Sterling Silver and Stones

I have a tendency to design my handmade jewelry, trying new ideas, not considering the cost of components but just go on excitedly to create  items which would beautify women. Of course not all these more expensive designs are popular with buyers. I just take a chance by using various stones, some more expensive and some - less.  But  then it gets to pricing. I realize I might have to give them a higher price, as there is more silver in them.( Of course, the more silver you add to an item, the more expensive the item turns out to be). Then I have to consider the price of stones and the work invested....so I have to go back down to earth and say to myself "think about your customers dear, after all, you want to sell this. Don't you?"

So here I am, thinking as a gift buyer: " I need to buy, say, 10 gifts. I want people to enjoy my gifts.  I cannot spend more that $25-27 for a gift. My girl friend likes silver earrings and stones, but I cannot afford to spend more!" 

As I know now how a gift buyer thinks, I decided to handcraft a pair of earrings which I would like to wear myself, and which would not be too costly!  I created two small triangle sterling posts and added small lovely Red Agate beads to dangle from their edges. A simple design but - sometimes the simplest ideas are the best!

I believe I have handcrafted  a  lovely pair of affordable earring studs with authentic stones. I can honestly tell you that if someone would have given these earrings to me on Christmas eve, it would make me very happy. I'd feel that the person who gave them to me, thought of what I would love to have. He thought of ME when he bought these.

Attached is a photo of a lovely model - Meital who is wearing these earring posts:

The same earrings can be made with other beads too, such as small fresh water pearls, mother of pearl beads and lovely Aqua Marine beads.

Thank you for watching!