first photos

[mbroder]

Hi All,

I've been lurking for a while and thought I'd try posting a couple of pics. I get so much useful info from this forum. I've been making jewelry for many years, specializing in stone setting. I use a gravermax for all of my pave and channel setting. I will try to take some good photos of some of my engraving for your critique, but for now, these are just a couple of pieces with lots of pave setting. These photos were taken by someone else with a better camera than mine.

Mark

 

[Ron Smith]

Wow! that is some pretty incredible stuff Mark. Bravo! Are the items castings or hand crafted? I wager that little boot is very popular.
Ron S

 

[mbroder]

Thanks Ron,

These particular pieces are handcrafted by a friend and colleague of mine from Texas named Tracy White. I have been doing all of his stone setting for about 20 years. He has incredible attention to detail and is an engraver as well.

The boot isn't exactly little-by jewelry terms anyway . It has over 250 diamonds in it totalling over 6.00 cts. It is very popular to look at, but we've only sold a few. We do make smaller versions with engraving on the upper part of the boot instead of diamonds that are very popular.

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi Mark

WOW indeed. I'm not knowledgable about jewellery but that is superb. A real peice of art.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[mbroder]

Here is an engraved version of the boot.

 

[Ron Smith]

Equally as impressive, but that little spur is just screaming for some engraving. What do you think my fellow engraver friends?

 

[FANCYGUN]

That little set and engraved boot is sweet.
Ron.I like the plain spurs the way they are. The eye needs a break. But then again.I'm not from Texas

 

[mbroder]

Thanks Ron and Andrew-

The customer is already wearing this particular boot, but I think engraving the spur is a great idea. I'll definitely do it on the next one.

This forum is such a great place for the exchange of ideas. After being in the business for so long, you can get complacent in what you do. A forum like this really gets your creative juices flowing again. Until I happened upon it, I never had any thoughts of firearm engraving. Now, I have a Colt replica taken apart and I'm trying to find the time to start designing and cutting. The quality of some of the pieces I've seen on this forum is so amazing that it's quite humbling. Still, it serves as fuel for me. Hopefully my wife won't miss me too much...

 

[Mike Cirelli]

Mark
Those are very nice. Your setting is superb. You lines are very clean top notch setting. Are these pieces already drilled or do you need to drill? Also wonderful detail put into the items.
Beautiful work.
Mike

 

[mbroder]

Thanks Mike,
That would make my life too easy! I get to pick the diamonds, lay them out and drill until my hand cramps up.

 

[Abigail]

I love these boots! Awesome! Both thumbs up!
Abigail

 

[Dave London]

Naked Spur

Good Call Ron

Nothing worse than a naked spur

 

[Mike Cirelli]

Mark I know that feeling numb hand and cramps. 250 diamonds feels like you ran a marathon when your done. I remember before the gravermax, it was pretty abusive on the hand and arm. Thank God for Don Glaser

 

[Tim Wells]

Good Call Ron

Nothing worse than a naked spur

Oh yeah there is, a spur on a naked person! I think I'm gonna be sick...

Those are beautiful, clean, crisp pieces!

 

[Marcus Hunt]

Mark, these are beautiful pieces. It's strange though that you've only sold a few. Doesn't that always seem to be the way? Everyone says how wonderful they are but not many are willing to buy. I find that a shame. Marketing pieces is tough.

IMHO what we need is a co-operative website (or even a page on the Cafe?) where we can post objects, we as individuals, have for sale. For a small fee we could advertise said objects on a professional looking website and those looking for exclusive gifts would have a place to find them. What do you all think? I'd create it myself if I was more computer savvy and it didn't take me 4 months to make a site that I don't know how to update!

 

[Karl Stubenvoll]

I agree with Mike Cirelli---250 is quite a number for the arms. Absolutely beautiful setting work. Working the stones around tight curves like the toe of the boot takes a master's touch. Here's tipping my hat to your work.

 

[Peter E]

WOW, very impressive items Mark. Those boots are very cool. Must have taken a LONNNNGGG time setting all those diamonds.

Thanks for the posts,
Peter

 

[mbroder]

Thanks everyone for the vote of confidence. It means a lot coming from experienced eyes.

Mike- the gravermax is an absolute neccessity in my life. I learned to do everything with push gravers, but my arm was ready to fall off by the time I was 30. I've been using the gravermax for about 11 years and I honestly think I would have had to consider a new career without it.

Peter- I don't really keep exact track of my time, but I would estimate 40- 50 hours in the fully paved boot just for layout and setting.

Marcus- I think a page or link from this forum would be a great idea, but I certainly wouln't want to hijack the Cafe and turn it into a place where everyone is trying to make a buck and competing for business. I think that is what is so great about the Cafe. It's a non-competitive place for ideas, critiques, compliments, etc... but with that said, I assume members can always PM eachother if they are interested in something- Sam, Abigail really likes the boots

 

[Abigail]

she really does!

 

[monk]

man, that's just really cool stuff. with those skills, you don't need to be wastin your time foolin with a camera. this work is eye candy to the max !