Platinum Earrings: A Twist in Nature

Final Platinum Earrings

The final look of my Platinum earrings after being papered, filed, and polished gives it the shine that it has. This was a work of 4 days, 1 day without electricity so therefore it delayed the process and the 4 days of no lunch breaks taken to make this happen. 
 

Earrings from the Front View

My client, Madison, once expressed her concern about the escalating deforestation rate and loss of natural habitats, recognizing their profound impact on the planet. She stressed the significance of individuals taking responsibility for their actions, even if it's just a small step towards positive change. 

Inspired by Madison's passion for environmental conservation, I crafted a unique pair of earrings titled "A Twist in Nature." The design showcases intricately pierced daisy flowers, symbolizing the inherent beauty of nature. However, the negative space within the design represents the harsh reality of deforestation and habitat loss. 

Drawing inspiration from the graceful lotus, I incorporated a fly-pressed motif in the design to signify the unity necessary for driving substantial change. It serves as a poignant reminder that collective efforts can make a difference and protect our planet. 

"A Twist in Nature" aspires to raise awareness and inspire others to be mindful of their environmental impact, even through small acts of responsibility and creativity. Each time someone wears these earrings, they carry a meaningful message about the urgent need to safeguard our natural world. 

By blending artistic creativity with environmental consciousness, these earrings aim to spark conversations about sustainability and encourage individuals to take a stand for our planet. With every wear, wearers become ambassadors for positive change, fostering a greater sense of responsibility for preserving the earth's precious ecosystems. Through Madison's initial inspiration and the tangible representation of "A Twist in Nature," we hope to contribute to a greener, healthier future for generations to come. 

Fly-Pressing Platinum

 

Drawings of Fly-press Motif

I conducted a trial and error process to determine the exact shape I wanted to fly-press for my final Platinum earrings. The last two drawings depict the earrings as a whole, with one side pierced and the other fly-pressed. After careful consideration, I finalized that the very last drawing represents the desired shape and size for my earrings.

Platinum fly-pressed motif

I was initially scared to fly-press platinum, given the limited 20 grams provided. A mistake could end my competition chances. To ease compression, I rolled the plate to 0.4mm thickness, as platinum is harder than silver. I was honestly over the moon when I witnessed my fly-pressed platinum motif was a success the outlining of the shape to the depth of the motif was just what I wanted it to look like and it looked way better than the silver piece.  I had to just pierce around the outline of the shape as well as get the filing to be done very precisely to avoid losing the shape and the amazing depth it has for the final look.

CAD design:Pierced Daisies

Design done on CAD 

The design for my platinum earrings was created using CAD software, specifically Rhino 5. To maintain consistency in shape and size, I copied, pasted, and mirror techniques for the flowers. Additionally, I trimmed unnecessary elements to achieve a clean and polished look for the floral pattern.

design printed and pasted on silver plate

Before piercing the design I printed the CAD design from Rhino 5, cut out the design and pasted it onto the silver plate. I then carefully drilled holes with a 0.6mm drill bit to access the finer petals before commencing the piercing process using a 0.3mm saw blade.

Pierced out design

The design has been pierced out, but the paper is still attached to help identify areas that need to be filed or adjusted for the correct outlining of the design.

Back of the pierced plate

The back of the silver plate looked something like this before it can be filed and neatened.