By
David Martin
Designing
jewelry and becoming a jewelry designer is not the easiest professional
path to follow. I have found that in my shop I need to wear several
different hats
to be an expert jewelry designer. First, I must know about the metals
I use—
18 karat (kt), 14kt, 10kt, platinum, white gold, yellow gold, pink
gold, green gold, European gold, Italian gold, and bronze. To create
different textures and surfaces,
I use patinas, sand blasting, antiquing, and casting for jewelry
(also known as lost wax casting). These and many other techniques
all must be used and mastered for successful jewelry design.
SCIENTIST
back
I also must be a scientist. For example, I use metal chemistry to
achieve specific karat qualities by measuring proportions of 24kt
gold with silver, copper, nickel or zinc. I weigh these amounts,
as is required by law. These weight proportions create the various
colors of gold and also the karat rating.
MEDIATOR
and CONSULTANT back
Sometimes when I work with clients, I become the mediator between
the sexes in design choices. During this process, I encourage my
clients to share their personal vision for the piece of jewelry
I will design for them. Much of my jewelry design has developed
from clients who are able to communicate what they want through
word descriptions or from their own artistic drawings. As the designer,
I sometimes can forsee that one kind of stone will work better than
another, so I may suggest a sapphire over a ruby. A brunette will
often prefer the dark blue color of a sapphire and a blond will
choose the color of her eyes or even a ruby over a dark blue stone.
ILLUSTRATOR
and SCULPTOR back
My own personal background as a graphic illustrator in the fields
of architecture, historical art, and medicine has been invaluable
to me as a jewelry designer. I began designing jewelry as I developed
those illustrations into wearable art and miniature sculpture. Carvings
I have done in alabaster, malachite, turquoise, marble, and opal
have become part of unique, hand made items of jewelry. I also inlay
stones into wedding bands made of gold, white gold, and yellow gold,
as well as rings and pendants made of silver, platinum and bronze.
HISTORIAN
back
A great deal of my designs are developed from a historical source,
such as Roman, Egyptian, and Grecian art. There are endless sources
from other places as well, including the famous braiding used in
ancient Celtic designs. Family Crests are also a wonderful source
of inspiration for a design to that will have personal and historical
meaning for a client. Almost all names have a crest that was flown
when traveling or fighting to identify the clan or group. These
crests were used on family rings for sealing documents and making
letters secure for traveling to the receiver. As a result, crests
and signet rings have become an important resource for jewelery
designers.
ARTIST
AND VISIONARY back
Patience is a must to create a design that will work to accomplish
a specific vision. My priority as a designer is to develop a piece
that is successful because of its' beauty and simplicity. In order
to set a stone, whether it is a diamond or any other precious stone
or semi-precious gem, a design must have strength, beauty, and balance.
Even an asymmetrical design must be balanced.
I am
very pleased to be able to design for friends and clients from all
over the world. My primary goal is to consistently produce a high
level of artistic quality in a variety of pleasing styles. It has
surprised me to find that most people like traditional settings
such as the solitaire diamond setting for various sizes of diamonds
and engagement rings. Diamonds of a half carat and 1 carat are the
favorite size stones, with four and six prongs being the most popular
settings. Other gems are also used in rings and pendants, usually
in simple designs. Some baroque style rings use abstract or fancy
cut colored stones such as the blue topaz, citrine, amethyst, and
tanzanite. More exotic designs can be created with opals and black
opals from Australia and Mexico, or amethyst and tourmalines from
Brazil and Africa. There are so many stones that find their way
into jewelry design that it is mind-boggling and it keeps all of
us in the field on our toes. If I can be of help to you in the search
for the right stones for your piece, please feel free to contact
me.
All
about Gold Works Design studio back
Gold
Works has been on the corner of King Street and West Street
in Oldtown Alexandria Virginia for 15 years now! Jewelry
designer David Martin, the primary force at the shop has a very
diverse background from medical illustration to sculpture.
Since settling in Alexandria in 1983 David has focused on jewelry
design. "It is easy for me to see in three dimensions and work
in four axis", he says. His expertise is creating fine jewelry
(primarily wedding sets), salvaging old pieces, or redesigning them
by adding his own touch.
David
says: " I make things work for people and that is what it's
all about." David has studied with some of the finest jewelers
in the country.
His sculpture
and jewelry has been in collections at the Corcoran Museum of Art
in Washington, D.C., the Montgomery School of art, and the University
of Maryland. He has shown, competed, and won recognition and awards
with the Washingon Guild of Goldsmiths, the Historical Preservation
of Art in Woodlawn, VA, and the Art League in Rehoboth Beach, DE.
David
has also studied with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
for stone setting and jewelry design. He has a certificate with
the Swest Institute for metal casting and a certificate with Jewelers
of America for jewelry store management. The GIA has also certified
him for jewelry replacement appraisals.
State of the Art Technology--Virtual
Jewelry Design back
Continually upgrading the technology at Gold Works, David has a
kept a keen edge on the market by introducing virtual jewelery design
to his shop.
As shown below, pieces can be designed and produced withe the help
of both Rhino 3D and Gem Vision Matrix in CAD.CAM software. Another
new horizon in jewelry design brought to you by Gold Works! You
can even order from the examples shown below:
Gold
Works carries beautiful sought-after name brands and supplies the
finest cut and polished diamonds and precious stones available.
We stand behind our service and are very proud of our high quality.
 David
at the age of twenty. back
He hasn't
changed very much since then and likes to point that out. Whenever
possible he tries to make people laugh with his rich, dry sense
of humor.
Consult
with David for your order of any small sculptures, awards, company
or association logos, and presidential pins. Carvings and sculptures
are also available in gold, silver, platinum, and bronzes in wearable
art sizes and up to 18" free standing bronzes.
We can
be reached at our Virginia phone, (703) 683-0333, between
the hours of 2 pm to 5 pm EST. Send
us an e-mail for more
information or to order. Referrals
available upon request.
Jewelry
designer David Martin—custom designing jewelry for all occasions.
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