Nova Lavender Enamel Band

A star suddenly blazing brighter.

Nova, in raised letters over soft lavender glass enamel. A nova is a star that suddenly blazes many times brighter, then slowly fades back. Two bezel-set baguettes frame the word: lavender spinel, or lab-grown white diamonds.

About the enamel. This is true vitreous enamel: finely ground glass that I pack by hand into the band and fire in a kiln at about 1,450°F until it melts and fuses to the metal. It is the same centuries-old technique behind cloisonné and Fabergé, not paint or resin, so the color never fades or yellows. Vitreous enamel on metal goes back about 3,300 years. Opaque colors are solid and look the same in any metal; transparent colors let the metal glow through, like light through stained glass. Enamel is hard but can chip if knocked hard like other stones. In these settings it is protected by a sidewall and rails.

About color and metal. Enamel is glass, and the metal beneath it shows through. The same color looks warmest over 18K yellow gold, softer and cooler over palladium white gold, and brighter and cooler again over sterling silver. Reds, pinks and oranges change the most: over silver they can turn deeper or slightly more amber than the photos, which show this band in 18K yellow gold. 

Each band is handmade. I enamel, fire, set and polish every band myself in my studio, so no two are exactly alike. Expect slight differences in color, depth and finish from band to band, and from the photos. That variation is part of hand-fired glass.

Made to order. Made to order by hand in your size; please allow up to 12 weeks. Enameled bands cannot be resized, because the glass is fused to the metal. Made-to-order pieces are non-returnable. If your enamel is ever chipped or damaged, I offer repairs. Images are digital renderings of my CAD design. Each piece is made to order by hand, so your finished piece will vary slightly in color and finish.

Care. Enamel is glass. Remove your band before the gym or hard work, and avoid knocks against hard surfaces. Do not use ultrasonic or steam cleaners. Clean with warm water and a soft brush, and store it separately to protect the enamel. Sterling silver darkens over time; polish the metal with a silver cloth, avoiding the enamel.

Details

•     Metal: sterling silver (Sterling Z, a zinc-free alloy chosen for clear enamel), 18K yellow gold, or 18K palladium white gold (nickel-free, left unplated because enameled pieces cannot be rhodium plated)

•     Enamel: kiln-fired vitreous glass, black

•     Stones: 2 bezel-set baguettes, 3 x 2 mm: purple spinel, or lab-grown white diamonds

•     Lab-grown white diamonds: baguettes of about 0.10 ct each, F to G color, VS clarity or better

•     Colored gemstones are lab-grown unless marked natural, hand-matched to the enamel color. 

•     Width: 5 mm; thickness: 1.8 mm

•     Ring size: US 3 to 12 in whole sizes. For a quarter or half size, message me before you order.