I've been making some changes in the workshop this week as I've just bought a new bench. I say new but this bench was bought from a jeweller who is retiring from the trade and so the bench has already been in use for twenty years! It has been a hectic but lovely week settling in to a new work bench and finding places for all my tools. So since I'm working on a new bench I thought what better way to mark it than to make some new designs. So here it is the first new design made on my new bench, my silver and gold Torc necklace.
I haven't introduced much gold to the Claddagh Design collection so I'm really excited to share this piece with you. I love the colour of silver and it is such a beautiful metal to work with but on this piece I wanted to contrast the lovely cool silver colour with some warm 9ct gold. I made the torc in silver and put it on a double belcher link chain. I added the gold ring so the chain is looped in through this on one side.
This contrast in gold and silver was inspired by the penannular brooches in the National Museum. The idea of the ring attached to the band is also influenced by a piece in the museum. I have this photo of a gold ring attached to a torc hanging over by bench and the simplicity of the design is something I keep coming back to.
I'm loving working on the new bench, all my tools are finding their homes, the change in size has altered how I work (for the better!) and the new space is allowing me to create new and exciting jewellery. Not bad for a 20 year old bench :)