Custom Inlaid Tau Ring
Custom inlay Tau ring with sterling silver and Florida agatized coral
This local client was a previous inlay repair client who wanted a special gift for his wife: a Tau ring inlaid with a material that looked similar to olive wood.
After coming up with a design game plan with sketches of the final piece, I began forming the outline of the Tau in sterling silver wire.
From there, I soldered on the backplate of the ring and forged the ring shank.
Picking the perfect stone was crucial, to get across that wood-grain feel—but in stone. After pulling a variety of brown stones for my client, he settled on a piece of Florida agatized coral that has beautiful striations and a warmth that resembles olive wood very well, but will be much stronger to inlay into a ring.
Starting with a rough blank of agatized coral, I began to carve the stone little by little until it fit into the shape of the Tau I created. Doing the process this way ensures that the stone fits very snuggly into the design.
After the carving is finished, I set the stone with a high-strength, water-clear epoxy before cutting and polishing the surface of the stone.
Here is the finished custom Tau ring for my client’s wife.
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