Keepsake capsule pendant

I've had an idea sitting with me for a while; I wanted a way to take the little talismans we hold onto, the things that aren't jewellery and turn them into something to keep close and wear. I have a handful of teeth and locks of hair rolling around in my jewellery box. A few keepsakes of my children's' 'firsts'. Instead of those being tucked away, I wanted make something for them.

I've also had pets come and go over the years and I don't have much to remember them by except a few photos - I'd have loved something like this at the time, a memorial pendant.

But really, the tiny treasures pendant could hold anything doesn't need to be cremation ashes. It could be dried flowers, sand, beads. Anything. I asked my children what they'd put in and they said whiskers from our cats and lego pieces.

Starting off with a prototype in brass, I used my doming block to see if I could make a hollow bowl shape so that I could set a stone on top with a bezel. This is a lot harder than it looks! I just couldn't form the metal into a full bowl, maybe I didn't have enough metal or maybe I didn't have the right the tools (most likely a skill issue i imagine!). 

In the end I ended up using a basic 3d model I created in Tinkercad. I wanted to ensure the depths of the metal were precise, as i needed the walls to be able to protect the contents and ensure it doesnt crumple or dent. I opted for an "integrated" jump ring too so there was no weak joins. 

I'd then send this off for casting at Cookson gold using their precious metal casting service.

When it came back to me, I decided to solder on some sheet as a platform for the stone to sit on and add a bezel. I had a few ideas for the back decoration but in the end, I went with a big 9K gold heart and very small, fine Emerald bezel set. I bought a very special stone too to sit in the pendant, a frosted natural opal. The yellow of this stone looks amazing paired with the vibrant green of the Emerald.