Looking back
12th October 2018
I was watching a video by one of my favourite photographers this week on the subject of time and looking back at life and work in particular. I will put the video at the end of this page. I thought we would look at two pieces of mine from the past that returned to my work bench this week.
Sixteen years ago
Lightning Ridge Black opal, pavé diamonds, 18ct yellow and white gold.
This pendant was made during my transition from wholesale jewellery, mainly opal, to dealing with the public directly. I went from working daily in Opal for 20 years or more to maybe 2 or 3 pieces a year currently.
The pendant has been sitting in the safe with a lot of other Opal pieces for about 16 years now. My wife pulled it out this week urging me to do something with it.
Now that I look back at this piece I see so many things that I no longer like. You never stop learning and improving. I will melt this down and remake it.
One of my great ideas when I was wholesaling was to cut Opal as well as make the jewellery. I cut this Lightning Ridge Black Opal whilst I was living in Japan and remember it well. It was one of the brightest that came from the parcel.
Did I make money from buying rough Opal and cutting it myself? Hell no! It was a mistake financially, but I did learn a lot about myself and the importance of leaving certain jobs to others.
Opal cutting was something I did not have time to master and the cutting machine stayed in Japan when we returned home :)
Three years ago
I made this pendant back in 2015. At the time I made 3 of the same design for members of the family. You will notice in the second photo above a Ruby set into the pendant gallery which is the birthstone of the owner.
Unlike the Opal pendant I am very happy with how this design turned out. I will not be melting it down but the same cannot be said for the chain I sold with it.
Machine made chains are one of the few things I do not make myself. At the time I sourced this chain for my customer from an Australian manufacturer. Three years on and the chain had broken.
After repairing the chain I tested it and found it faulty. I returned it to the manufacturer and they agreed. The chain was replaced free of charge. I love it when people stand behind what they sell.
While it was back I took some photos of it hanging it over the once colourful but now dried flower arrangement my wife gave me a few weeks ago.
Sean Tucker - Photographer, videographer & artist