Jewelry

Lost Wax Casting in the Studio

We're casting today... melting old sterling silverware and recycling it into handmade jewelry! 

Sterling silverware ready to be melted down, recycled for the lost wax casting process.

Sterling silverware ready to be melted down, recycled for the lost wax casting process.

Each of our jewels at Crystal Hartman Art Jewelry are carved in wax and then cast into sterling silver, gold or bronze in the traditional lost wax jewelry making process. Working predominately with recycled sterling silver we cut it down, melt it and pour it into molds made around the wax carvings.  Once cool, we break the molds and are left with jewelry ready to be cleaned, sanded, soldered, buffed and polished.  Stones are set, pieces finished up and the jewellery is sent to its new homes!

Recycled sterling silver ready to be places in a crucible and melted.

Recycled sterling silver ready to be places in a crucible and melted.

Molten recycled silver cooling in the investment mold.

Molten recycled silver cooling in the investment mold.

Freshly cast recycled silver rings ready to be cleaned up...

Freshly cast recycled silver rings ready to be cleaned up...

Handmade silver rings cleaned up and set with turquoise, cheysoprase, moonstone, onyx and blue chalcedony.

Handmade silver rings cleaned up and set with turquoise, cheysoprase, moonstone, onyx and blue chalcedony.

Happy Holidays all! The jewellery from today's casting will be available at the Studio & Bizarre Bazaar this weekend in Durango Colorado... come and see us!

xo

Crystal

Jewelry and Friends

Jewels with Texas <3

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We are so in love with this photo taken by Ella Paden Levy! She brings her style to Hartman family jewelry collected through the years... Beautiful Bisbee Turquoise ring by my brother, Dillon Hartman of Durango Silver Company, handmade turquoise earrings and lichen silver band ring by me, Crystal Hartman.  Thank you for your vision Ella! 

You can find more of Ella's beautiful photos on her blog: 

http://ellalevyart.tumblr.com/

and follow her musings on Twitter:

@EllaPadenLevy

Crystal Hartman Art Jewelry is featured this winter at Kathleen Sommers' Annual Bracelet Show in San Antonio, Texas.

xo

Crystal

Tis the Season for Markets!

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Thank you all for coming up to the Kennebec Holiday Art Market! Catch us again next week at the Studio & Bizarre Bazaar, December 12, 13 and 14 at Studio &, Durango Colorado... till then we'll be making new sculptural cuff bracelets, silver pod earrings, stamped copper earrings and more for You!

xo

Crystal