Cool Steampunk Jewelry

[blackrider23]

Very nice exposed watch necklace

(yes Ive been perusing eBay a bit to much recently...)

[Charles Raleigh]

link was broken

[blackrider23]

oops 
sorry about that

[Charles Raleigh]

No problem of course.  Looks interesting, btw.  Hmmm..  If I can get some more jewelry equipment I might see about making somethings.  I will have to get back to you all on that.  Would there be any interest in steampunk inspired fine jewelry? Custom/hand made.

[blackrider23]

Well ill be honest and say the desire would be there (my wife would love it) however I hardly have the budget for fine jewelry  
But I would be willing to bet there are those out there who would readily purchase quality work.

[Charles Raleigh]

Fine jewelry (that made from real silver, gold, etc with real gems--possibly semiprecious to save cost) can be surprisingly affordable.  Of course, silver and gems like Tiger-eye are a LOT less expensive then say platinum and diamonds.  All metal, in silver or gold, even in a decent hefted man's ring or pendant, normally doesn't run that much.  With labor, a simple gear pendant in silver shouldn't run more than 30-50 USD.  Of course, I would have to get equipment again and materials, and I would have to figure out the exact figures.  This is just a preliminary inquisitiveness if there would be much reason to look into it/invest the time.

[HAC]

Very nice exposed watch necklace

(yes Ive been perusing eBay a bit to much recently...)

I've seen cufflinks made from mechanical movements from ladies watches. Oddly enough the movement in the one you linked to isn't really that old -its got  Incabloc shock protection on the upper cap jewel.

Cheers
Harold

[Insanity]

I would assume there is a lot of interest, but then again, I'm one of those cheap people. Anything like this would be something I'd try to make on my own. I'm always watching for wind up watches to take apart. I mostly just like playing with them and watching the gears move.

[Charles Raleigh]

If anyone is interested in hand crafted or cast jewelry pieces, in gold or silver, I would like to know what kind of interest there is and in what kind of price ranges people would find reasonable.  I can't do anything right now, but if there is enough interest I might.  Of course, I would also like to know what kind of things people would like, possible sketches and so forth.

Edit: Example idea--flat piece of metal, holes drilled for axles, gears on both sides that are connected by axles.  Basic concept will allow for a near floating (while functionally spinning) gear effect in many designs, from spirals to crosses.  Connecting the pendants to necklaces would be done by the inner sandwiched metal.  Altering the design with more visible inner metal pieces and gears staggered on both sides (only some of which would have axles going all the way through) would allow spinning one gear on one side to make all the gears spin.  Of course, could be altered with spoked cogs too, to show off the inner base metal--in which case adding intricate engravings could be appealing.

[Baron Verndorf]

I would assume there is a lot of interest, but then again, I'm one of those cheap people. Anything like this would be something I'd try to make on my own. I'm always watching for wind up watches to take apart. I mostly just like playing with them and watching the gears move.

I wish i was as handy as you... I'm not only broke, but also rather usless in most mechanical terms. At best i can understand how it works, but if you go beyond that, all i could do is hand you the wrench (though i'd be quite good at that!). Now, if you wanted a good concept, or perhaps a discription written for it... then i could help!

[Insanity]

I would assume there is a lot of interest, but then again, I'm one of those cheap people. Anything like this would be something I'd try to make on my own. I'm always watching for wind up watches to take apart. I mostly just like playing with them and watching the gears move.

I wish i was as handy as you... I'm not only broke, but also rather usless in most mechanical terms. At best i can understand how it works, but if you go beyond that, all i could do is hand you the wrench (though i'd be quite good at that!). Now, if you wanted a good concept, or perhaps a discription written for it... then i could help!

Oh, I can't make it work from scratch! I would probably just pry the back and face off a watch and then mount it. I got a book on watch repair from the library I work at, but it's far too complex for me... Maybe if someone actually physically showed me, but not with diagrams, no.

[Charles Raleigh]

I would assume there is a lot of interest, but then again, I'm one of those cheap people. Anything like this would be something I'd try to make on my own. I'm always watching for wind up watches to take apart. I mostly just like playing with them and watching the gears move.

I wish i was as handy as you... I'm not only broke, but also rather usless in most mechanical terms. At best i can understand how it works, but if you go beyond that, all i could do is hand you the wrench (though i'd be quite good at that!). Now, if you wanted a good concept, or perhaps a discription written for it... then i could help!

Oh, I can't make it work from scratch! I would probably just pry the back and face off a watch and then mount it. I got a book on watch repair from the library I work at, but it's far too complex for me... Maybe if someone actually physically showed me, but not with diagrams, no.

I could without a problem.  Well, except for that whole place discrepancy.

[Clym Angus]

A necklace thread? Without a picture of my manical workings on it? This will never do!

[Insanity]

I could without a problem.  Well, except for that whole place discrepancy.

No, really, it's the thought that counts 
^_Q

[Tinkergirl]

You may want to see what other people are offering in terms of clock/gear inspired jewellery before you commit yourself - doing a search on Etsy is always a good start, in my opinion.  I do not mean to put you off, but everyone has a price that they offer their work for, and someone may already be undercutting yours (or conversely, you could see what prices the market currently seems to be standing).

[Charles Raleigh]

I could without a problem.  Well, except for that whole place discrepancy.

No, really, it's the thought that counts 
^_Q

I meant the train you part...  just making sure.  I just realized I could have come off like a jerk, when I meant the aiding you part.

[Insanity]

Oh, I took no offense. And I am very grateful for your offer of help. I may take you up on that offer sometime. I'm sure you'll end up regretting it.
My fear, though, is that I would need the entire mechanism explained. I can see how things can fit together (such as patterns) but not how they work cooperatively (such as electronics). At least I stand a chance of fully grasping gear-based mechanisms. I've given up hope with most electronics.

[Jessica Butcher]

I make much of my own jewelry, out of old buttons and such.

[Clym Angus]

I make much of my own jewelry, out of old buttons and such.

Really? Got anything to show us?

[Datamancer]

There seems like there would be a bit of a market for stuff like this. I get a random inquiry about the pieces on my site every now and again. I don't really market them, they're just portfolio pieces and gifts for friends, but people seem to have enough interest in them that they contact me anyway. I usually just turn them away or direct them elsewhere...except for the last one who offered me $6 for a piece of clockwork jewelry....that one I just politely ignored. Not to sound hoity-toity or anything, but $6 isn't even enough to make me pick up my pliers...nay, scratch that...FIND my pliers.

The 'typewriter key jewelry' on ebay that always comes up when I search for keys seems to fetch a decent price, at least.

-~D~-

[Alfaya]

Fine jewelry (that made from real silver, gold, etc with real gems--possibly semiprecious to save cost) can be surprisingly affordable.  Of course, silver and gems like Tiger-eye are a LOT less expensive then say platinum and diamonds.  All metal, in silver or gold, even in a decent hefted man's ring or pendant, normally doesn't run that much.  With labor, a simple gear pendant in silver shouldn't run more than 30-50 USD.  Of course, I would have to get equipment again and materials, and I would have to figure out the exact figures.  This is just a preliminary inquisitiveness if there would be much reason to look into it/invest the time.

I am sorry, but unless the piece is being manufactured in a developing country tou will need to re-do your maths... specially with the terrific price increase of gold, silver...

[Stella Gaslight]

Since this is from 2007 I am sure some of the data is off.