Jewelry Tools
- My Role: Design, FabricationInspired by organic creatures of the sea and the angular, geometric forms found in military aircraft like the infamous stealth fighter. This set of jewelry tools comprised of a set of pliers, magnifying glass and screwdriver are meant not only to fix and repair fine jewelry, but to be jewelry themselves. These are meant for viewing, not banishment to the drawer. While they may look pretty, they are designed with pure function in mind.
Screwdriver, Magnifying Glass and Pliers. The business end of the tools are designed around their individual functions and the handles all share a common form DNA. The tricky part is transitioning between those two halves in the middle.
Sketches nearing their final form- Early Sketches
- Concept Sketches: Organic forms and angular geometric
- Early concept models focused on each of the two inspiration sources. Angular, geometric military aircraft and organic seacreatures. Each tool went through iteration after iteration, eventually combining the two most successful forms from each. An itteration of an organic screwdriver form study is highlighted in this photo.
- Sketches are translated into models and models refined on paper. The process is organic in nature, but always progressing forward. In this photo a screwdriver's form is refined.
- Prior to the final prototypes being crafted in solid aluminum, the final forms are worked out in Basswood.
- Roughing out the shapes from solid blocks of aircraft grade aluminum.
- As the rough shapes are milled out on machines, hand filing takes over and design and engineering give way to craftsmanship.
- CAD models were transposed onto all 3 axes to guide the rough-out process.
- Carefullly (and I mean CAREFULLY) hand filing the shapes. Precision was paramount.
- Hundreds of hours were used to carefully craft the tools. The handles of each tool are identical.
- Painstaking effort and refinements to achieve the final result.
- A flawless mirror finish with aluminum is only achievable using solid billet aluminum which has been highly compressed during production.
- Although these prototype tools could certainly be made on a CNC, there is beauty that can only be achieved through meticulous craftsmanship, just like the fine jewelry these are meant to serve.
- Sunflower array. Having a bit of fun.
Discuss This Project: ( Comments)