Morrow Metalwork

Send a message to learn more

The top of this ring was getting thin, and the initials were almost gone - time for some love! I took a few photos so we could match the engraving, then thickened the plate and had the initials recut. It was almost worn out during the owner's life time, now her new Grand daughter might wear it someday. :)

I did not plan to post this on my work site! Now you know one of the things I do for fun - I collect antique jelly molds, and make jelly. :) This lovely fish is just green colour, not green flavour, and the rest is strawberry!

New video by K Morrow

I wrote this a few years ago, but people have been asking me about Lab grown diamonds vs natural.
A Natural gemstone is dug out of the earth, panned out of a river or vacuumed from the ocean's floor. They were created by cataclysmic explosions, the perfect combination of heat, time, and chemicals. Orange Sapphires, Green and yellow Garnets, Rutilated Quartz, Watermelon Tourmaline, and Cats Eye Chrysoberyl! They are the coolest! And since we had no control over their creation we have some neato stuff that some people like and others view as flawed - colour banding, misty veils, and inclusions. Its like Grandma's baking, she didn't need a cookie recipe anymore, she just dumps a bunch of good stuff in a bowl and stirs. Sometimes they turn out sweeter, other times nuttier or crunchier but always great. We also love Grandma and accept the occasional burnt or crumbly cookie.
A Synthetic Gemstone is man-made in a lab. It has exactly the same formula as a natural stone but it was formed by humans who follow the recipe of heat, time and chemicals and come up with the perfect rough stone each time. Imagine someone wrote down Grandma's recipe, and sold it to Nabisco. Still nice cookies, but they all taste exactly the same, look exactly the same. In sapphires that isn't good, we like our coloured stones to be individual, but it is pretty good for diamonds, because for years, de Beers has told you that the best diamonds a clear and colourless. (de Beers also wanted you to spend 2 months salary on a diamond engagement ring...but that is a different story.)
An Imitation Stone is a fake, it is something trying to look like something else. Grandma's cookies are being reproduced by someone who has never eaten a cookie, they have only seen pictures of them. The only thing that matters, is replicating the look, so axle grease, drywall dust, pebbles are formed together to look like cookies.
Here is the confusing part, sometimes a stone can be synthetic AND imitation! Man-made sapphire has being used to imitate diamonds, and coloured gems in family rings because they take heat. Mom can add another grandchild to her ring without a fuss. A stone can also be natural AND imitation - The Prince's Ruby in the British Crown Jewels is actually a natural red Spinel!

This is one of the best things about gold, if you really like part of your ring, but you want to change something, you often can! I removed the old setting and sapphire and replaced it with a new setting and stone.

Hello? Sorry I have been off busy with family responsibilities. While my brain was elsewhere, FB decided this page was breaking community standards rules. I only post my own pictures, of my own work, so...I dunno.
Here is a picture of a ring I made over Christmas, all handmade.

An SCA Laurelling scroll does not have to be on paper! The turban decoration used as inspiration was made in gold, with rubies, diamonds and glass enamel. Due to budget restraints, mine is brass, rubies, treated blue topaz (to imitate emeralds), cubic zirconia and cold enamel. The outside edge is left smooth, as a place to engrave the scroll words. This was a lot of fun! My thanks to Vic Lo for the casting, and Jim Manners for the commission.

SOLD Another busy Christmas is over. For SCA people, the next big thing is 12th Night. Just figuring out a price for this broach. Silver, garnets, cold enamel and fat pearl. Better pictures and a price tomorrow!

Funky Fun! I don't remember what K's round gold stones are, but if you have never seen a real rainbow moonstone, here is your chance! It was hard to get all the important features in one picture, so you get two. :)
Silver and gold

The Customer's sparkly peridot is 10mm diameter -huge! It also has an inclusion on one edge. The design hides the fragile grey spot under the curl. 14k handmade.

A ring for someone dear to me. :)
Did you know that Sapphires come in all colours but red? We call the red ones rubies! (It's why the Blue Ruby mall store bothers me. )
Soft blue sapphire, synthetic diamonds, and 14k gold.

When Great Grandma's ring is worn out but needs to be present for the day. The only thing original is the white gold! New shank, claws and stone.

I realize that I don't post regularly, but a lot of my business is work is for other jewellery companies. It wouldn't be right to post that stuff.....but I can't resist this handmade chain. 2 ounces of pure gold used, 1.8mm wire and a couple of blisters.

Psst, Blood Diamonds are not from Africa anymore. Russia supplies 30% of the world's diamonds. They are exported to India for cutting, before entering the marketplace, so they are not being affected by sanctions. Ask for proof of origin, or buy a sapphire, a synthetic, a moissenite, a previously loved stone, or Canadian!

Antique repair!
Customer's ring lost a section of the gold design, and the glass enamel has been damaged in the process. Someone tried to fix it with lead...can't blame them, laser welders had not been invented yet.

Using the diamonds the customer already owned to make 2 bands for her Engagement ring. 14k white gold.

My lovely Customer wanted to reuse her huge moonstone, and make something more interesting.

Engagement ring on a budget? Grandma's diamonds get a new life. :) There were 6 tiny diamonds, and 6 slightly larger, so I made the center setting 6 claws to fit them all.

Repair Time! 1. The ring shank has worn down/gotten thin, thus has cracked at the seam. 2. the ring needs to be sized up, but the customer is worried that it will spin.