Project: Mandy’s Heart Locket

This solid silver heart shaped locket for Mandy…

Was designed and hand made especially for her to remember a very dear friend, a fine furry fella called Andy. The stone is a 2.75ct heart cut lab Ruby. On the back is a paw print, I liked the texture the casting process left so decided to leave this quite rustic – when it darkens with oxidisation it will look great. Inside is a bouquet of his hair, a picture of the star himself and a custom-made canister for some of his ashes, adorned with his name in Morse code. It is all removable and the canister even has a little silver screw in the top. Keeping it all in place is woven brass wire.The inscription was done by Teesside Trophies, who always do a cracking job.

Incorporating all these elements into one piece was a challenge but I think it works.

Love this little paw print, it will get better with age as the recessed parts oxidise making the raised pads stand out even more, as they will get a polish from clothing etc.

I would have liked to set the stone deeper into the face of the locket, but having it break through into the interior of the locket would darken the colour of the ruby… Don’t want that.

You can just about make out the brass wire woven through specially drilled holes, it’s fiddly but holds everything in without being too intrusive.

The silver screw in the top was cast from one in my tool box.

The dots and dashes of the Morse code are spiralling up from bottom to top.

The halves of the locket are cast separately, see the wax models there – and the Ruby.

This was the original design but I went with having the stone and ashes separate to keep the ashes secure and the colour of the stone vibrant.

…And the final piece…

Pete.