Chicago Charm Company

Category: Jewelry

  • Mother Ring

    Mother Ring

    A client inherited a Round Diamond approximately 1.8 carats in size from the family’s beloved matriarch. The client herself being a mother of three, it only made sense to design a ring honoring those who have worn and will wear this legacy stone. As part of the process, Chicago Charm Company always asks the right questions such as how the ring will be worn and whether there are significant additional features that ought to be incorporated.

    Screenshot of a custom Mother Ring designed in 3D CAD

    3D CAD’s many strengths permits a ring to be precision-tailored to the center stone as well as provide real-time visualization of the aesthetics.

    Mother Ring cast in White Gold

    Cast into 18k White Gold, the Round Cut Diamond fits perfectly into its bezel setting.

    Mother Ring complimentary side showing a re-arrangement of the children stones

    Children are represented by their birthstones; Garnet, Peridot, and Aquamarine. Their stones are also bezel-set as a loving echo to the mother stone.

    Mother Ring top view

    Top view shows how an intentional re-ordering of stones on each side ensures every child’s birthstone gets its time to shine. This is Chicago Charm Company’s experienced design consideration on display.

    The conscious decision to bezel-set the stones permit the ring to be worn without tearing up something delicate like a medical glove. Additional thoughtfulness throughout the design process leaves the pavilion region of the stone to be unobstructed. Doing this lets as much light as possible to enter the stone for maximum performance.

  • Gavel Cufflinks

    Gavel Cufflinks

    In routine practice, it starts with an initial search to whether my budding idea hasn’t been done before, and it hadn’t. It’s time to launch into 3D CAD…

    Screenshot of 3D CAD modeling in progress

    The aim is for a more classic button-style cufflink. The gavel face as well as the button end have been modeled with a bezel setting ready for a 5 point Diamond.

    Pair of Gavel and Block Cufflinks set with Diamonds

    3D Printed Resin Prototypes are grown and sent to the casting workshop. The White Gold finished result is a stunning example the design fidelity the process maintains.

    Dress shirt cuff sporting Gavel and Block Cufflink

    Justice is done to these cufflinks through the Chicago Charm Company.

  • Chicago Seahorse

    Chicago Seahorse

    Visitors to Chicago who stare into our Buckingham Fountain may well spot this Seahorse frolicking in the water. If you’ve not had the chance, an image search for Buckingham Seahorse will do the trick.

    Screenshot of SubDivision Modeling in progress

    Organic SubDivision CAD Modeling in progress. Detailing its paws and putting a spiral at the tail will get it ready for the next step.

    3D Resin Prototype of a model created via SubD Modeling

    A 3D Printed Resin Prototype is created in a cast-ready material. Chicago Charm Company has been doing Jewelry Rapid Prototyping since 2007.

    Silver cast Buckingham Seahorse sitting on a Penny

    The Prototype is directly used in the Investment-Casting process to create a charm that fits onto a Penny.

    Macro detail of Chicago's Buckingham Seahorse cast in 14k Yellow Gold

    A version cast in 14k Yellow Gold. Here a simple Jump Ring at the tail fluke captures the Seahorse for the opportunity to attach a Pendant Bail.

    Yellow Gold Buckingham Seahorse perched on a fingertip segment

    Finished Charm once again perched on a finger segment to underscore the detail packed into something of this size.

  • Mother Daughter Ring

    Mother Daughter Ring

    This ring is crafted due to paying attention and understanding the story that needs to be told. A client’s mom passed down an heirloom diamond to her daughter. Stones like this are significant because it has served one lifetime and is on the cusp of serving another.

    After some productive conversation, we chose to create a ring around this stone using Organic CAD design. This is a specialized discipline that deploys smooth, flowing surfaces to represent the organic flow of life.

    Screenshot of Organic CAD Modeling in progress

    One of the many design proficiencies of Chicago Charm Company is the use of SubDivision modeling to create flowing designs.

    The 3D resin print is the result of a virtual model brought to corporeal form. From here, it is submitted to the casting process.

    Rose Gold Ring Casting

    Back from the casting workshop, the resin model is incinerated cleanly away and Rose Gold rushes into the void that’s left.

    Mother Daughter Ring

    Mother’s Diamond is bezel-set into its tailored mounting while daughter’s Amethyst birthstone is set nearby.

    Daughter's path clearly shown depicting how it circles the finger and reunites with her mother.

    A charming characteristic is the ring’s changes when viewed from different angles.

    The story told by this ring is one that shows a daughter taking her own unique path in life but in the end she’ll always return to her mother’s orbit as Mom will always be the center of her world.

  • Sport Tire Ring

    Sport Tire Ring

    A thorough scour of the internet in 2007 suggested that no one attempted to create a ring that celebrated the motorsports enthusiast. Chicago Charm Company rises to the occasion.

    3D CAD screen

    Considerations like a comfortable profile and realistic tread sipes are kept in mind while designing this ring.

    The finished result is playful yet unmistakable.

    Unique holder for a motorsports ring

    To go that extra mile, a cleverly themed ring rest provides a place to park the ring when not worn.

  • Inline Marquis

    Inline Marquis

    Marquis-cut Diamonds are traditionally set to be perpendicular to its ring shank. Attempting to find a mounting that deviates from this is the proverbial needle in a haystack. The custom ring process obliterates the barrier to having that wish come to life

    Marquis-cut Diamond Ring

    The desire to go inline with the Marquis-cut is practical given how a perpendicular orientation has to dance around how it may impede an accompanying wedding band.

    Marquis Engagement Ring along with it's matching Wedding Band

    Marquis-cut Engagement Ring and accompanying Wedding Band worn in harmony.

  • Chicago Lion

    Chicago Lion

    Not long after leveling up to 3D digital sculpting, a Lion was sculpted and posed like an iconic Lion Statue in Chicago.

    Digital sculpt of an iconic Lion statue

    As an early shot, the promise of digital sculpting was easy to understand. The marriage of technology and organic artistry comes to fruition.

    3D resin print of a digital sculpt

    Equally compelling were the availability of high-resolution Stereo Lithography 3D Printers; ones that no longer cost $100,000

    3D Resin Print of a sculpted lion placed on a tip of a finger

    All that detail in a resin print perched on a fingertip.

    Silver casting of a digitally sculpted Lion

    The resin print was directly used to cast into a precious metal — silver in this case.

    Chicago Charm Company has paid its dues creating jewelry the traditional old-school way with a piece of jeweler’s wax to create all manner of rings & bracelets. Not all jewelers will have the aptitude to transition to modern tools, but this demonstrates the stunning results awaiting those who can.

  • Round Halo

    Round Halo

    There’s little reason in this 21st century to settle for mass-manufactured jewelry. How “special” is a jewelry piece if there are 10,000 more of the same copy in stock? Add to the fact that diamonds are cut in an endless permutations of sizes while ring mountings are manufactured in wide steps. This is the case for choosing to custom-build a ring around the stone.

    Halo Diamond Ring

    Starting with a 1.21 carat Diamond, the physical measurements help tremendously in tailoring a ring around that stone.

    Not only are the halo diamonds arranged efficiently, its host structure doesn’t impede light from entering the bottom of the stone. These are the conscious decisions made in a ring’s design.

    Resin prototype of the modeled ring

    After approval of the CAD model, a resin prototype is created bringing the virtual model into the real world ready for casting.

    Round Diamond Ring featuring additional Diamonds at its halo and ring shank

    The resin model is directly used in casting Platinum. Setting all Diamonds takes place shortly. A beautiful perfect ring emerges after final polishing.

  • Loon Charm

    Loon Charm

    A beloved client’s cause was an annual fundraiser for the preservation of a community lake. By calling upon Chicago Charm Company’s skill set, we decide to create something emblematic of the lake’s fauna.

    3D Sculpted Loon by Chicago Charm Company

    In ZBrush, a Loon is digitally sculpted. The immediate benefit of using modern creation tools is the ability to explore different poses.

    3D Sculpted Loons cast in 925 Silver

    After choosing a dynamic pose, the virtual sculpt is 3D printed with a cast-ready resin and turned into silver charms. Using this process ensures every last detail carries through.

    Presentation box for 3D Sculpted Loon appears as if it’s floating on water.

    Each Loon is fitted with a lanyard cord and floats in a thematically crafted presentation box.

  • Cushion Halo Ring

    Cushion Halo Ring

    A client was seeking an engagement ring designed around a preselected cushion-cut Diamond. By knowing the exact measurements of this diamond, the entire ring can be custom-designed for the stone as well as finger size in one shot.

    3D CAD screen showing a ring design in progress

    A mounting is tailored to the cushion-cut Diamond on-hand. In turn, a halo of auxiliary diamonds can be perfectly fitted around that center stone.

    3D resin print prototype is ready for casting

    After approval at that first step, a high-resolution 3D resin print is created. The specialized resin is suited for direct casting.

    After casting, stone setting and polishing, the ring is ready for the big day.

    Cushion-cut Diamond with a halo of round-cuts surrounding it.

    Chicago Charm Company’s expertise in creating custom fine jewelry pieces is demonstrated in projects like this and others throughout this site.