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Custom Orders Ready to get a quote? Just want to know how much your dream ring might be? Fill out this form and we will send you a custom quote! With a custom order you can chose the size, gemstone, and metal for your desired ring. Each design weighs a different amount, each gemstone has its own cost. By filling this out, we can send you a custom quote to get started on your special order. Read more about our custom order process below ! Get your Custom Quote: Fill out this form and we will send you the price quote for your custom order. Keep in mind: This process may take us up to a week to gather the information to create your custom quote. If you haven't hear from us in a week, make sure to check your spam folder! (805) 965-4171 musesofdaoud@aol.com First Name Last Name Phone Number (For Texts) Email Catalogue Number Ring Size Ring Title Metal Gemstone Choices (if applicable) Thank you for your interest in our art! Send The Custom Process: 6-9 months First Step Second Step Third Step Final Step We send you a quote via email and let you know the cost of the order. If you want or need to change anything due to cost or time restraints, let us know now so that we can get the process started! Paying half of the total cost will help us to get started on your piece and give us an opportunity to calculate a due date. You can pay in full up front, pay over time, or pay the second half before the ring is sent. If there is any particular instructions on how you would like the piece finished, i.e. Antiquing, Hammered finish, or how you would like it to be sent, let us know. By this point we will be finishing up the ring, so make sure to make your final payment so that we can send it out as soon as it is finished. We will send you the shipping information for your custom Muses of Da'oud piece of jewelry. When you're set to unwrap it, take a photo! We'd love to see how much you love it.

Jewelry Designs Learn about the stories and inspirations behind our iconic designs. Oak & Acorn The acorn is the seed of the oak, and represents the new beginning and great potential of a long-lived, strong, and vital relationship. Whether worshipped as a god or simply as symbolic of our ancestors, the Oak and its propensity to live for many generations gives a timeless, deeply rooted and very grounded feeling, all stemming from the seed as tiny as an acorn. That lifespan was held as a key to obtaining the favor of departed relatives, their wisdom and almost mythological strength. The garland of Oak leaves represents the circle of Oaks, planted by ancient Druids for a place of worship. as well as the great circle of life. The Acorn symbolizes the launching of this great endeavor, the beginning of something that will grow, evolve, and be abundant. Celtic Knotwork Throughout most of Europe, there flourished an art form of graceful interlace that was to adorn everything from standing stones in sacred places to personal adornment and jewelry. The Celts drew mesmeric spirals and swirls, envisioning the world as a series of cycles passing from one to the other. Originally, the knot work appeared in ancient Scandinavia and was introduced to the Celts through raids and cultural interchange. However, it was the Celts that truly made this motif a work of art. Their vision of the world flowed from spiral to knot, both representing interconnectedness of all life, and the cyclical nature of the world. Like a spider's web, no part can be touched without affecting the whole. Tapping into the Great Spirit, the One, and the incredible potential that is yours. Just as the single strands of the cord are somewhat fragile, when woven together, the rope is far stronger than all of its individual parts. Claddagh These unique designs symbolize Love in the form of the heart, the hands speak of the friendship cradling it, and the crown of fidelity (The crown was added much later by Queen Victoria to mean loyalty to one’s love… and most probably the British Imperial crown). Legend has it that a young man named Richard Joyce was captured just prior to his wedding, sold into slavery by pirates, and wound up in the Algeria and learned goldsmithing. He fashioned this design for his beloved. When he finally returned to Ireland, he gave this ring to his betrothed. Wear this on your right hand with the heart turned outwards and you are demonstrating to the world that your heart is not yet won. Worn on the left hand with heart turned inwards, it means two loves joined in matrimony. This finger has a vein that goes directly to the heart. Enjoy this unique design, and may you add more color to it's meaning by your own appreciation, personal symbolism and further adventures! Grapes on the Vine From ancient Greece comes the reverence for one path to Divinity, it is the path of Ecstasy, joy, frolic and fun. The God of this path is Dionysus, and his vehicle to seek this ecstatic state was that of the fruit of the vine, wine. Not particularly interested in moderation, this path may lead towards a hangover, but if properly administered, a divine state of faux-bliss is reached, as close as us mortals are allowed to reach on this path. Dionysus ascended to Olympus with the great gods when Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth, retired. His dedication of the art of the vintner. The story of Grapes reveal that a relationship is like fine wine, for as your relationship gets closer it's like brandy, which becomes better with age. This ring is one for celebration, congratulation, and success. What better way to celebrate than the symbol of the merriment of the Gods? Art Nouveau The Art Nouveau movement is a major inspirational motif for Da’oud. It was an art movement during the later decades of the 19th century. A classic late-Victorian motif, it casted off the rigid designs of the earlier Neo-Gothic movement. Smooth lines and sudden curves, almost like trailing smoke, was its defining feature. Nature themes, with plants and flowers, were a popular things to be represented in this art form. A rediscovered interest in Egyptian and Celtic art were also nurtured during this period, motifs you can clearly see in Da’oud’s style. Many of his rings are inspired by the art of the greats like Mucha, Klimt, Beardsley, and Larche. He is particularly drawn to inspiration from Art Nouveau jewelers like Aucoc and Lalique. Triscalia / TriKnot Three was a very powerful number to the Celts throughout Europe. This talisman shows the interaction of the threefold path. Whichever way you want to see things, it can be divided into three's. The three of Cups, Father Son and Holy Ghost; Maid Mother Crone; Past present, and future; me, my wife, and our dog, or any way you cut it, they all fold together in the Cosmos to express the whole. Although many knots could be termed an "Eternity Knot", any knot that has a closed path, with no beginning or end may be symbolic of continuum or eternity. Since knot work is often used as an emblem of heritage, the symbolism of "continuum" reinforces the endurance of the tradition. The Tri-fold structure of the triscalia /triskalia/trefoil/triquetra knot is universal in Celtic cultures across Europe. The three points suggest the coming together of past, present, and future. Forget-Me-Not These bands are composed of intertwining ivy and forget-me-nots, both of which have symbolic meaning going back to ancient times. Ivy, in Greek mythology was associated with the Dionysian cult of wine and worldly pleasures, unrestrained joy give or take a few hangovers. The Romans used a draft of ivy leaves boiled in wine as a "hair of the dog" remedy for hangover. Later, Ivy's tenacious ability to hang in there made it a fitting symbol for a strong relationship in medieval symbolism. The flowers of the Forget-me-not symbolize true love and remembrance. They have a long history in Pharmacopeia, the petals, stems and leaves being used to treat illness and injury for millennia. Truly, a flower not to be forgotten. Celtic Swirl This design was inspired by an experience on a canoe one night. The clouds parted to allow moonlight to reveal the swirls from the paddle on the lake's surface. The paddle dipped in the water and the water swirled about it. It is from this psyche-Celtic frame of mind Da’oud created the Celtic Swirl designs. The waves resembled the interweaving nature of the Celtic knot, both representing eternity and the cycle of life. It encompasses both the connectivity of life in the knot work, but also the ever flowing, ever changing nature of that same life in the water. Mountains & Rivers Gurus and Spiritual teachers are often depicted residing on a mountain peak. A mountain peak is as close as man can get to the heavens with his clothes on. Geologically, mountains are an expression of the Earth's dynamic orogenic up thrusting. A volcano is in full eruption, symbolizing passion and energy. Deep seated and enduring, yet dynamic and hot, yours is a living and vital relationship meant to go places. Mountain peaks represent strength, endurance, and the pinnacle of human expectations and endeavors. Along with all of the symbolism of the very grounded and enduring Mountains, this design has a lively white water river to symbolize the aspect of water, flowing with change, and of the journey of love. The Mountain Rivers Band has a river coming from a cleft in the mountain range, the river winds around the band to pass next to the mountains. The Sun in the waves symbolizes optimism, hope and the qualities of radiant light, a force that illuminates all it touches. Roses Diamonds may be forever, but the romantic significance of the Rose goes back much further than the popular gemstone. Roses have been attributed to goddess like Isis and Aphrodite, showing their link with passion and love goes back millennia. The Rose is a symbol of passion, love, affection and beauty. The Victorians added meaning to the colors of the rose. This can be represented by the stone chosen within the setting. Red is for passion, Yellow is for friendship and Purple is for enchantment. The thorns pointing down towards the earth symbolize protection against the earthly temptations, advocating fidelity. Two Trees Two Mighty Oaks being firmly planted, grounded in their strength and majesty are gently embracing, and becoming united at the furthermost reaches of their branches where they merge and become one. The Oak is an ancient symbol of strength, longevity, and wisdom. The ancient Celts deified the Oak, and worshipped in its shade and groves. Oaks live for many generations and were held as a key to obtaining the favor of departed relatives, their wisdom and almost mythological strength. Whether worshipped as a god or simply as symbolic of our ancestors, the Oak and its propensity to live for many generations gives a timeless, deeply rooted and very grounded feeling. In this design the two oaks reach out for each other, merging together, and representing that of two ancestral trees coming together in celebration of new love. Freeform Ripples These bands are individually sculpted out of wax sheet which is hand formed and painstakingly detailed, then cast to bring forth the rippled look of water flowing in a stream. Others see a similarity to the bark of an Oak Tree. The stream flows carelessly and effortlessly following its course in a light and free manner. Obstacles are treated as opportunities for growth and advancement, and dealt with not by resistance but by flowing around, embracing the change they afford. These bands are created so that they are wider and of a higher dome than my other rings, yet are hollowed out to a degree so that they aren't solid, the inside mimics the outer surface, with a rippled surface hidden beneath the surface. The overall effect is one of a rich and full-bodied band with an interesting textured surface. Dancing Knots These knots encompass two parts which symbolize the maintenance of individuality in a relationship. The mandala is the dance of two who help each other to grow by being there to reflect as a mirror, the cords left free symbolize that individuality is not lost but enhanced by this union. The image of a knot has been found in places as ancient as the Indus Valley Civilization. It represents the intertwining of wisdom and compassion, the ever-cycling birth, death, and rebirth, and the wisdom of the Buddha. Da’oud’s interpretation shows two pieces dancing together to create a whole. They never fully connect, but the ends are left free to demonstrate the freedom of the individuals in this engaging dance. The symbol of eternity is a fitting theme for any wedding band. The subtle helix of the dancing knot strands weave around the rings and the ends are left free to demonstrate the freedom of the individuals in this engaging dance. The Knot is dancing in that it is fluid, not constricting but organic, alive and in motion, in tune with the forces of life, adaptable to new circumstances. Dolphins Porpoises may represent mankind's evolution towards a utopian peaceful coexistence with the earth and each other. Despite our being cursed with opposable thumbs (the source of much techno- mischief that has led to the soiling our ecological bed), we may eventually achieve the high state of joy exemplified by these happy go lucky, sexually uninhibited and playful creatures. An artist friend of Da’oud’s lived alone on a desert tropical isle for many years and came to a sort of mental melding with dolphins,. The relationship enriched his art and understanding of our link to these intelligent creatures. He said our interest in dolphins is a response to a psychic plea from their collective mind to pay attention to the damage done to their environment. Playful, intelligent, mischievous, and gregarious with not much to worry about except our meddling in their lives, these creatures may indeed be trying to communicate with us. Art Deco The Art Deco movement in the early 20th century quickly replaced the Art Nouveau movement of the late Victorian era. The swirling lines and flowing motifs were replaced by inspiration from the mad-made world, with sharp edges and angular designs. Da’oud’s individual style still comes forth in his Art Deco inspired pieces. He found inspiration from vintage furniture and the old Movie Palaces from his native southern California. This period was also saw the rise of the use of Platinum, a metal with which Da’oud also casts his pieces. The beginning of minimalism can be seen in this design movement, reflected in some of Da’oud’s simpler designs. Erotic designs are also a source of inspiration with wonderful images from the Ballet Russe and Erte influencing his designs in this collection. Lotus The Lotus is a sacred flower among many cultures, ancient and modern. It lives in the water, and from the water it seems to be reborn. The Hindu Goddesses Lakshmi and Sarasvati are depicted riding them, a source of truly divine beauty! The layered petals are said to represent the expanding soul, and Buddhist have high regard for the plant as well. The Ancient Egyptians also revered this plant, though today we know the Egyptians actually revered the water lily, mistaking it for the same type of plants. But both flowers symbolize the beauty of birth, rebirth and how we all come from water. In a modern sense, the Lotus is a wonderfully unique plant in that it has thermoregulation, meaning it can create heat, might like us, warm-blooded mammals! A truly magical flower. River The cycle of water on our planet includes the path of the river. Water flows, swirling and melodiously, to the ocean. Water can teach us the great lesson of flowing with change. The river is a journey; it flows in the path of least resistance. Obstacles are gently moved around, dealt with in the least stressful manner. A relationship that embraces change is one that is empowered to change with all it encounters, thus having access to the deeper power of love that underlies what could be considered chaos. Water teaches us the way to deal with obstacles, having fun surfing this great power and not concerned with resistance to its flow. Yet the river's commitment to gravity is relentless. Rapids happen, they can be terrifying or fun, or perhaps both. The River doesn't care. Flow with it, baby. Wheat Where would we, humans, be without wheat!?! We domesticated this plant thousands of years ago and it has come to sustain and revive us time and time again. It is baked in our bread, brewed in our beer, and feeds our livestock! It is so integral to the human experience we have idolized its plant cycle in a variety of ways. It is the symbol of the seasons, the spring, summer and the fall. It represents the harvest cycle, the planting the sowing and the reaping pattern we all have in some way in all of our lives. When you see wheat in your dreams, it is said to bring success and money, and it also stands for the wonder of charity. This beautiful design represents the reaping of plans and ideas and even love. Celebrate the harvest, you deserve it! Thistle The thistle was the flower that saved Scotland. Legend says that in the 13th century a Norse king tried to invade Scotland. The arrived at night and tried to take the coastal town of Lagos by stealth, which required the troops to advance barefoot. Of course, the first soldier who put his bare foot down on this prickly plant, which grows all over the country, cried out. This woke all of the Scottish soldiers stationed in the village, leading to the Scottish winning victory over the invading Vikings. This design truly represents the national flower, the stems growing along the sides of the bands with the spines of the flowering bud creating the prongs to hold in the gemstone. Celebrate the tenacity of both the Scots and their thistle with this wonderful band.

Gemstones We use a wide variety of gemstones in our jewelry. Scroll through to read about the science behind our favorite stones, their histories, and even some metaphysical properties. To learn more about the Mohs Hardness Scale, click here . Diamond Hardness: 10 A diamond is truly forever! It takes billions (YES! Billions!) of years for carbon within the earth to be pressurized into Diamonds, mined, cut and then set in the perfect ring. They are the same chemical composition as your everyday graphite pencil, yet the process of the Earth’s pressure applied over billions of years creates this peerless gemstone. We do not source our diamonds directly from the mines, they have been repurposed, reset or recut to become what we offer. By staying away from mined sources we are helping to promote an earth and human friendly jewel. We offer GIA certifications for any of our diamonds over half a carat and could certainly help find the perfect diamond to help fit both your chosen setting and price range. The word ‘diamond’ comes to us from the Greek word ‘adamas’ meaning ‘invincible’. They have the metaphysical property of amplifying emotion, thus they are particularly powerful when given for love. It is the April birthstone and is also used to celebrate 60th anniversaries. Though diamonds are not rare by any means, they are valuable because of the variety of industrial applications from sandpaper to dental tools. As the hardest known substance on earth, diamonds have durability unrivaled by any other stone. They are also one of the easiest gemstones to care for. Gentle Dish soap and a soft toothbrush are our preferred cleaning method, but diamonds do just fine in an ultrasonic as well. Just keep in mind that the stone is more durable than the metal surrounding it, so make sure to keep an eye on the prongs when you clean your ring; and make sure to stay away from harsh chemicals. The durability of Diamonds is the reason they are so sought after for wedding and engagement bands, and with bonus sparkle! Sapphire Hardness: 9 Sapphires are wonderfully hard stones, second only to Diamonds. The name ‘sapphire’ comes to us from the Persian word for blue, ‘safir’, as the traditional Sapphire is a deep blue color. However, they come in all colors (the red variation you might know better as Ruby)! Sapphires (and Rubies) are made from Corundum a common mineral but only rarely is it found in gem qualities, and it is found in only a few places around the world; all contributing to it’s preciousness. White sapphires were traditional stones for wedding bands before the DeBeers company started to promote diamonds in the mid-19th century. Green Sapphires have a beautiful Peridot-like tone, but a burst of color appears in the facets when brought into the light. Other colors that can be acquired are Yellow, Pink, Violet, Orange and the rare Padparadscha Sapphire, which is a pinkish-orange (Porange?) in color. Sapphire is the September birthstone and there is a long history of famous Sapphires from around the world. The Star of India, weighing in at 536 carats, was found several centuries ago in Sri Lanka and currently can be seen at the American Museum of Natural History. The Smithsonian has its own epic Sapphire; the 423-carat Logan Sapphire is the largest faceted gemstone on display anywhere in the world! Sapphires are the birthstone for the month of September. They are known as the Success stones and it's said, in many cultures, to ward of the evil eye. They can help you succeed by bringing about your dreams and desires. No wonder it is a much-sought-after engagement stone! Ruby Hardness: 9 Ruby is one of the four precious stones (the others being sapphire, emerald and, of course, diamond). It is very rare being only one of many color variations of corundum (the other colors being categorized as Sapphire). In fact, the word ‘corundum’ comes to us from the Tamil (a language spoken in Sri Lanka) word ‘kurundam’ meaning ‘ruby sapphire’. It has been valued for millennia throughout the world. In India, the Sanscrit word for Ruby is ‘ratnaraj’ meaning ‘king of precious stones’ and it was believed that giving a Ruby to Krishna would ensure good luck in your next life. Medieval Europe saw the Ruby as a stone to bring good health, wisdom and a prosperous love life. It is the birthstone for July. The bright red color comes from chromium within the stone. The most sought after tone of Ruby is called “pigeon’s blood” and is a deep red with magenta highlights. As opposed to a garnet, which has more orange undertones, Rubies tend toward a pinker hue. Rubies will always naturally have visible inclusions in them, making it easy to spot a lab created stone. Of course a lab created Ruby does have the benefit of being less expensive than the natural rare gemstone, yet it is still chemically the same; just grown by scientists instead of by nature. Another cost-effective option is a heat-treated stone, where the natural Ruby undergoes irradiation to bring out a more vibrant red color in otherwise inferior colored stones. This gives everyone the opportunity to have a Ruby set in their favorite ring. Colored Diamonds Hardness: 10 While one might think of Diamonds in their most popular color white, they actually come in a full rainbow of colors! Yellow and Brown colored diamonds, referred to as Canary and Champagne diamonds respectively, are colored by various impurities found within the stone, which give them the golden hue. Blue Diamonds are colored by inclusions of the element Boron. Other fancy colors include pink, orange, green, black and even red (a VERY rare version of diamonds!). Regardless of the shade, colored Diamonds are still as sparkly in their facets as a pure white diamond; a wonderful way to add color and durability to your dream ring. Star Sapphire / Star Ruby Hardness: 9 Star Sapphires and Rubies have inclusions that create a rare effect called ‘Asterism’. When a light hits the stone, the reflection created a 6-point star that seems to float atop the face of the stone. This effect is created by small, needle-like inclusions of rutile, mostly composed of titanium dioxide. These ‘silky’ inclusions create this effect in Rubies and Sapphires, as well as the cats-eye effect found in other stones. Star Sapphires and Rubies are the same hardness as their more pure counterparts, but are only found in cabochon cut as that helps to create the asterism effect. Star Sapphires and Rubies are most popular in red, black or blue colors, but might be able to be found in any color of your choice. Imperial Topaz Hardness: 8 This is the most rare form of Topaz and has been sought after for millennia. Imperial Topaz is gold, an almost pinkish yellow color. It is the original birthstone for November, with Citrine being the alternative option to this rare stone. It looks particularly stunning set in gold, as you find it difficult to see where the metal stops and the stone begins. The ancient Egyptians praised it for this quality and attributed it the sun god, Ra. A bright and sunny stone to add to your collection. Emerald Hardness: 7.5-8 Emerald is the fourth of the precious stone (the others being Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond). It is the most precious stone within the beryl group, which includes stones like Aquamarine and Morganite. The name ‘Emerald’ from Old French ‘esmeralde’ which, in turn, came from the Greek word ‘smaragdos’ meaning ‘green stone’. The green color of Emerald is created by the inclusion of chromium within beryl, the very same element that turns the mineral corundum red in a Ruby! Emeralds always have visible inclusions in them, similar to the Ruby, which can make them less resistant to breakage than other stone of similar hardness. Because of these inclusions, when emeralds are mined, they generally are ‘oiled’ right out of the ground. This application of, typically, cedar oil fills in the cracks on an emerald and brings out the color. Make sure not to use harsh chemicals on your stone as to preserve the oil and protect the gem. The Emerald Cut is a popular cut for many stones, but was created specifically for Emerald. Its rectangular shape has truncated corners with a step cut around the edges. This maximizes the luster and color of the stone, while maintaining mechanical integrity of the gem. Emeralds are the birthstone for the merry month of May as well as for 20th and 35th anniversaries. Many ancient cultures in South America, such as the Inca, regarded the Emerald as a holy stone. The Vedic in ancient India believed emerald to bring good luck and well-being and have been found with many a Maharajas treasure chest. All around the world, cultures have celebrated this magnificent stone. Alexandrite Hardness: 8.5 Alexandrite is one of the most rare stones in the world. It is a pleochroic stone, which means it changes color depending on the lighting. In the sunlight, a natural alexandrite looks a bluish-green but in lower lighting it turns red, going through shades of purple along the way. Alexandrite is a type of chrysoberyl but with the rare composition of impurities that give it its ineffable coloration. The inclusion of chromium gives it the green hues you might see in the daylight but it is the iron and titanium traces that make this stone truly spectacular. June babies are lucky to have this stone as their birthstone, along with Pearl and Moonstone. Alexandrite was named after Tzar Nicolas II of Russia, where the first mine was found. The Russian mine in the Ural Mountains was, rather quickly, mined out so the Alexandrites you see today are most likely from the newer mines of Brazil, Tanzania or Sri Lanka. The mining process of the stones does not often yield very large stones, but the Smithsonian (as always) has the largest one, weighing in at 66 carats! Lab-created Alexandrites are typically made from corundum (sapphire/ruby) with particular elements to give the colored effect but they are difficult to make, so their price isn’t as low as other synthetic gemstones. Garnet Hardness: 6.5-7.5 The name garnet comes from the Medieval Latin term ‘granatus’ meaning ‘grain’ since the small flecks of red crystals are usually found growing in a host rock. The Pharaohs of Egypt decorated with them and the Romans enjoyed trading them and using them for their own jewelry. In the 16th century a Garnet mine opened in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) making it an important center of the gemstone trade, which is still true to this day. Today Garnet is associated with the birth month of January. The Garnet family of stone is the largest in the world. They come in dozens of varieties but only 6 different types are used for gemstones: Pyrope (which encompasses Rhodolite garnets), Almandite (the typical orangish-red color of Garnet), Spessartite (including the color change Garnet), Grossularite (Hessonite, but also Tzavorite Garnets), Andradite and Uvarovite. Though Almandite garnets, or red garnets, are quite common most are not of gem quality and are used for industrial purposes. A fascinating way some of these are mined is found in Arizona. Ants, in creating their colonies, bring up Garnet crystals to the surface where miner and hiker alike can collect them. Most of these, as usual, are not suitable for cutting, but a rare few are found to be the perfect gemstone. Other variations include color-change and Rhodolite Garnets (a purplish-red color). With so many varieties to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect Garnet for your ring! Opal Hardness: 5.5-6.5 Opals are the most popular among our stones. They are named from the Sanskrit word ‘upala’ meaning ‘valuable stone’ and are essentially just gem-quality silicone dioxide. The beautiful burst of colors comes from diffracted light being bounced off small spheres of silica gel within the stone, as well as ‘chips’ of silica and oxygen. It is also 3-30% water, which can make it more delicate than more solid stone. Taking care of your opal is key to having it for many years. They are delicate stones so need to make sure to remove your ring when doing any cleaning or activities that could scratch it. You can clean with mild dish soap and a soft toothbrush. If you want to store it for a while, it is recommended to wrap it in plastic with a small, damp cotton ball to keep it hydrated. Opal is the official stone of Australia, since 97% of all of the world’s opals come from the continent. An old Australian Aboriginal folktale tells of the Creator coming down to earth to share stories with mankind. When his feet hit the ground, the earth began to sparkle, and that was believed to be the origin of this marvelous stone. There are many superstitions surrounding Opals in modern society as well, but don’t let those hold you back. Many of the superstitions pertaining this stone all have origins from the DeBeers marketing for Diamonds. Queen Victoria loved Opals, which came from her new colony of Australia, which means the rest of the Victorian world followed suit. The DeBeers company wanted to push Diamonds from their new African mines, so they started the rumors about Opals. The Victorians were very superstitious and ate up this information and quickly switched their love to Diamonds. Those superstitions are told to this day! So do not despair if you are not born in October, it is not unlucky for you; nor is it unlucky to buy it for yourself. Celebrate yourself with this wonderful stone! Amethyst Hardness: 7 Amethyst is the most valuable gem belonging to the quartz mineral family. Its bright purple color comes from inclusions of iron and aluminum. It is closely related to Citrine, which is essentially the same minus the amount of iron, which what give Amethyst its color. By heating the Amethyst to high temperatures, the iron content reduces and turns the stone yellow. Ametrine is a stone that shows both colors on either end. The name Amethyst comes from the Greek word ‘amethystos’ which means ‘not drunken’ as they believed the stone could help ward off intoxication. Legend has it the stone was created by Dionysus, the god of wine and merriment. He was made angry by a human and vowed to hurt the next mortal that crossed his path. Amethyst was a beautiful young maiden who was on the way to leave an offering to Artemis and the unlucky soul to next cross his path. Artemis saw what was about to happen and turned her into crystal to protect her. Dionysus saw that he had done and cried tears of wine over her, turning the stone to vivid purple. Purple has been attributed to Royalty across the world, so this stone has ben very popular throughout history. They were worn by ancient Egyptians, coveted by Catherine the Great and even featured on the Crown Jewels of Britain. In the Catholic Church it is considered the stone of the Bishops and is usually featured in a ring worn by the clergy. It beautiful and vibrant color is still popular around the world today. A powerful Kahuna meditation using the Violet Ray of the Amethyst has the devotee holding before oneself cupped hands, visualizing what one wants to transform, and sending the visual into the violet flames to dissipate on high, then returning to the cupped hands to visualize what you’d like this to change into, infusing this new vision with violet light, lifting up ones hands again to let go of this to ones higher self. Saying “So Be it”, or “thy will be done” lets the greater good take it from you and release you from further concern. Repetition of this ritual over time gives it greater strength and efficacy. Topaz Hardness: 8 Topaz is a relatively hard stone that comes in a wide variety of colors. In its purest form, it is colorless; but impurities create the variety of colors they come in. The ancient Greeks and Egyptians loved it, particularly the yellowish toned stones, but today it has been found that most of the stones that inspired ancient cultures are actually Crysolite. The blue colors are the most popular today. They do occur naturally, but usually in a lighter color so many have been slightly processed to bring out vibrancy in the color. Glacier Blue (a bright, glowing blue) and London Blue (steel blue in color) are two beautiful examples of this effect. Mystic Topaz is an example of the other kind of treatment done with Topaz; a metallic coating added to a heated stone creates the multicolored effect. While this is quite beautiful, it is not necessarily permanent and has tendency to fade over time. This is a similar situation for Green or vibrant Pink Topaz. Blue Topaz is the December birthstone, as well as the stone for commemorating 4th and 23rd anniversaries. The Greeks believed that Topaz could bring strength and courage to the wearer. In India, Topaz is believed to open up the throat chakra, which aids in communication and self-expression. Opal Triplet Hardness: 6-7 Opal Triplets are a great way to have the wonderful play of color of an Opal but with some protection. Opal Triplets are three natural stones that have been put together. Black Onyx is on the backside of the opal and a quartz crystal lies on top. Because the Opal is encased in two other harder stones, it is more protected than a normal exposed Opal. Though it does have some more strength make sure to not submerge it in water for too long, because water can get in between the individual layered stones and make it look foggy. The Black Onyx brings out so much color within the opal. Blue and Green become bright, and reds and pinks can also be seen in this variation. Peridot Hardness: 6.5-7 Peridot is the gem quality version of the mineral Olivine. It is unique among gemstones because the bright green color actually comes right from the Olivine mineral and not from impurities, like other colored gemstones; thus Peridot is one of the only gemstone that comes in only one color. It is a very clear gemstone, with little to no impurities observable in most stones. Its purity also makes it wonderful to be cut in many different shapes and facets! The name ‘peridot’ comes from the Arabic word ‘faridat’, meaning ‘gem’. Peridot is one of the oldest known gemstones, with references to the green stone going back to 1500 BC, a particular favorite of the (in)famous Queen Cleopatra. It is formed deep within the earths crust and is thrust up through volcanic and tectonic activity, much like Diamonds. The volcanic island of Zabargad in the Red Sea had been the source for Peridot for millennia and it is again since its rediscovery in 1900. Peridot is the birthstone for August, a warm summery green for a warm summery month! The stone is also out of this world, as it has been found within meteors and meteorites and Olivine (its composite mineral) has been found on Mars! Aquamarine Hardness: 7.5-8 Aquamarine is a wonderful shade of light greenish-blue, and a precious form of Beryl. It is closely related to to the chromium-rich form of Beryl, Emerald. It’s lustrous sea blue color, it’s name being Latin for ‘seawater’. Aquamarine gets its delicate color from impurities of iron within the clear beryl crystal. It differs from other beryls in that it tends to be much more clear of a stone than the heavily included Emerald. Aquamarines have always been associated with the sea. They were once believed to have originated in the treasure chests of mermaids. They were also considered a lucky stone among sailors, a particularly superstitious crowd. The Greeks and Romans both believed that because the stone comes from mermaids thus a sailor carrying one would be protected by the magical sea creatures. In modern times it has become the birthstone for March, and those water-loving Pisces. Citrine Hardness: 7 Citrine is a wonderful golden quartz stone, closely related to Amethyst. Natural Citrine is becoming increasingly rare, due to its popularity and the intense amount of heat that is needed to create the intense yellow hue. It is actually one of the few gemstones that occur naturally in these golden colors. The name comes from the French word ‘citron’ meaning ‘lemon’, though Citrine is much more golden than lemon yellow in color. Citrine is one of the birthstones for the month of November, along with another golden-toned stone, Imperial Topaz. Citrine is believed to radiate positive energy, and with its bright and vibrant color, there can be little doubt about that! It is known as the ‘merchant’s stone’ since it is believed to create prosperity and abundance, particularly in business matters. Pearl Hardness: 2.5-4.5 Pearl is one of the only organic gemstones on earth (the others being Ammolite, Coral, Amber, Ivory and Jet), but it is definitely the most popular and has been throughout human history. They are found within a variety of bivalve mollusks, like oysters and mussels. A small impurity gets lodged within the mollusk and over time, it is completely covered by proteins and minerals from the animal, creating the spherical gem. Pearls formed without human intervention, occur rarely and spontaneously in nature (Natural Pearls) so most of the pearls you find a more affordable prices are generally going to be pearls made by a farmed mollusk (cultured pearls). A small piece of mother of pearl is lodged within the shell and the animal then goes about creating this beautiful gemstone. It comes out of the shell perfectly shaped and needs no polishing or cutting to be used. Though Pearls are relatively soft, they are dense and are not easily crushed or broken. Make sure to wipe them clean after wearing them, as sweat can deteriorate its luster and they should be removed when working with chemicals (even vinegar!) and when just cleaning around your house (Sorry, Judy Cleaver!). Moonstone Hardness: 6-6.5 Moonstone is the most famous and popular among the variety of gemstone-quality feldspars. It has an almost magical bluish sheen under most lighting that makes it obvious how this stone is equated with the moon. This optical effect is called ‘adularescence’ and is created by tiny inclusions between the layers of orthoclase within the stone. Moonstone is always cut in a cabochon cut, and tends to have a high dome to allow the most amount of light to enter the stone. Some variations of related feldspar include Rainbow Moonstone (which gives a rainbow spectrum of color), Sunstone (orange and copper in color) and Labradorite (a dark stone with a blue sheen). Moonstones are revered around the world. The Romans as well as Hindus believed it to have been formed from moonbeams. In India, they believed that placing one in your mouth during a full moon would let you see the future. Moonstone was extremely popular during the Art Nouveau movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This makes it a wonderful stone to have set in one of Da’ouds Art Nouveau designs! Sunstone Hardness: 6-6.5 Sunstone is a bright variety of feldspar, related to both Moonstone and Labradorite. This orange stone has a certain sparkle to it from tiny inclusions of hematite or goethite. Sunstones have been used for centuries, particularly in within the Norse cultures. Many Vikings have been buried with this warm-toned stone. The Greeks associated it with the sun god Apollo and thought it would bring good luck to the wearer. Native tribes used Sunstone for barter in Oregon, a place where they are still found today. Labradorite Hardness: 6-6.5 Labradorite is a wonderfully iridescent feldspar gemstone, related to both Moonstone and Sunstone. It may seem like a boring, hazy gray stone; but put it in the light and a wonderful display of color appears, seemingly from the very heart of the stone. They tend more towards the blue and green shades, but yellow, orange and red can be found as well. The stone is named for the Labrador Peninsula where it was originally discovered in 1770. A Canadian Eskimo legend says that a wanderer found the northern lights trapped within a stone. He used his spear to free them, but some light can still be found within this magnificent stone. Tanzanite Hardness: 6.5-7 Tanzanite is the world’s most rare stone. It was found by a Massai tailor (and part-time prospector) in Tanzania in 1967. It is still only found and mined in the Manyara Hills, where it had been originally discovered. It is within the Zoisite mineral group and does have some pleochroic tendancies within the crystal. The most desired tone is a light purplish-blue color. In 2002, the American Gem Trade Association named Tanzanite as the new birthstone for December, making the first change to the list since 1912. Tanzanite is a very popular stone. Tiffany & Co was actually the first to name the stone after the country in which it originated which prompted its rise in popularity since the 70s. Da’oud likes to use repurposed Tanzanite, like diamonds, and there are some interesting stones out there! Tourmaline Hardness: 7 Tourmaline is a wonderfully varied stone, the gem-quality form of boron silicate minerals. The stone comes in every color of the rainbow and is considered one of the worlds most versatile stones. The name ‘tourmaline’ is believed to come from the Sinhalese (a language spoken in Sri Lanka) word ‘turamali’, meaning ‘stone with various colors’. It is a relative late-comer to the gemstone game. It was first introduced to the jewelry markets in 1875, though it may have been unwittingly used since the 16th century. Ninety-five percent of Tourmaline around the world is of the schorl species but gem quality stones lie in the elbaite family. It has pyro-piezoelectric properties, which means it can produce and hold an electric charge under certain conditions. This fascinating quality is interesting; though it does lend itself to the ever-present static electricity, so make sure to wipe the stone down with a soft, damp cloth every now and again. Tourmaline is another birthstone for the month of October, particularly pink tourmaline. It is said that the stone is a powerful detoxifier and invites a positive energy around the wearer. Hindus believe tourmaline balances the energies of the body, mostly due to it being found in every color, each chakra being aligned with a particular color. Some popular variations of this stone are olive green, bright pink (mostly found right here in the USA), watermelon tourmaline (half green/half pink), and parabaiba, which is a almost neon blue-green color and is extremely rare. Andalusite Hardness: 7.5 Andalusite is another wonderful pleochroic stone, showing a multitude of colors in different lightings. It named for Andalusia, the autonomous region is Spain where it was first discovered. It is a remarkable and rare gemstone, but relatively unknown. Depending on the direction of the light, it exhibits shades of gold, yellow, brown, olive and green, with sometime just a hint of reddish brown, resembling the twinkling colors in Hazel eyes. Because Andalusite is such a lesser-known gemstone, there is not a lot of historical information about it. Amber Hardness: 2 Amber is one of the few organic gemstones, meaning it comes from a living thing. It is the fossilized tree resin of the Pinus succinifera tree and each of them are at least 50 million years old! Amber deposits are found throughout the world, but the most sought after Amber stones are from the Baltic Sea, where they typically wash ashore from ancient forests that are now submerged under the water. Blue Amber from the Dominican Republic is younger than other forms of Amber found around the world and has turned the bluish hue from pyrite impurities within the Amber resin. Because of its arboreal origins, Amber often has some interesting inclusions such as insects and the like. Amber is such a soft stone, remember to take care not to scratch it and clean it with mild soap and water. Amber has been popular throughout human history. Amber has been used since the Upper Paleolithic (20kya) and its trade has been going since the Mesolithic era (15kya)! It has been carved, shaped, beaded, sometimes even faceted for millennia. In Lithuania (in the Baltic) they tell the legend of Jūraté, queen of the sea, who fell in love with Kastytis, a fisherman. Her father was so furious that he destroyed her Amber palace and turned her into sea foam. Sounds like another, more familiar, sea story! CZ Hardness: 8-8.5 CZ, or cubic zirconia, is a wonderful diamond simulant (note: not a synthetic diamond, which are chemically the same as the natural stone just lab grown). Though it appears (rarely) in nature, the crystalline structure of this stone was able to be mass-produced and brought to market in 1976 giving Diamonds a run for their money! It’s hardness, refractive index and clarity make it a wonderful alternative to the more expensive diamond, though some are turned off by its man-made nature. If a natural diamond substitute is what you are looking for, check out White Sapphires! Iolite Hardness: 7-7.5 Iolite is a relatively little-known stone with a great history. It has the tendency to differ in tone, depending on the lighting. From the side, a good Iolite will almost look crystal clear and in low lighting it will take on a deeper blue hue. This is the reason it was once called Midnight Sapphire, as it looked like the precious stone in candlelight. In the daytime, we prefer to call it ‘Poor Man’s Tanzanite’, for its periwinkle hue. It is a wonderful substitute for the rarest of stones, not only for its color, but also for its hardness; Iolite is harder than Tanzanite. However, Iolite itself can be quite rare, especially in larger carat size. It can be difficult to find a clear Iolite stone for larger settings, but not to worry! Da’oud has a wonderful eye and has found some amazing large, faceted Iolite for some of his designs. The Vikings were said to use this stone for navigation. A thin piece of Iolite was used to concentrate the suns rays on cloudy days, to help them navigate the normally cloudy northern seas. The Vikings, in essence, invented the first polarized lens! This magnificent stone helped the Vikings change the face of Northern Europe, Iceland and even the New World! Carnelian Hardness: 6.5-7 Carnelian is a reddish orange colored variation of chalcedony. The name comes from the Latin and Medieval Latin words for the Cornel Cherry, whose translucent red color looks similar to this beautiful stone. It is wonderfully varied in its appearance as it can range from translucent to opaque, and all intensities in between are equally desired. It is a very old gemstone, with some drilled stones found from the 4th century bc. Romans used it frequently for their signet rings; used to press their signature into wax to seal a document. Even the prophet Mohammed was said to have used a carnelian signet. It was believed in many ancient and modern cultures to bring good luck to the wearer. Lapis Lazuli Hardness: 5-6 Lapis has been used as a gemstone for thousands of years. It has been mined in the Hindu-Kush Mountains in Afghanistan for six thousand years! The origins of the compound name of the stone show its importance across cultures. ‘Lapis’ comes from the Latin word for ‘stone’ and ‘Lazuli’ is from the Arabic and Persian word ‘Lazaward’ which was the term for this stone. The stone has even influenced other languages in their word for ‘blue’, such as Spanish with ‘azul’, Romanian with ‘azuriu’ and even English with our term ‘azure’! Because of its complex composition, Lapis is technically a rock, not a mineral like most other gemstones. The most valuable stones are the pure almost glowing blue color without any inclusions. Yet, some of the most interesting specimens showcase gold pyrite flecks across the surface of the stone. Quite beautiful when set into 14k Gold, in particular!

FAQ Contents | Pricing | Locations | Metals | Gemstones | Jewelry Care | Custom Orders How much is your jewelry? It depends! Our rings vary in price depending on the metal, stone and size. To find out the price of a particular ring, find the ring on our website for all of the specs and info then fill out this form . With this form, we will research the price of the stone and send you an invoice for the final price. We have a variety of stones, colors and qualities available thus we are able to discuss what budget you might have and find an appropriate stone for your special order! Of course, there are some simple parameters that might help you figure out your wishes. Silver is about 1/10th the price of Gold, and lab created stones are less expensive than their natural versions. A diamond or alexandrite will cost more than, say, a garnet or lapis lazuli. I saw a ring at your booth this weekend for less than the price I was quoted online, why is that? The rings we keep in stock for festivals are made in specific sizes and stones; They are not custom pieces. The rings you order from the website are custom made for you and sized in wax to fit you before they are ever cast. You have the freedom to pick the stone, metal, size and design when you order from the website. Each piece is handmade by the Muses and the upmost care is taken to ensure its quality. | Pricing FAQ Contents Frequently Asked Questions We answer a lot of questions both in our booths and over the phone, so we have compiled a list of the most common questions (or frequently asked questions…) for you to peruse. If you still have a question that wasn’t answered on this page, please contact us and we would be happy to answer them for you! How do I pay for my ring? Because our rings vary so greatly in pricing, we work one on one with you in the designing and payment process. Once you have filled out the custom quote request for your chosen ring, we will research current price of the metal and stone for you. We will send you a PDF invoice that you can peruse at your leisure. Once you are ready to make a payment, all you need to do is contact us to get the ball rolling! Do I have to pay in full when ordering a custom piece? You do not need all of the money up front to get the process started on your own custom creation. Half down insures a fix on the price, so we request that you are ready for that payment when you place your order. You may pay monthly or weekly, or as you wish. We do prefer to have orders paid within two to three months, but we understand when life gets in the way! Rush orders which need to be done in 4 weeks or less will require payment in full. | Locations Do you have a brick and mortar store that I can visit? We do not have a storefront in Santa Barbara. The address you see is actually just a mailing address, as we are on the road most of the year. Yep, we pack up our whole workshop and stock and travel the country! If you are in Southern California in the spring, feel free to come visit us at the Southern California Renaissance Festival in April and May in Irwindale. We display and sell our jewelry exclusively at Renaissance Festivals around the country, so if you would like to visit us in person, check out our list of Ren Faires for the Festival we will be at nearest to you! I am going to be near a festival you are at when my ring is ready, can I come pick it up? Of course! You will need to come to the Festival during its operating hours (typically Saturdays and Sundays). If you do not wish to pay to attend the festival itself, contact us the week before you come out, as most festivals have a merchant pass to be able to visit a vendor briefly to pick up merchandise. When you pick up your ring, we will happily refund you the shipping amount! I saw one of your rings at a Renaissance Festival, can I purchase it online? You will not be able to purchase a specific ring from this website. We can, however, recreate it specially for you! Just fill out the Quote Request Form and we can send you an estimate! If you have any questions about a ring you might have seen at one of our booths, just contact us ! | Metals Do you work in Platinum? White gold? Yes! When you fill out the Quote Request form for a piece, you will notice that you are given a lot of choices of metals, including 14kt Rose gold and Platinum. For any of our metals, the price depends on ring sizes and setting desired. Do you work in Titanium, Palladium etc? No, we do not. We only work in the castable precious metals. The metals we work with are Sterling Silver, 14k Yellow, White, and Rose Gold, and Platinum. Will my silver ring tarnish? Not if you wear it frequently! You might be thinking of silver place settings, which seem to tarnish as soon as they are polished; those are fine silver. We work with Sterling Silver, which is 92.5% silver mixed with other alloys. This makes our jewelry strong and durable and makes them less susceptible to oxidation when worn often. If you ring does tarnish, not to worry! A simple polishing cloth will fix it right up. If it’s been in a drawer for a while, you might try brushing it with a soft toothbrush and some mild dish soap first. Also keep in mind that some chemicals can oxidize silver, like those found in hot tubs and hot springs, but you can always bring it by one of our booths for a polish if that happens! Will my ring turn my finger green? Ideally no. Our rings are solid cast metals starting with sterling silver so green skin shouldn’t be an issue (though some people have just that right pH balance to their skin that green might appear over time). The oxidation appearing on the skin usually happens with a ring is plated with a lesser metal underneath. Which stones are available for your work? We carry a large stock of good quality gemstones of all types, and can order diamonds in all shapes and sizes and quality at reasonable prices from sustainable and conflict-free sources. The prices of these stones vary according to many factors such as cut, color and clarity. Consider your budget, and we can find you the best stones for your individual needs. If you would like to find out the price of multiple stones, make sure to let us know in the ‘notes’ section of the Quote Request Form of your selected piece.What can you budget for a stone, and in those parameters, would you be willing to live with very minute inclusions in order to get the largest stone possible? The variables are endless according to you budget needs. | Gemstones My stone has a flaw. Flaws are actually inclusions or veils that help the gemologist determine the nature of the stone, are very common and are interesting characteristics of the stones. Stones like Natural Ruby and Natural Emerald are actually easy to determine because they will always naturally have inclusions. Depending on your budget, we can find you a clear, high quality stone; or find you a “lesser” stone, which may have inclusions. If you desire a bright and clear stone in your ring, but do not have the budget for a AAA stone, we have a wide selection of lab created stones as well. If you have a preference for quality, make sure to let us know in the ‘notes’ section of the Quote Request Form ! Do you work with Diamonds? Yes! We have access to a large assortment of diamonds of different qualities and prices. If you would like to see a diamond set into your selected piece, just keep in mind that the price of the diamond goes up exponentially after 1ct, which is why most of our wedding rings and bands feature smaller stones, to help keep our jewelry more affordable.We can now source some amazing lab-grown diamonds as well! Are your diamonds conflict-free? We deal with stones from companies which ascribe to the Diamond Protocol of 1999, assuring their sources to be from legitimate mines with fair trade policies for their workers. Some of our diamonds are even of secondary sources removed from antique settings. We do this by buying only stones that have been in circulation here in the United States, from Estate sales or from jewelry that has been broken up to make new more exciting designs. Can you set my own stone? In most cases we can set a stone you provide. Most gemstones are durable and can easily be removed and set within one of our pieces. Our two exceptions are opals, which are much too delicate (we don’t want to crack your grandmother’s opal!) and emeralds. Emeralds are beautiful but their natural inclusions make them easy to crack if the vibration hits just the wrong spot. We will happily work with our own selection of these stones, but we hesitate to work with others. Do your diamonds come with certifications? We get GIA certifications on any of our diamonds over .50ct, which we will send you with your ring. If you would like certification on any other stone or size, you can contact the Gemological Institute of America to get your own certifications. We now also include certifications for our Lab-grown diamonds as well. | Jewelry Care How do I take care of my new ring? Our rings are made for longevity! The few things to look out for are the background antique and the stone. The background antique is applied to bring out the design. It’s a really great look, but will last differently on different metals. Because of the very nature of gold, it may not last indefinitely, yet with silver the antique is created with a chemical process, so it will last much longer! Please do not wear your ring in chlorinated water for long periods of time, or expose it to exotic solvents, as that can be detrimental to the gemstone and possibly the metal. We do not recommend having it steam cleaned nor ultrasonically cleaned. You may clean your ring with warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush scrubbing very lightly, and then take a polishing cloth to it to bring back the shine. The oxidation/antiquing has come off of my ring, how can I replace it? We will gladly redo the oxidation or antique black that we put on most of the rings for small fee. You can send it to our mailing address (or contact us for a more direct address). We highly suggest that you send it with insurance, so that it arrives safely. (Usually $8-25) We also ask that you cover return postage, we will send you an invoice when we receive the ring. You can also do it yourself! Here’s the recipe: To antique the ring yourself, scrub with a toothbrush with a solvent like Xylol or “Goof Off”, to get off all of the old paint and skin oils and dirt, or put in an ultrasonic, scrubbing as need be. Let dry thoroughly or place under a lamp until dry, then apply with a fine brush a flat black enamel paint to the engraved details of the ring, rub off with a clean lint free cloth or shop type paper towel, and rub off again until excess paint is off of the ring. A quick polish with a polishing cloth or buffing wheel would give it back its sparkle. Presto antique-o! | Custom Orders Are the rings available without antiquing? Yes. Although most people like the antique we us on the rings, some prefer them without it. If this is your desire, please specify it on your Quote Request Form . How long will it take to create my ring? All of the orders from the website will be custom orders, so they will take between 6-9 months to finish and perfect. If you need your piece sooner, you can pay a modest rush fee (aka our “Muses sanity” fee) to receive your ring in 8-12 weeks. Can you use the gold from a ring I have? Alas, we cannot. We have a special refinery we work with to obtain our metal, so we cannot melt down your gold. Different refineries use different alloys and we wouldn’t want new metals to contaminate our pieces. All of our gold is recycled, so no need to worry about the environmental impact, we’ve already taken care of that! I have a design of my own that I would like to see cast in a ring, can you do that? Not at the moment. Our process starts all the way down to the wax, so creating a new design from scrap can take too much of our time to be able to do efficiently. If you are interested in tweaking a design we already have, such as to make it fit around your own ring or to accommodate a smaller or larger stone in an already designed setting, we can absolutely do that! The process and price varies depending on the situation, so contact us if you want to know about changing up a specific design. I lost weight, can you size my ring? We are happy to size our own rings. There will be a small fee for the work as well as shipping. We do warn, however, that a ring can only be sized a couple of times before it starts to weaken the metal. Just contact us to find out how to get the process started! Do you offer insurance for your jewelry? No we do not. We always suggest researching insurance on your precious jewelry, so that if something unfortunate happens to it, you can get it replaced if possible. If you haven't found the answer to your question here, let us know and we would be happy to answer it for you!

Our Process Lost Wax casting is an ancient metal smithing technique wherein a design is carved in wax from which a mold is made for the desired metal. We specialize in casting precious metals, 14k gold and sterling silver in particular. Keep reading to learn more about the Lost Wax Casting process! Wax Carving and Setting the Sprue Once the wax design is created, it's time to set it on a sprue. In casting, a sprue is the passage through which a molten material is introduced into a mold, and the term also refers to the excess material which solidifies in the sprue passage. In sand casting, the sprue is formed by a dowel which is removed from the sand to make the hole into which the metal is poured. Sprues can serve as filters, heat sinks, and as feeders. Bronze in particular has a high shrinkage rate as it is cooling; a sprue can continue to provide molten metal to the casting, provided it is large enough to retain its heat and stay liquid, as metal in the main casting cools and shrinks. The design of the sprue and runner system can be also utilized to trap unwanted dross and sand from continuing into the main cavity; this may include adding porous material to the runners, or designing the sprue to eject the dross to the side of the sprue using cyclonic separation. Making an Investment The sprued wax pattern is dipped into a slurry of fine refractory material, known as investment material; one example of this is silica. This fine material is used first to give a smooth surface finish and reproduce fine details. During the primary coat(s), the sand will typically be a zircon-based, as zirconium is less likely to react with the molten metal when poured into the shell. The cluster is then dipped into a fluidized bed, rain tower sander, or by hand into a sand-like stucco, which is dry crystalline silica of a controlled grain size, and allowed to dry. These secondary coats usually are mullite, molochite, chamotte, or fused silica refractory material. This step is repeated until the investment is the required thickness, which is usually 5 to 15 mm (0.2 to 0.6 in). As an alternative to multiple dips the cluster is placed upside-down in a casting flask and then liquid investment material is poured into the flask. The flask is then vibrated to allow entrapped air to escape and help the investment material fill in all of the details. Prior to silica, a mixture of plaster and fire-proof material such as chamotte was used. An alternative to using silica is a slurry of ethyl silicate (alcohol-based and chemically set), colloidal silica (water-based, also known as silica sol, set by drying) or a hybrid of these controlled for pH and viscosity. Melting and Spinning The investment is allowed to completely dry, which can take 24 to 48 hours. It is then turned upside-down and placed in an oven to melt out or vaporized the wax. The melted wax can be recovered and reused, although often it is simply burned up, this is called burnout. At this point metal casting grain of the desired ring material is melted for pouring. The molten metal is then poured into the mold by a centrifugal caster. A centrifugal caster is used as a means of casting small, detailed parts or jewelry. An articulated arm is free to spin around a vertical axle, which is driven by an electric motor or a spring. The entire mechanism is enclosed in a tub or drum to contain hot metal should the mold break or an excess of metal be used. A small amount of metal in a crucible (a sort of ceramic pan) next to the mold is heated with a torch. When the metal is molten the arm is released, forcing (by centrifugal force) the metal into the mold. The high forces imposed on the metal overcome the viscosity, resulting in a finely detailed workpiece. A similar advantage is obtained by vacuum casting. Quenching the flask and preparing the ring The flask is cooled and the investment material is blasted or chipped off. This is usually done in a bucket of cold water. Once the quenching is done, the silicone sand is carefully removed from around the cast. The ring is now ready to be prepped for setting. The ring goes through a long process of grinding (4-5 different wheels) and polishing (another 4-5 wheels) before it can be set with a stone or even just ready to be sold!

THe Mohs Hardness Scale You may have heard the Muses talking about a stones hardness, particularly in comparison to other stones. It is not just some figurative comparison we are making, but an actual measure of hardness of the mineral that comes from the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness . The Mohs Hardness scale (as it is referred to in the jewelry industry) is not a linear scale. Fluorite at 4 is not half as hard as topaz at 8 but topaz is half the hardness of corundum at 9. And diamonds are 4 times as hard as corundum even though they are right next to each other on the scale. Because of this discrepency, the Mohs Hardness scale is not used in industrial applications, purely in a gemological context. The scale also does not account for toughness or strength. An emerald has a hardness of 7.5-8, but it is not a very tough stone, due to the inclusions which naturally occur in the crystal. You will see things like dirt and teeth listed on the scale so as to let a person know what will be able to scratch or etch a stone. Dirt can scratch opal, so make sure to take off your Opal ring when hanging out at the beach. This scale shows things like bone can scratch amber, so we suggest you don't chew on your new Amber ring if you van avoid it.

Da'oud Thompson The Man, the Myth, the Inspiration 1950 - 2021 His Story Trained in the art of lost wax casting and gemology, Da’oud attended Santa Barbara City College Geology and Gemology department, and then studied at Humboldt State University, Santa Barbara Art Institute, and under other master jewelers at the Tucson Jeweler's Art Center. He has apprenticed under renowned jewelry and sculpture artists as well as advanced studies at the Revere Academy in Oakland. Starting originally in stone sculpture, his work moved easily to the realm of casting and metal fabrication. Having completed university studies, Da’oud continued his education by attending classes at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show GIA, as well as Santa Barbara Adult Education jewelry and art classes. He joined his first Renaissance Festival in 1987 when he opened his booth at the Southern California Pleasure Faire in Agoura, California. From there he opened booths at the Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona, and North Carolina Renaissance Festivals. A workshop exists at each of these locations, meaning the work is created on site, a traveling workbench being one of the many talents Da'oud perfected. He always had an interest in ancient symbolism, cave art as well as metaphysical symbolism. He believed jewelry has much greater depth when it connects the sacred with the profane. Subtly incorporated into these designs, he endeavored to have a multidimensional impact on the wearer. Color, symbolism, gemstone energies, and the ever present feel of the flow of water are the hall-marks of his work. Da’oud was a Pisces. Continuing the his tradition When Da'oud passed in October of 2021, his wife Starr Thompson decided to continue his legacy. Together with his daughter Myca, his apprentice Ashley and their booth manager Josarah, they changed their name to Muses of Da'oud to continue his work making wearable art and sculpture.

Call or Text 805-456-9821 Email MusesofDaoud@aol.com Follow Contact us First name* Last name Email* Phone (For a text back) Write a message Submit Custom Orders If you are interested in a custom order quote, click below Start Here Visit us at the Renaissance Faire! Muses of Da'oud does not have a traditional Brick and Mortar store that you can visit. Below are dates and locations are where you can see our jewelry in person. Arizona Renaissance Festiva l Booth 117 Near the Bird Show Heath, behind the Bungie Jump. 9 Weekends February - First Weekend in April www.renfestinfo.com/arizona The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire Across from the Oubliette Pub on Jeweler's Row. 7 Weekends Second weekend in April - Weekend before Memorial Day Weekend https://renfair.com/socal/ Colorado Renaissance Festival Booth 116 Across from the Globe Stage (The Craic) 8 Weekends June - First Weekend in August www.coloradorenaissance.c om Minnesota Renaissance Fesitval Booth 432 Near the Narrows, near the Grove Stage (Tuey) 7 weekends August - First Weekend in October www.renaissance fest.com Sarasota Medieval Fair 5 weekends in November https://www.sarasotamedievalfair.com/

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The Muses Starr Thompson Boss Muse Ashley Lounsbury Jewelry Muse Josarah Holm Manager Muse Tiger Lily Mascot Muse Da'oud Thompson The Man, the Myth, the Legend. Read about where it all started

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