A Bespoke Fox Pendant

We recently undertook an exciting commission to create a bespoke fox pendant for a client within a fortnight's timeframe. The project began with the customer providing us with a remarkably detailed and quite cool image..

Whilst the front view of the design was impeccably drawn, we encountered some challenges with the customer's technical drawing of the side profile, as it didn't quite align with the front perspective. This required some careful adjustments on our part to ensure perfect harmony between all angles. After careful consideration of the manufacturing process, we opted to craft the piece in wax rather than metal. This choice was strategic for two reasons: wax is considerably more forgiving to work with during the carving process, and it helps maintain a more affordable price point for our client. When beginning with a pristine block of wax, it's rather like facing an artist's blank canvas - the first crucial step involves carefully mapping out the perspective lines and identifying precisely where material needs to be removed.

The initial stage involved marking out the essential lines that would guide our sculpting of the fox's head. One of the most challenging aspects of creating geometric designs like this one is maintaining perfect symmetry and evenness across both sides. This requires exceptional attention to detail and patience, as we must remove tiny amounts of wax at a time to gradually build up the three-dimensional form we're aiming for.

Once we established the basic form, we could better visualise how the final fox would appear. At this stage, our focus shifted to refining and sharpening all the edges to achieve the precise, geometric aesthetic we were after. When working with geometric designs, even the slightest curve in what should be a straight line becomes glaringly apparent once cast in metal. The wax modelling phase is crucial because the finished wax piece must be absolutely perfect - any imperfections, whether they're dust particles, scratches, or small holes, become even more problematic to address once the piece is cast in silver. After meticulously carving the fox head to perfection, it was ready for the casting process.

Following the successful casting of the fox in silver, we proceeded with a thorough cleaning and polishing process. The next step involved taking the piece to our specialist platers, who applied an exquisite layer of 18ct rose gold vermeil to enhance its appearance. To complete the pendant, we carefully selected and attached a diamond-cut geometric chain that perfectly complemented the angular design of the fox head. We're absolutely delighted with how the piece turned out and are particularly excited about the possibility of creating more geometric animal heads in the future.

The finished pendant beautifully combines contemporary geometric styling with traditional craftsmanship, resulting in a unique piece that perfectly met our client's vision. The rose gold vermeil finish adds a warm, luxurious touch that enhances the fox's angular features, while the diamond-cut chain provides the perfect finishing touch to this striking piece of bespoke jewellery.

For more inspiration, take a look at our bespoke jewellery page.