How a Portrait Cameo is made

This page shows the stages involved in making a portrait cameo jewel.

Good Portrait Photographs.

The chosen photo from the ten photographs of a young daughter sent by her father to Portraits in Stone. Choosing which photo to use was quite difficult. Each photo showed a different aspect of their daughter.

This image was selected for the cameo design as she has a relaxed smile, her eyes are looking up which gives a positive feel and the there is a great balance between the hair, face and clothing. The three quarter view works very well in an oval shaped cameo carving.

Carving the gemstone portrait

These photographs show the stages of the gemstone carving. The design is first incised onto the stone with a diamond point.

The top white layer is carved away to reveal the profile. Great care is taken to carve the three dimensional form of the profile correctly.

The highest areas of the profile are the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead. I try to remove as little as I can from here. This helps to keep as much depth as possible in the final carving.

The hair and clothing are carved next. Then the other details are incised with great precision. The surface of the carving is polished with some areas left matt. This helps to enhance the effect of realism.

Making the cameo frame

The components of the 18 kt white gold frame. There is a bezel, oval back plate and the brooch pin and pendant fittings

The cameo back plate in 18 kt white gold. This is hand engraved with the lovely image of the daughter and her Mother, drawn by the daughter herself.

Engraved inscription on gold bezel.

A personal message from the daughter to her mother is hand engraved onto the side of the gold cameo frame.

This reads: " You are in my heart and I am in your heart too. I love you Mommy."

The finished cameo jewel from the front.

The portrait cameo is dual purpose and can be worn as either a cameo pendant or as a cameo brooch pin.

You can read of the reaction of the mother to receiving this most special gift.

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