#steampunk necklace

The Detector

I’ve been overdosing on documentaries about CERN, the Large Hadron Collider, quantum physics/mechanics and proof of the Higgs Boson.  As a science illiterate it fascinates me.  That massive tube full of magnets, cameras, detectors and liquid nitrogen is an incredible instrument.  Simply awe inspiring.  These docos play in the background in my studio and I would occasionally look up to see the massive size and complexity of the machine.  

This started with simple flat brass rings with eight holes and some rescued snake chain I cut into eight lengths.  This design wasn’t thought out - I just had to wing it.  I vaguely wanted a “cage” to hold a glass vial with a Tritium vial in it.  Etsy doesn’t like Tritium (their sandpit - their rules) so I sell those pieces off Etsy.  It basically glows without the need for a charge - it glows constantly for 10 to 15 years.  But I’ve been working with UV resin and recently purchased some tiny LEDS.  So I set an orange LED into a gold tone cord cap with UV resin.  Then I put a glass tube into the cap and slowly poured resin into the tube stirring it frantically to produce air bubbles.  Normally I’m fighting against air bubbles in resin so trying to form and quickly cure them was surprisingly difficult.  I didn’t even know if the LED and electronics was going to work after pouring resin on them.  The light refracts and diffuses on the bubbles.  I was thrilled when it all worked.  

Once I had brass beads on the end of each chain length I threaded a range of beads, pinions, tubing and 5 brass rings to stabilize the tube.  I still had no idea if the vial would fit through the middle and how I was going to attach it to the structure.  This is where the magic often happens - it fit like it was designed with precision.  To fasten it within the tube all I had to do was slide another cap on the top of the glass vial and seal it with a screw.  

As you can see - when unlit there is a small silver tube, slightly hidden by the brass tassel.  To turn the light on - insert that tube into the battery pack - a tiny silver tone tube with a central hole (3/8 x ¼ inch).  Once inserted it turns the LED on.  Batteries can be replaced easily by unscrewing the cap.  

During the day - it’s an unusual mecha deco design - at night with the light - the wow factor.  

It sort of looks like a little mechanical cephalopod with those 8 tassel “legs”.  I’ve designed this to be worn low on the body - Gatsby length with a long chain.  It’s hitched high on the display bust just to show scale and fit it into the photo.  If you want it to be higher - I’m happy to alter the chain length.  

Automata X

Another steampunk goddess made with a range of watch parts, brass bits and pieces, electrical probes and two part resin.  She can look very intimidating from one angle yet strangely zen from another.  She’s in my Etsy shop.

Tritium Deco Drop

Something a bit more simple - a green Tritium vial, wrapped with fine gold wire and sealed within another vial attached to a gorgeous cut out brass pendant.  I’ve teamed it with a solid brass pendulum covered in ridges. I love using exotic materials like Tritium although Etsy doesn’t like it.  I disagree with their estimation of the material but - their sandbox, their rules.  So if you are interested in buying it, please let me know and I can invoice you through Paypal. You will covered by their buyer protections.  The price is US$145 with free shipping.

Please note that the pendant is made to be worn low on the body.  In the images I had to place it high on the display bust to photograph it and show scale.  The chain is currently 30 inches long, brass rolo links - but I’m happy to alter it to your measurements.  The glass vial is 1 ½ inches long including caps, the whole pendant section is 3 ½ inches long and slightly over 1 inch wide.  

It’s estimated the Tritium with glow continuously for 10 to 12 years.  It requires no charging like conventional “glow in the dark” pigments.  

I’ve been drawing on two inspirations - the movies Ex Machina and the Fritz Lang masterpiece Metropolis. Both have amazing android/robots in lead parts.  I was disappointed with the LED embedded head experiment but this direction may change that.  These pieces don’t have the LED light just layers of resin with watch parts embedded.  The silver head is  symmetrical - the gold just random parts.  The “eyes” are gold tone pin heads.  I’ve used mixture of jewellery findings.

I wanted it to look like the heads are “crowned” - with slight religiosity mixed with technology and biomechanics. They are designed to be worn mid length on the chest but I’m happy to change the length or put it on a cord for a masculine piece.  

So I’ll start working on the other resin heads to see where this tangent leads me….

This is a recent commissioned piece - a Christmas gift for my client’s partner.  I was going to mount the spring loaded clip holding the vial on a plain rectangular piece of brass.On a whim I held it over the copper ring that was on my work area. Although it’s quite simple I’m really happy how it’s turned out and will take this concept a bit further in the next piece.  I’ve got to buy more tritium as I’m down to my last few sticks - just yellow and pink left.