Whether you are a Marvel comic book aficionado, a Marvel Cinematic Universe (known as the MCU to the hardcore) devotee, or simply a fan of the custom jewelry design process, then you can understand our elation to “assemble” this project. This ring was commissioned by a high school friend of Austin’s as a wedding ring for her husband in the form of the Infinity Gauntlet from the Avengers comic books, TV shows, movies, and any other medium in which Earth’s Mightiest Heroes may appear. In fact, Austin’s two sons are such avid Marvel enthusiasts that the whole family dressed up as the superheroes for Halloween, so needless to say Austin was exceptionally thrilled at the prospect of this project.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the Infinity Gauntlet, some background information might help to clarify its vital significance in the Marvel universe. To make an intricately complicated story short, the Infinity Gauntlet is a giant metal hand that was created for the evil alien, Thanos, as part of his attempt to conquer the universe. The Gauntlet was designed to hold all six Infinity Stones (more about these later) in order to harness and channel all of their individual powers into one. Each stone has its own purpose, and when they are all utilized at once, they can basically execute any feat imaginable. Once Thanos found all six Infinity Stones and placed them in the Gauntlet on his left hand, all he had to do was snap his fingers and half of all life in the universe disappeared. Honestly, if you haven’t watched the movies, we recommend you do so as soon as possible. It is the preferred family activity in the Capone household and a wildly hilarious and exciting ride.
As for the design and fabrication process for the ring, there were many steps involved to achieve creating a product that would closely resemble the Infinity Gauntlet while also maintaining our commitment to creating a piece using only the best quality metals and stones. Once Austin was approached with the idea, the first step entailed doing some research to come up with the best concept for the design. Consultations are typically more effective in person, but due to the fact that this client lives in California, we were able to grasp basic ideas virtually. Since the Infinity Gauntlet already exists, it was more a matter of creating an inspiration from the original as opposed to an actual glove that fit over one’s hand (not to say that it couldn’t be done!).
Next came the sketch. Truman’s artistic skills come in quite handy when we want to give our clients a visual of the concept that we have created in our minds. Peep his sketch below.
Once the sketch was approved, we moved on to picking out the gemstones to represent each Infinity Stone. It was our goal from the start to keep the ring as accurate as possible in terms of order in the Gauntlet in addition to the colors of each stone. We conspired to choose the stones that were not only of the highest quality but would also radiate the utmost vibrancy. Each Infinity Stone has its own color and its own power. Below explains the power and color of each in addition to the gemstone we chose to represent it:
Orange - Soul - Orange Chalcedony
Red - Reality - Tourmaline
Blue - Space - Blue Topaz
Purple - Power - Amethyst
Green - Time - Emerald
Yellow - Mind - Yellow Sapphire
The stones that we sourced were all originally different shapes and sizes, so we had to have them cut in order to accurately fit the design of the ring. Once the stones were selected, we then chose the metals to incorporate into the bezels and band. We decided to fashion the band in silver while adding several different colors of gold to highlight the many layers of complicated machinery that bedeck the original Gauntlet.
Constructing a wax model was the next step in the process so that we could show the client a 3D rendering of the ring for them to try on. It gave us a good idea of how it would fit along the contours of his finger. Once that step was approved, the wax was then used to create a silicone mold, which forms the gold in the casting process.
One might think that once the casting was sent back the work was practically finished, but there was still much more to be done. First, a number of layers of metal were polished. After, the platinum bezels for the stones were fabricated to be extremely secure and to withstand heavy wear for a long period of time. On the outer edge of the bezel, a second one was fabricated in gold to help emphasize the colors of the stones while also adding some hues and design to the ring. In the band of the ring, a combination of different color metals were used, including silver, yellow gold, rose gold, green gold, and platinum.
Once the conglomeration of all the metals on the band was complete, we moved on to setting the stones. Each stone was set in a platinum bezel with a low-profile height in order to lessen the risk of damage. Hours of engraving were then devoted to this piece. From the extraordinary detail on the side panels to the milgrain and etching throughout the entire surface. Additionally, a process called oxidation (also known as antiquing) was then employed to give the ring a finished aged and regal look to it.
We are so thankful to have this opportunity to be a part of such a cool design that also happens to be associated with something that is so loved by our family. Avengers Assemble!
