Vintage Button Filigree Ring

Hi Everyone!

This month (yes, another month has gone by already!) the designers of the Designer Crafts Connection blog circle have gone vintage.  There's a wide range of what one might consider vintage--you could go back 10 years or you could go back 100!  I'm sure it will be an amazing journey through time checking out all the designs.  You can see them all by clicking on the big blue button to the left of this post.

I have a lot of vintage things around my house.  My Grandma Irene was very crafty and very frugal.  She never missed a sale!  As a result, I have a lot of vintage material passed down from her.  Thanks, Grandma!

One of the things I inherited from her are vintage buttons.  I was working on a metal filigree ring and looking for the perfect bead to go into the center of it, when I thought of the button collection.  One of them was the perfect size and shape for the center of the ring.  It's a beautiful blue crystal button that has a hint of green at the base and was made in "Western Germany" according to the card.  It's probably from the late 1940's or 50's.



Vintage Button Filigree Ring
Designed by Terry Ricioli
Copyright 2012

  Here's a few of the vintage buttons I have.  The one I used in the ring is at the bottom left.

It's a simple ring to make as you'll see from the following:

Here are the components:  a button, bead cap, a dapped filigree flower, a flat filigree flower, a 2 1/2" long filigree link and a piece of wire.  You'll also need jewelry glue, a dowel or mandrel to shape the ring, round-nose pliers and wire nippers. 

Slide the wire through the button and place it into the bead cap.  Press the prongs against the button.

Slide the wire ends through the holes in the dapped flower.

Slide the wires through the second flower filigree and press the wires against the back of the flower.  Trim to about 1/2" and make a loop to hold.  Press these against the back of the flower.

Bend the filigree link around a dowel or ring mandrel to shape it into the ring.  It will be adjustable.

Glue the flower assembly to the ring with jewelry glue.

And, there you have it - the finished ring!  You could also use the flower assembly as a pendant or on a bracelet.

Have fun browsing among all the other fabulous vintage designs.  And, if you are looking for more vintage jewelry designs like this ring, check out my book, Vintage Impressions Jewelry.

Happy vintage, retro, mid-century Crafting!

Terry