Just another question about making jewelry from human teeth
May 3, 2022 5:02 AM Subscribe
I had a tooth extracted yesterday and it has big enough fragments I'd like to do something with it.
Some questions:
I think I would like a curved piece inlaid into a ring, but a lot is dependent on:
-Who can I get to do the setting? I assume, 'hey, jeweler, take a look at my tooth' doesn't float in a normal conversation. What kind of settings should I look at? I do not want anything glued but physically embedded. It is my actual tooth. I don't want it rolling off because I stuck my hand in my pocket. Smooth settings that don't get caught on anything are preferred.
-How much should I expect to pay?
-Any ideas for complimentary stones? Or is a tooth so singular I should leave it alone.
-What are the best ways to shape, shine, retain the color, and preserve? There is a woman who makes jewelry from teeth who 'treats them like ivory'. Can I dremel them into a shape? What about a rock tumbler (I have a rock tumbler). So far I've done a brine soak and a soak in hydrogen peroxide. I may move to a bleach solution today and then back to a light brine soak until I can figure out what to do. Is this the right move?
-What material are teeth 'like'? They aren't quite glass and definitely not like wood -- any guidance there? Particular stone or anythign?
I have a ring with opal strips set into sort of an infinity ring setting and I'm kind of into that. What kind of costs would I look at for having someone do the inlay? Do you know of anyone you've had good experiences with who does this sort of thing? I like sterling silver.
Failing all of this I might just smooth it out, wire it up, and make it a necklace or do some kind of art but right now I'm perusing options.
(If you've ever wondered what it's like to be out of work for three years, this is what that looks like. )
Some questions:
I think I would like a curved piece inlaid into a ring, but a lot is dependent on:
-Who can I get to do the setting? I assume, 'hey, jeweler, take a look at my tooth' doesn't float in a normal conversation. What kind of settings should I look at? I do not want anything glued but physically embedded. It is my actual tooth. I don't want it rolling off because I stuck my hand in my pocket. Smooth settings that don't get caught on anything are preferred.
-How much should I expect to pay?
-Any ideas for complimentary stones? Or is a tooth so singular I should leave it alone.
-What are the best ways to shape, shine, retain the color, and preserve? There is a woman who makes jewelry from teeth who 'treats them like ivory'. Can I dremel them into a shape? What about a rock tumbler (I have a rock tumbler). So far I've done a brine soak and a soak in hydrogen peroxide. I may move to a bleach solution today and then back to a light brine soak until I can figure out what to do. Is this the right move?
-What material are teeth 'like'? They aren't quite glass and definitely not like wood -- any guidance there? Particular stone or anythign?
I have a ring with opal strips set into sort of an infinity ring setting and I'm kind of into that. What kind of costs would I look at for having someone do the inlay? Do you know of anyone you've had good experiences with who does this sort of thing? I like sterling silver.
Failing all of this I might just smooth it out, wire it up, and make it a necklace or do some kind of art but right now I'm perusing options.
(If you've ever wondered what it's like to be out of work for three years, this is what that looks like. )
-What material are teeth ‘like’?
Teeth are a type of apatite, but I found this paper discussing how that’s a little misleading and maybe not as helpful as it seems.
posted by Secretariat at 7:47 AM on May 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
Teeth are a type of apatite, but I found this paper discussing how that’s a little misleading and maybe not as helpful as it seems.
posted by Secretariat at 7:47 AM on May 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
Left-field suggestion, but in case it helps - the person I've known who would have been well up for this was a taxidermist, who enjoyed making jewellery out of all kinds of odd things (polished goose poo earrings, anyone?). They tend to be very good with materials, skilled with their hands, and know a lot about body parts.
posted by penguin pie at 9:10 AM on May 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by penguin pie at 9:10 AM on May 3, 2022 [1 favorite]
Inlay is kind of a specialized request - you'll need to look for someone who already does custom inlay, as to do it you need to have both lapidary and goldsmithing skills, and while that's not the most unusual combination, they are different trades.
This website seems fairly promising to me that they might be able to find a solution for you with your tooth! I don't think a tooth is the right shape to do an eternity style band, but you could probably get a few inlaid squares or something if that works.
posted by euphoria066 at 12:01 PM on May 3, 2022
This website seems fairly promising to me that they might be able to find a solution for you with your tooth! I don't think a tooth is the right shape to do an eternity style band, but you could probably get a few inlaid squares or something if that works.
posted by euphoria066 at 12:01 PM on May 3, 2022
Spur Jewelry does this type of work. They’ve got general pricing guidelines on their website, they work in gold and platinum so expect prices in line with custom fine jewelry. They made my engagement ring and were lovely to work with.
posted by girlalex at 7:32 PM on May 3, 2022
posted by girlalex at 7:32 PM on May 3, 2022
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posted by Winnie the Proust at 6:29 AM on May 3, 2022 [1 favorite]