It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since the Festival of Fifty!
So much has happened in the intervening 12 months and if I’m honest, I’d have to say it hasn’t been the easiest year of my life. But that’s what living is about, right? It’s hard to appreciate how gloriously good life is most of the time, if there aren’t a few bumpy bits along the way.
One of the highlights over the past year has been my growing fossil collection, as I steadily raid (as time and cashflow permit) the amazing vaults of my mate Tom at the Living Fossil Gallery. I recently purchased a small selection of 110 million year old ammonite halves. They’re relatively inexpensive, with each pair costing between $20 – $30 depending on size…
Last year I also discovered a passion for steampunk jewellery! It’s funny how our tastes evolve and change with age. I was surprised by how instantaneous the attraction was – I was casually strolling past the Time Flies Designs stall at Paddington Markets and came to a dead halt, leaving half an hour later with this exquisite pendant for Pete’s birthday. It’s meticulously crafted from two upcycled 1886 pocket watches…
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A few weeks ago, I had the brilliant idea (even if I do say so myself) of adding steampunk elements to my ammonites. To me, the swirl and shape of the fossils offered a perfect compliment to the curvy watch mechanisms of old.
I chose three ammonite halves and commissioned Juan and Olivia of Times Flies Designs to create bespoke pendants for me. They’d never made anything like this before, so it was quite a challenge for them, both in terms of design and execution. I asked for three different looks, but was happy to leave the actual layout to them. Unlike other designers, Juan doesn’t just glue his parts on with epoxy resin – each piece is carefully drilled and screwed into place.
And oh, how they excelled themselves! When I picked the pendants up last weekend, I nearly wept with joy at how gorgeous they were. Pete decided to make them his birthday gift to me, and I haven’t been able to stop staring at them. Wherever possible, Juan will add movement to his creations, so each of my three pieces have cogs that turn and wheels that spin.
This Madagascan Lytoceras ammonite (formed during the Cretaceous period) is enhanced with parts from a 1904 Elgin pocket watch. The wee flower wheel at the base spins, and the needle moves from left to right, shifting the attached gears accordingly. It tickles my fancy that the 110 million year old fossil has a 110 year old watch part attached to it…
It’s hard to capture in a photo, but the stones have a polished reflective shine to them (you can see a glimpse of it in the first pic)…
This particular ammonite is also partially translucent…
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Another Lytoceras, this one assembled under Olivia’s careful designer’s eye. The large silver piece holds in place a spinning brass balance wheel at the centre of the stone…
Big Boy and Pete love this one – the great affinity between the natural colour and shape of the fossil and Olivia’s design appeals to their engineering sensibilities…
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Finally, possibly my favourite piece (although it’s very hard to choose), this Cleoniceras ammonite is a perfect match for the curvaceous vintage Longines mechanism that Juan chose. The large gear spins, as does the Elgin balance wheel in the centre. Each pendant hangs on a long stainless steel chain…
All the engravings are original to the pocket watches and refer to technical specifications such as the number of jewels used and lines of movement. So different to modern day watches which are basically just a small computer and a battery!
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As you can probably tell, I’m more than a little excited about these! It’s the first time in my life that I’ve ever commissioned jewellery (we even bought off the shelf engagement and wedding rings). Bring on 51, I’m ready!
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A big thank you to our friends Juan and Olivia of Times Flies Designs (Paddington Markets) who went way beyond what I expected to create these masterpieces! And to Tom of The Living Fossil Gallery (Mosman and the Rocks Markets) for always having the most brilliant treasures available at such reasonable prices! x
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