So, what's a Star Cuff? It's a custom made sterling silver cuff made by quirky Artist jewellers Magnus & Bella. It illustrates the night sky mapped out by hand as it would have looked on the day you were born, from your place of birth.
Using special software, they carefully plot the location of the stars and planets on the rising horizon; this one shows their client’s exact time of birth as seen from Stafford, UK.
It's all handmade, oxidised and engraved in Magnus & Bella's studio in Birminghams’ historic Jewellery Quarter.
More info: magnusandbella.bigcartel.com
It doesn't come out that shape by itself you know!
The cuff itself is given its special shape using a process called anti-clastic raising. Basically this means shaping it with a hammer so it curves on both axes, like a saddle.
Oooh isn't it shiny!
All of that hammering leaves tiny marks in the surface of the silver. These are lovingly removed with a series of ever-finer grade sandpaper. It takes a LONG time.
But what about the stars?
The surface of the cuff is oxidised using a special chemical mix to make it black, and then all the stars are engraved really carefully so that the shiny silver comes through.
Well that's really cool!
