G.M. Bentley Designs, Fine Hand Engraving

Sterling Flatware Being Engraved

The Engraving of a Silver Flatware Service starts with the Master Design being drawn onto the sample piece of silver. From there the engraver determines the tool cut and texture desired for the finished design. The client may choose to have a bright mirror like finish, in which case the graver is sharpened to a high polished cutting edge. A fine diamond wheel of 600 grit would produce a satin like cut, a 1200 grit wheel a much finer silky satin finish, etc. After client approval, this piece will transfer identical designs scaled to each piece in the service, completing the work.

Finished Kirk Sterling Flatware

This is the finished Master Monogram, # 83 from the Engraving Charts. This is refered to as an “Interlocking Script Cypher”, last initial larger and in the middle. In this instance a small scroll element travels downward from the center character, to start the eye moving down the service piece, as requested by the client. When cutting a “threaded” monogram, it is imperative that the threads diverge and converge in a even and gracefull manner, consistent in depth and width, fluid in line and composistion. Having the graver emphasize the passing of stem elements in front of and behind each other further reinforces the illusion of three dimensionality, a most convincing “icing on the cake”.

This hand engraved Tiffany Persian Flatware exhibits a very detailed #471 Script Cypher.

Hand Engraved Tiffany Parsian Flatware

Cuba Arms Tie Tack Pin

Armorial Jewelry. Sterling Silver tie tack-lapel pin, 7/8″x 18ga.

This Sterling Silver tie tack-lapel pin was made by the request of a son for his father, to celebrate their pride of Cuban heritage, and to honor their beautiful island Homeland. Hand Engraved in bas relief, sculpted, chased, incised, with a millgrain border.

Interlocking Script Cypher

Classic Interlocking Script Cypher

Tiffany Flatware, Moss Ring

Custom made 14ky gold mans signet ring. This massive, classic oval tabled ring measures 20×25mm: on it’s engraved surface, the table thickness is 3/16″ at it’s thinest point, and the total weight is 40.1 grams, or 1.29oz.. Constructed with a squared shoulder shank to help prevent rollover while being worn, it has been engraved with a modified Pearl Roman monogram. This style of engraving is rather deep, 2 full width passes of a square graver carve a sculptured stem and serif design reminicent of the Roman stone lettering of antiquity. It is seen here “shaded” with the addition of some scrolled border elements to help compose the monogram and frame it within the surface of the ring. This form of cut lends itself nicely to creating a wax seal as well, and retains it’s sharp edges and distinct character for many generations, a personal favorite.

Custom Diamond Ring

This is an example of a custom “symbolist” diamond engagement ring, forged out of 18k red & royal yellow golds with a platinum tube setting.

Custom Ring Details:

• 18k Royal Yellow and Red Gold
• Platinum tube set Diamond, (clients stone)
• Diamond Ring

Double Eagle Head Ring

Bill Peterburs double head eagle signet crest ring.

Peterburs double head eagle crest cut “to show”,antique cushion signet ring

Hand Engraved Silver Set

Hand Engraved Spoon Set

Flatware Being Hand Engraved

This is an example of hand engraved spoon handles from a large silver set created for a client.

Hand Engraved Spoon Handle

This standard #2 pencil gives reference to the fine detail of the spoon engraving.

Fancy Leaf and Vine 3 Letter Monogram

George is cutting the layout of a fancy 3 letter monogram in the leaf and vine style.

Engraved Oval Signet Ring

This 14×18mm Die Struck 14k Signet Ring is engraved with a sculpted victorian style “M”. By deeply bright cutting and faceting the character’s interior to contrast the brush finished surface of the ring, a dramatic contrast of light and energy results. Characters engraved in this manner also make fine wax seals.

Engraved Presentation Humidor

Commissioned as a commemorative gift by members of the club, this German Silver plate is hand made, chamfered and polished to fit inside the lid of it’s cedar lined humidor. The Hand Engraved central inscription, executed in “Constantia” Roman block, addresses the formality of the occasion, while the scaled, composed, Hand Engraved Signatures emphasize the personal gratitude of the givers. A truly classic presentation.

Heraldic and Signet Rings

Each and every detail is hand engraved to perfection. Show quality custom gold jewelry design is where George’s talent’s really shine. Hand made rings can be cast in white gold, yellow gold, and silver. A hand engraved coat-of-arms or hand engraved family crest ring is the perfect unique jewelry gift that will be treasured for a lifetime. You can rest assured that your gift is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece individually designed to fit the character and style you desire. Adding a custom inscription can help remind the wearer of your special bond.

Hand Engraved Serpent Ring

The “serpent in the Tree” ring is actually a symbolist “intaglio” monogram “cut to seal” as a stationary die. The ring is a reproduction of an antique signet in my collection, produced in 14k yellow gold, given by the woman who commissioned the monogram on the ring to her husband as a wedding ring.
The symbols are the Tree (the letter k engraved backwards) and the Serpent (the letter S engraved backwards) representing his initials, while elements of the design (# of plates on the serpents chest, and the 4 round scales on his back) represents two of the numbers of the anniversary of their meeting. The third # of that occasion is hidden in the wax impression the image makes when pressed into stationary wax. Of the 4 round disks on the serpents back, one is a ruby, (lapped free hand on a diamond platen, .032 in diameter which becomes a depression when the seal is produced, creating three raised balls with the one depressed ball, a sequence of binary code (as I was told) that he works with, which represents the third # of the anniversary.
The surface of the engraving is on a flat “table” that measures 11×14 mm or so and the ring was size ten.