How did I plan to build my "Award Winng, DOLPHIN"? => 16 photos

 On this spectacular award winning pattern, circa 1985, I had the extreme opportunity in creating a diamond setting project, one stone at a time. (whew!) Every hole was counter-sunk using a round or bud-shaped bur.                                                        

 What is "counter-sinking" a drilled hole. The drilled holes were made larger and as well made circular with round burs. My (out of city) client requested that all 'finishing' to be done in his office.

 All drilling of holes for 'counter-sinking' was done before any stone was inserted.

  In this photo there are 5 sizes of white stones, this is not including the coloured diamonds. The rigorous spacing was always my challenge all through the 225 diamonds that were set.

 Each diamond (no matter the colour) had 4 beads, sometimes there were 6 beads to aid additional security.

There were a multitude of various elevations and angles all through this 4.5 week project. The amount of intense concentration was measured not in days, or weeks, but sometimes in hours.

 Planning for each hole to be drilled, and then counter-sunk, this was before setting every stone. Many times I put my 'office phone' on hold.

 How would I hold this large item (without using shellac) this was my constant and ongoing question? I decided to use my ring and metal pin-clamps. (see below)

 I initially set 7 diamonds, then my client said there were too many spaces. It was back to my bench and set 3 more stones.

 Believe me, there are 4 sizes of white diamonds in this one photo. 

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This large disk was secured on my pin-vice.

There were many instances where holes had to be plugged up. As I was given the incorrect stone sizes for many areas of the Dolphin. 

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 Just in the tail, there were 3 additional stones that had to be set. Spacing, drilling, counter-sinking, setting, this occured many times.