Stage 2: The Gyroscope Ring

This week split itself between two very different rings. On one side was the gyroscope ring, the next Stage 2 project, and the first one in a while that demanded more serious soldering. On the other was a second copy of the Impatient Ring (aka The Riveted Ring), this time as a custom piece for a very special customer. That gave the week a good rhythm. One project was unfamiliar and demanded careful thought. The other let me feel what happens when a design starts to settle into the hands.

Most of my attention went into the gyroscope ring. I built the shank first, which consists of a pair of large jump rings soldered together, then moved on to the gyroscope setting that will eventually hold a pearl. I went into that part with a fair bit of skepticism. The setting consists of three interlocking jump rings that hold the pearl between them. Peter mentions in the instructions that getting those rings aligned at the correct positions and angles can be tricky, and I have learned by now that anything that looks simple on video can still go sideways very quickly at the bench. So I took the opposite approach from rushing. I studied the videos closely, paused them, rewound them, and tried to think through each move before I made it. How would the parts be supported during soldering? Where should the pallions go? How should I brace my hands so I would not touch the wrong thing and throw the whole setup out of alignment?

Clockwise from top left: the Shofu brownie, my go-to for the final finish; the split shank of the gyroscope ring taking shape; the gyroscope setting carefully arranged and ready for soldering; and the growing collection of components behind the ring — jump rings, pearl, and all the small parts that have to come together before the piece finally starts to make sense.

To my surprise, the soldering went well. Better than I expected, honestly. One of the clearest moments of the week was getting those small jump rings positioned, placing the tiny pallions without anything shifting, and then seeing the solder come together cleanly. I still was not fully convinced the setting would eventually hold the pearl. It looked too large to my eye, even though I had followed the specifications. But I trusted the process and kept moving.

The real setback came later, when it was time to attach the setting to the ring shank. The gyroscope setting ended up slightly crooked. Not in a way most people would notice, but enough that I could see it, and enough that it would make proper assembly more difficult. That was enough for me. I decided to remake it. I did not see that as lost time. This project was always going to involve some redoing. That is part of learning. If anything, it reinforced a bench lesson that keeps getting clearer: slow down, think ahead, and get things square and level before the heat comes in.

The second Impatient Ring taught something different. Since I already knew the design, it felt less like problem-solving and more like craftsmanship. I could feel the difference immediately. Parts that took a lot of thought the first time came together much faster this week. In one short stretch at the bench, I cut out the layered components in under ten minutes and did it cleanly. The fit is better, the fabrication is quicker, and the whole thing feels more controlled. I have not reached the riveting stage yet, but it is already obvious that this second version is coming out stronger than the first.

The week also reinforced how much I like working on two projects in parallel. When one piece is in the pickle or cooling, I can switch to the other instead of letting that time die. That keeps momentum alive. It may slow the harder project slightly, but overall it keeps me sharper and more engaged. More than anything, though, this week showed me that something has shifted in my head. The projects are getting harder, but I am less anxious than I used to be. I am not stalling when something looks intimidating. I am treating it as a problem to solve. That may be the most important progress of all. Project eight out of fifty is still early days, but each one feels like a real step toward the level of mastery I am after.

Back to the bench. For the next chapter, check in here next week—and follow along on Instagram @pinedaandco.