Engagement Ring Box

twin brass keys (valentines day gift)

I machined 2 keys out of brass 7 months before I asked her to marry me. They are meant to be two separate keys but are designed to fit inside one another. The imagery was that the larger key was to represent me and the smaller to represent "her" (it was prettier :) )

View of the box for keys

I made this box solely for the 2 keys. it only opens when you spin the heart. The letters are in greek and they read : "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love"

a closer view

with lid

sorry i didnt have a view of the inside. I lined the inside with an emerald pillow and embedded an inscription in the underside of the lid. But that is only for my love to read ;)

Initial "small" ring box design

this was my second version of the small ring box for the engagement ring. It doesnt really look like much yet...

Jewellery box design

The initial design of the mechanisms for the "large" box.

Jewellery box design 2

laying it out in CAM software

Jewellery box design 3

more layout

Iris blade

design drawing of the "iris blade" for the hidden compartment in the jewellery box

Jewellery box design 4

CAM layout of the main wooden body

rendering :)

more rendering

little planetary gears :)

-sorry for the bad quality

machining the main body

this is the second time around... i broke the first one :(

machining 2.5 inch cherrywood

view of machine

multicam 3000 series. many long hours were spent with this machine. enough to make my (now) fiancée a little jealous

close up

finished "main body"

I didnt take very many pictures as i was very busy during the whole process. from start to end I estimate I put in over 200 hours and approx. 36 hours of pure machining.

ALL DONE :)

aluminium pinstripe

open view

my fiancée has put it to use already :)

twin keys

now is where the keys come in to play. for months she had no idea what the keys i had given for valentines day meant.... they have finally met their lock to open

top jewellery tray

"hidden" compartment"

lift up the top tray and you will find that this is no ordinary jewellery box.

view of lock mechanism and "mechanical iris" compartment

iris

lock mechanism

twin keys in lock

closed

opening

...

......

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you can see the "small" ring box in the "iris compartment"

solitaire Canadian diamond

laser engraved enscription:

"all my love"

a few months later, but still smiling :)