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Hand Engraved Side-by-Side Solid Sterling Silver
Belt Buckle w/Mokume-gane & Gold, "Scroll & Trout"
Reversible

Close-up of Scroll Side | Close-up of Trout Side | Angled View

And Neil is at it again!.. This unique center bar Side-by-Side reversible belt buckle is all experimental R&D. The reversible plates making up the side-by-side bars are soldered together. They are hand engraved sterling silver on one side, and Mokume-gane on the other side - with a 14K trout. The swivel bars are assembled to the cross braces with stainless steel jeweler's screws. While working out the engineering of the buckle, Neil discovered that it needs a long tongue to work. We expect this buckle to be the first of a series of Side-by-Side buckles, and very collectible as a result.

Mokume gane (Japanese for "wood grained metals") is a type of Japanese married metal made from diffusion bonded laminates often used in decorating swords, in this case consisting of sterling silver, copper, shibuichi, and shakudo. It is usually worked from the back to produce valleys and ridges on the front, which are filed and sanded to reveal a unique design. A specially formulated chemical treatment leaves a rich patina, highlighting the character of the metal's design. There is risk and discovery in making each piece.

The engraving is very tight, more like English scroll, and the two engraved bars are mirror images of each other. The scrolls play with the engraved frame, some are restricted by it, some grow over it, and some grow through it. Although, Neil's initial idea was that the buckle be worn with the two engraved bars showing, or the two Mokume-gane bars, it could obviously also be worn showing one of each, as an additional option.

This belt buckle is quite versatile, as the engraved side is more classic and dressy and would work great with a black or cordovan strap, while the Mokume-gane side is more casual and with the different coloring would look good with a chocolate or tan strap. It should work well with any reasonably flexible leather belt strap. This style of buckle is essentially a buckle and keeper in one, rendering a leather keeper optional, although, we obviously recommend our own custom straps.

Hand Engraved Side-by-Side Belt Buckle, Handcrafted, "Scroll & Trout" item # "engr.sbs1.scroll.mokutrout.1.apr11"
Reversible Sterling Silver or Silver w/Mokume-gane & 14K Gold Trout
Approx. Overall size 2" x 1½" (51mm x 37mm), 1¼" (32mm) wide opening

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