This is a ring I made this week for replacement of stock.
This ring is a double walled ring. I make the white gold part first and then the yellow gold inside. I make the yellow gold wider than the white gold part and then I fuse the yellow gold so that is melts into the white gold part.
The yellow gold acts like solder, because the white gold has a much higher melting temperature and the yellow gold readily fused onto the white gold. ( Does that make sense?).
Then I solder a strip of yellow gold on the top and set some diamonds in it. Or emeralds, or sapphires.
I also make the reverse colour of gold as well, i.e white gold on the inside and yellow gold on the outside.
This ring was wider than I wanted it to be. I aimed for 12mm and 12 grams, but it came out at 18 grams and 19mm wide. I dislike that when it happens. But rather than melt everything down and start again, I finish the ring with a slight sense of dissatisfaction.
I could make the ring smooth and cleaner if i wanted to, but I like the hammered texture. It makes the ring more interesting. To me, if it were smooth, it would be bland.
These rings are (for me ) very good sellers.
hansmeevis
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the link. That explains everything. I had been thinking of the repouse being performed after the ring was formed, which seemed like it would be difficult to impossible. Now I understand.
Steve
Yes, it is repoussé and chasing with ball punches on that red pitch stuff one can buy from Germany.
A similar technique can be found at my site
http://www.meevis.com/jewelry-making-class-repousse.htm
Similar, except this one I bash more.
“I could make the ring smooth and cleaner if i wanted to, but I like the hammered texture. It makes the ring more interesting. To me, if it were smooth, it would be bland.”
I agree, Hans, and that’s the philosophy I go by in all of my work.
That’s a very nice ring. I’m a little puzzled by the term “Repousé”. Doesn’t it mean to push the metal out from behind? is that what you did?
Steve Shelby
http://www.shelbyvision.com