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Platinum question for @Jinx86
topstuf
Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭
I've always wondered about the old (and new) jewelry made of platinum.
With its melting point so high, does that make platinum jewelry fabrication really difficult?
I guess there's "tricks" but I still wonder.
?????
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Its gotta be tougher to make Pt and Pd jewelry than gold or silver. When I melt them I need to either use Oxy/Acetylene or a specialized induction furnace with a tiny crucible. Jewelers I know that can work with Pt have special Oxy/Acetylene rigs or if they go really high end, lasers.
Yes, I would imagine. I see those filigree plat rings with itty bitty 3 pt. diamonds and marvel at them.
I'd....GUESS.... that the shank is punched (or drilled) and prongs are made when they do that. Then I could see the jeweler just bending the teensy prongs around the stones.
??
Most of the really intricate pieces are 3D printed in wax. The wax melted out of the mold in an oven. The Platinum is melted and dispensed from the crucible while spinning, forcing the metal to fill fully. I've not gotten to run out yet, nor have I seen one in ND.
I do have a very large platinum ring that I want to have repaired. Would love to do it myself, but afraid to damage the 3 carat stone in it.
Even on the early pierced filigree ones?
I retailed those. Too purdy to melt.
Early stuff was hand cut wax and hand poured metal. I never get nice PT items in. If I did I'd end up hoarding them.
Casting PT must be an interesting and complex process... I did not know about the 'spinning' part of the process....would like to see a video of that...Cheers, RickO
short video, doesn't really explain much of what they are doing or why.
Kinda wish I had. I had a customer who cleaned me out monthly.
Well, not to cry about it.