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| Subject | Date Asked |
| stone's in ring | 2/11/2012 |
| Q: I have a 18kt hge with symbol, A in a circle and a mount of pink looking stones on top. What are the ... A: Peggy, thanks for the photo. The photo is clear and shows the ring well. You still need to look ... | |
| stone's in ring | 2/10/2012 |
| Q: I have a 18kt hge with symbol, A in a circle and a mount of pink looking stones on top. What are the ... A: I have no way to identify the stones without an examination. However, with the mounting considered, ... | |
| Platinum Family Alloys | 2/7/2012 |
| Q: I've been looking into ring materials for a few days now, and I've decided that I quite like the ... A: Jeremy, The direct answer to your question is “no”. Colored platinum alloys including pink ... | |
| Determining if jeweler is reputable | 2/4/2012 |
| Q: After 8years of marriage, 2 kids, and an extra 20lbs I need to have both my wedding band and ... A: Quite honestly, trying to advise on how to find a reputable jeweler is a difficult task. Most of ... | |
| 18 karat pg | 1/30/2012 |
| Q: my wife has some older necklaces marked 18k and it is also marked separately PG. We were trying to ... A: Harry, I suspect the PG is the mark (initials?) of the manufacturer. PG does not quite fit the ... | |
| Metal Purity of Antique French Watch | 1/26/2012 |
| Q: I found an old French pocket watch in my dads things and would like to know what the 0,900 mark ... A: the website reference shown has an image of a German hallmark for silver. The quite useful website ... | |
| resizing ring | 1/25/2012 |
| Q: My 12-year-old son bought me a ring from a dept store for my birthday. It cost approx $20, so I know ... A: I certainly understand wanting to wear this ring from you young son. Unfortunately, the answer is no ... | |
| Chain for pendant | 1/23/2012 |
| Q: I'm having a hard time choosing a 14k gold chain for a jadeite pendant. The pendant is fairly round ... A: BJ, Thomas is back... What I find in gourmette chains is essentially a “rounded” curb chain, a ... | |
| Is possible set 1ct to a 3/4 ct semimount setting? | 1/22/2012 |
| Q: I am interested in a diamond ring setting semimount for 3/4 ct round, I am wondering if it is ... A: see this chart of the normal size to the eye of diamonds of different weights: ... | |
| Odd item - please have a look | 1/20/2012 |
| Q: Good day Thomas, thank you for taking the time to have a look at this item for me. I am also an ... A: Bond, I will point a direction for you but unfortunately vintage jewelry identification is out of my ... | |
| Chain for pendant | 1/20/2012 |
| Q: I'm having a hard time choosing a 14k gold chain for a jadeite pendant. The pendant is fairly round ... A: The names of chains do get confusing and many design overlap. The wheat chain is a more traditional ... | |
| Sizing and Emerald Engagement Ring | 1/14/2012 |
| Q: I was wondering if I could get some help. My partner recently purchased a white gold and emerald ... A: I will not be able to spend time with questions for a day. Please allow me one more day and I will ... | |
| Platinum ring stamp | 1/11/2012 |
| Q: I have a platinum ring stamped 900PLAT 100IRID. Is iridium the best alloy for platinum or is there ... A: Here we go with a long explanation but I believe that is needed to properly answer your question. ... | |
| How to clean a "braided" silver bracelet? | 1/9/2012 |
| Q: Thomas-- I have this silver bracelet that my great-aunt owned. It's a braided silver bracelet & ... A: Meagan, I am glad you have done your research before plunging the bracelet into the cleaner! ... | |
| Yellowed white gold engagement ring | 1/8/2012 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me out with a puzzling predicament. I have a brand new white gold ... A: Becca. I can help with your question. Years ago I do not recall ladies being as concerned with ... | |
| Help to remove super glue from ruby ring | 1/6/2012 |
| Q: I have the top facet of my Natural Ruby in my ring stained by ELFI (a super glue)...have tried nail ... A: you definitely need acetone to remove super glues material. If you can purchase a small container, ... | |
| gold ring | 12/29/2011 |
| Q: i had a gold ring (which was passed on to me from 4 generations), it's more than 70 years old, and i ... A: Brooklyn, Gold does not tarnish easily but over time environmental chemicals will cause a darker ... | |
| silver ;ring with 925 a star and 2 downword facing arrows | 12/28/2011 |
| Q: i have had this ring for some time now it just lingers around my house n i find it from time to time ... A: Frederick, All I can possibly tell you about the ring is the meaning of the 925, a Federally ... | |
| Repair turquoise crack | 12/27/2011 |
| Q: I have a men's turquoise ring with a stone that has a fine crack. The stone is stable in its ... A: John, perhaps this will help you. A good two part epoxy cement such as Hughes 330 will work on the ... | |
| gold dipped jewerly | 12/24/2011 |
| Q: I'm am considering purchasing a piece of jewelry and the description states that it is gold dipped. ... A: Unfortunately, there is little assurance of the durability of any jewelry item described as “gold ... | |
| silver cleaning, silver dip danger, soda rub for silver | 12/18/2011 |
| Q: I very stupidly left my silver earrings and brooch in a tarnish remover dip for several hours. It ... A: I have not liked these strong cleaners for the very reason you mention. The maximum time I would ... | |
| Prong setting repair | 12/14/2011 |
| Q: Thomas, I'm a novice jeweler and just completed my first prong set on a 14k white gold ring. ... A: David, perhaps I can help. The problem with a "quick fix" as unfortunately practiced in some ... | |
| melting gold | 12/13/2011 |
| Q: when i am melting gold a ring of trash is building along the inside edge. Im not sure how to get ... A: Mike. This is an interesting question. Perhaps what I say will help. Since you have given me a ... | |
| Silver Jewelry | 12/12/2011 |
| Q: I have two questions regarding the care of silver jewelry. First, I purchased a necklace in ... A: Rebecca, I am happy you found success! I suggest the cloth for regular cleaning and the soda once ... | |
| Silver Jewelry | 12/12/2011 |
| Q: I have two questions regarding the care of silver jewelry. First, I purchased a necklace in ... A: Rebecca. The cloth should restore the silver color and remove the yellow easily, with some ... | |
| Silver Jewelry | 12/12/2011 |
| Q: I have two questions regarding the care of silver jewelry. First, I purchased a necklace in ... A: Rebecca. Over time and exposure to particular elements, sterling silver will develop a tarnish. The ... | |
| Metal | 12/6/2011 |
| Q: I got a handmade piece of jewelry in some junk but there are no marks on it anywhere. I am trying to ... A: The metals I have generally encountered in the jewelry business are precious metals, copper rich ... | |
| ring appraisal | 11/30/2011 |
| Q: I live in Los Angeles, Ca. My boyfriend bought me a lovely oval sapphire white gold ring flanked ... A: Selene, Depending on where the stampings are in the first place, to size a ring smaller then ... | |
| gold soldering | 11/29/2011 |
| Q: I am a retired dentist. For many years I have made gold castings primarily of various sailboats. ... A: If possible, will you use a follow-up and narrow down the problems you experience with soldering? I ... | |
| How to glue.. | 11/28/2011 |
| Q: My wife has a silver teardrop shaped ring with an amber-like stone and the stone has dislodged ... A: Chris. I am more than happy to help. First of all, the type of cement used in important. The best ... | |
| What kind of rock | 11/27/2011 |
| Q: I am wondering what kind of rock this is. no one seems to know. It is about 2" long. Found in Mn. ... A: Dan, my first thought is a form of agate but honestly, without seeing the rock to see the colors, ... | |
| Grandma's wedding set | 11/24/2011 |
| Q: A few years ago I was given my great grandmothers wedding set and up until recently i hadn't thought ... A: Lindsey, the jeweler who said "plumb" is correct but should have explained what that means. Prior to ... | |
| Rolled gold | 11/22/2011 |
| Q: My husband has an Omega rolled gold watch which his parents gave to him for his 21st birthday (many, ... A: Yes, it is possible to reshape the the end links to fit but your husband might not like the ... | |
| Re sizing Technibond Jewelry | 11/22/2011 |
| Q: I read your answer as to not re-size bonded Jewelry. Or any bonded jewelry. I bought a ring in ... A: Debra. You should not have to remove the outer layer to solder the ring. The real problem with ... | |
| Sizing and Emerald Engagement Ring | 11/19/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if I could get some help. My partner recently purchased a white gold and emerald ... A: You have been told the emerald could be at risk from the heat required in the sizing process. And, ... | |
| Novice! Partially coating gemstones, etc with gold? | 11/18/2011 |
| Q: I want to find some beautiful turquoise stones, geode slices, amethyst chunks, etc and partially dip ... A: The links to photos tell me exactly the sort of work you want to do. You are going to discover that ... | |
| Removing flush set stones | 11/17/2011 |
| Q: I'm wondering what the easiest way to remove flush set stones is. The metal is 18k yellow gold and ... A: Jennifer. Since you do not need to save the band, the project becomes relatively easy with much ... | |
| missing stones on pave diamond bangle | 11/17/2011 |
| Q: I recently purchased a thin 18k pave diamond bangle with 2mm width and a single row of about 140 ... A: Li. This is a good question and concerns one of the popular stone setting styles used today called ... | |
| gold band | 11/16/2011 |
| Q: I put my mother's diamonds on wide 14 gold band in June of 2010 and Now I have a jagged break in the ... A: I am back. Your answers do help clarify the picture. I sense and urgency on your part to know if ... | |
| gold band | 11/16/2011 |
| Q: I put my mother's diamonds on wide 14 gold band in June of 2010 and Now I have a jagged break in the ... A: \ KJ, this is not your answer. Please use a follow-up to let me know these things prior to my ... | |
| Cleaning jewelry with pearls | 11/10/2011 |
| Q: I've read some of your detailed instructions about cleaning jewelry, and it's been great. How to I ... A: Tina. Here is my advice on cleaning items with pearls. Likely the safest way to remove tarnish ... | |
| tassle rings | 11/8/2011 |
| Q: I have a gold 4-band puzzle ring that i got from my mom. I love wearing it but it seems to break a ... A: AJ, puzzle rings are fascinating and many people have no idea how to take the rings apart and ... | |
| Encasing white gold with diamonds inside Borosilicate glass | 11/4/2011 |
| Q: Howdy! I am a borosilicate lampworker from Detroit and had a question about a theoretical idea I ... A: Irie, you would ask me this and I am not a lampworker. But...you sure caught my interest and I will ... | |
| 18 kt chain markings | 10/26/2011 |
| Q: Thomas, Let me first say "Thank You" for your postings and help. I recently acquired a well done ... A: The only marking related to metal quality is the 18kt, a legal mark for 18 karat gold. The other ... | |
| Question about black rhodium plating | 10/25/2011 |
| Q: and thank you in advance for your answer. My toddler daughter recently lost a very precious ring to ... A: the photo is well done and the reflective surface adds a real aesthetic value to the image. Thank ... | |
| Invisible Setters | 10/25/2011 |
| Q: Do you know any Jewelers that can do invisible settings? I have six 0.35ca princess stones that I ... A: Every jeweler I know dealing in retail business would rather work on any sort of diamond setting ... | |
| Can I change the mounting on my setting and make it for a cushion diamond? | 10/24/2011 |
| Q: I recently bought an engagement ring setting that I absolutely love! The problem is that the ... A: Is the photo helpful? Absolutely! This photo tells me exactly what I needed to know about how the ... | |
| Inexpensive Engagement Ring Resizing-Is it possible? | 10/20/2011 |
| Q: I am embarrassed to post the ring I'm looking at but here it goes (below)...it is an inexpensive ... A: Nicole, first of all, do not be embarrassed. Sure, some folks do have fancy expensive rings but ... | |
| How to blacken sterling silver | 10/14/2011 |
| Q: I do textural weaving using 14/20 yellow gold-filled as weft & sterling silver as the warp - both ... A: The best choice of coloring chemical is liver of sulfur. The color can go fairly dark but a true ... | |
| 1964 Class Ring | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: My 1964 class ring was gold and had a topaz stone . It was stolen and I need to know approximately ... A: Dale, you can go to the confusing Art Carved website or go here to get an idea of prices for a ring ... | |
| enamel on 18k | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: Can enameling be removed from a decent weight 18k gold bracelet? The enamel is opaque, there are ... A: Lauren, the Ceramit is quite similar to Colores with the primary difference I know about is curing. ... | |
| enamel on 18k | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: Can enameling be removed from a decent weight 18k gold bracelet? The enamel is opaque, there are ... A: A resin based simulated glass enamel may be applied over if the cells have walls high enough to ... | |
| Metal quality mark | 10/3/2011 |
| Q: I was recently presented with a nice looking tennis bracelet as exchange for work I had done. He ... A: Paul, this is an easy one for me. The clasp is made of 14k gold and the maker is signed as FE. If ... | |
| Glue on gemstones! | 10/3/2011 |
| Q: How do I safely remove glue from an amazonite pendant? A: Susan, thanks for this question. ACETONE SOLVENT The best overall solvent for the more common ... | |
| Question about black rhodium plating | 9/28/2011 |
| Q: and thank you in advance for your answer. My toddler daughter recently lost a very precious ring to ... A: Your reasoning is sensible and would seem correct, however, the rhodium plate is applied with fairly ... | |
| white gold scrap | 9/27/2011 |
| Q: my question is I want to know the best way to recycle white gold scrap into sizing stock, wire, ect. ... A: Sean. Your problem with white gold scrap is a well-known problem among jewelers. At times, I had ... | |
| flat stone removal | 9/22/2011 |
| Q: Have a flat lapis stone set in 18k gold ring which needs to be removed. The bezel is a rope type ... A: June. If the stone is not glued or held in by thin, fold over prongs on the back side, the ... | |
| engravement on ring | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: On the inside of this beautiful heart ring which looks like a blue topaz with small little diamond ... A: In the USA, the standard and legal way to stamp the metal quality on jewelry is to put the quality ... | |
| Removing gypsy set stones | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: I am taking a metalsmith class and am working on a sterling silver ring with gypsy set stones. I had ... A: Katrina, Gypsy sets are not easy. I generally hammer set the edges then burnish the inside of the ... | |
| markings on ring | 9/12/2011 |
| Q: I inherited this ring after my grandmother passed many years ago. I assume it is just a piece of ... A: Samantha. I appreciate the photo and I can see the marks you described. I can tell you immediately ... | |
| Jewelry finishing | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: Why do different jewelers have different quality of finishing? Don't they all use the same machines ... A: Sam, I am not familiar with training for jewelers in India. Is it possible to become an apprentice ... | |
| Jewelry finishing | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: Why do different jewelers have different quality of finishing? Don't they all use the same machines ... A: CNC machines are used by a few jewelers to produce models for investment casting (lost wax casting). ... | |
| victorian diamond jewelry | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: i have a pendant from the victorian period and it is stamped 9c/ what does this mean as far as karat ... A: Darby, The best possibility without seeing your pendant is that the 9c refers to the metal ... | |
| Discolored silver plated pitcher | 8/20/2011 |
| Q: Thomas. Read your tarnish removal tip with foil and soda, but tarnish doesn't seem to be the issue. ... A: The rainbow color may be a form of tarnish. Silver goes through several stages of coloration in the ... | |
| Remove stone from gold ring | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: I have been setting gem stones in sterling silver. I have a 14k gold ring with a 6 prong setting. ... A: Robin, this is not your answer. I want to make a simple sketch or photo to help you understand what ... | |
| Chipped Emerald | 8/15/2011 |
| Q: I chipped my emerald. It is a very old ring set in platinum. The cut of the emerald actually ... A: Allison, a shallow chip can generally be removed completely or enough of it removed to essentially ... | |
| Chipped Emerald | 8/15/2011 |
| Q: I chipped my emerald. It is a very old ring set in platinum. The cut of the emerald actually ... A: I do not know any cutters or jewelers in your area. In the past, I have repaired chipped colored ... | |
| pyrite rock | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: I purchased 2 pyrite stones aprroximately 3"x3" . How can i break them up or crush to use in ... A: Carol, thanks for this question. Pyrite is often a striking and lovely mineral. I can see why you ... | |
| White Gold Ring - Cracking in Band | 8/12/2011 |
| Q: I recently took my white gold ring to be sized down (to wear on a different finger) and to have a ... A: The cracks are not related to rhodium plating and it appears the jeweler was giving you vital ... | |
| removing pearl from ring | 8/11/2011 |
| Q: I want to remove a large pearl from its setting before I sell the gold ring. The prongs are no ... A: The solvent of choice is acetone, not affecting the pearl at all. Just be sure the pearl is a real ... | |
| replacing a missing pave' diamond | 8/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a fancy diamond ring that has lost a 1 point diamond in a pave' setting area. I need advice ... A: Dan, I am very pleased it worked out for you. The fact you started and stopped more than once is a ... | |
| Gold and Carrots | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: Hope you are well and enjoying the good Summer weather. I'm interested in some mixed media, and ... A: John, we so liked the small portion of Scotland we saw on a trip 3 years ago, we determined the next ... | |
| bracelet | 7/31/2011 |
| Q: I have a couple bracelets that have 14/20 4 stamped on the back. I think 14/20 means 14KGF, but what ... A: Sue. Your question is appreciated. The markings you give are deceptively close to gold filled ... | |
| ring repair -- new prongs vs new setting | 7/30/2011 |
| Q: I took an engagement ring (14 k white gold/ 4 prongs/ .8 caret stone) for repairs thinking that it ... A: The timing is close to right in normal wear for some repair or refurbishing to be needed. The ... | |
| Matte finish retaining detail | 7/30/2011 |
| Q: I'm looking for a permanent matte finish that will retain detail: I got a ring as a present, which ... A: Ash, either the depletion gilding or the tumble with finer abrasive will leave the ups and downs and ... | |
| replacing a missing pave' diamond | 7/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a fancy diamond ring that has lost a 1 point diamond in a pave' setting area. I need advice ... A: Dan. This is not an unusual repair considering the many rings on the market with multiple small ... | |
| Matte finish retaining detail | 7/28/2011 |
| Q: I'm looking for a permanent matte finish that will retain detail: I got a ring as a present, which ... A: Ash. Thanks for the photos. Those were clear enough to show me what the surface is like and do ... | |
| Diamond cleaning | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: While getting my nails done recently the technician offered to clean my diamond/platinum ring for ... A: I doubt that your jewelry has been damaged. Metal items are not to be put into a microwave because ... | |
| gem & mineral | 7/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a very tiny "stone" shaped like a rose,1/2 ", mounted of sterling silver, mat dark blue. I ... A: Maybe someone you know can show you how-to with photos sometime. It does come in handy. Nicole, I ... | |
| replacing ring head | 7/26/2011 |
| Q: My diamond ring and wedding band are about 15 years old. Six years ago the local jeweler told me I ... A: Jean, it is difficult to say how much time in the pool would be needed for jewelry to be damaged. ... | |
| replacing ring head | 7/26/2011 |
| Q: My diamond ring and wedding band are about 15 years old. Six years ago the local jeweler told me I ... A: It is peculiar how they first thought "straighten" then agreed to having replaced the head. It seems ... | |
| gem & mineral | 7/25/2011 |
| Q: I have a very tiny "stone" shaped like a rose,1/2 ", mounted of sterling silver, mat dark blue. I ... A: Nicole, thanks for the question. Unfortunately, there are many, many items and stones which might ... | |
| Grandmother's bracelet, broken clasp, L&M Sterling Mark | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: As a child, after my grandfather passed, he had a box of things he was going to toss but he let me ... A: I located and took a close look at Leach and Miller bracelets on the Internet, focusing on the ... | |
| 835 Marking | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: Thomas,I Have A pendant that is marked,EGG 835,and is white metal.I understand that this mark would ... A: Debbie, the numeral 835 is not normally a silver quality mark in the USA but in the UK this is now ... | |
| ring sizing | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: Exactly one month ago, I was engaged and brought my ring (14k gold with 24 round shape prong set ... A: First of all, I have spent my years of jewelry experience in the design and service of jewelry. ... | |
| gold wedding band | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: i would like to know what the markings are on a wedding band that i have, they are; S and what looks ... A: Gareth, thanks for this question. To avoid confusion, I first need to clarify the spelling of the ... | |
| Ring resizing | 7/17/2011 |
| Q: My wife would like to purchase a bar set (7 stone) baguette and princess shaped diamond ring but ... A: to go from size L to J will mean approximately 2.5 mm (1/10 inch) of metal must be cut out. The ends ... | |
| Mercury contamination on a gold ring | 7/7/2011 |
| Q: I have a friend that got some mercury on a gold ring from a broken thermometer. Since mercury ... A: Bill, heating does work but is also unhealthy. The last thing you want to do is breath mercury vapor ... | |
| Palladium vs Platinum | 7/7/2011 |
| Q: There was a question about the differences between palladium and platinum on here and it was ... A: I have taken a fresh look at the main subjects addressed in that post from July 7, 2007, slightly ... | |
| discolored silver | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: I recently inherited some vintage silver. Most was in good shape, but several pieces were tarnished ... A: If the dark areas which will not polish off are on a smooth and easy to polish surface, the ... | |
| Dremel drill speed | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: I read your answer to Mary about drilling into gem stones and understand the concept. I have a ... A: Start the drill tip with tight control and a speed just fast enough to allow the diamond to take a ... | |
| Diamond ring | 7/1/2011 |
| Q: I inherited a radiant cut diamond ring with pave diamonds down the side, it is marked 14k with a 1.5 ... A: Janet, first of all you need to know the 1.5 is not one of the legal markings for precious metal ... | |
| restoring color to faded sapphire | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a silver ring with a large irregular shaped sapphire slice set in a bezel. The stone wasn't ... A: Generally when a color change comes from heating a gemstone and does not go away after all cools ... | |
| PD 925 ring | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: I inherited a 3-stone ring that has imprint "PD 925" in it. Local jeweler cleaned it today and said ... A: jewelers are aware of palladium in the jewelry industry. Since the introduction a few years ago as ... | |
| Italy 925 braclets | 6/27/2011 |
| Q: I have two braclets marked Italy 925 on the clasps, I don't know what that means. Both braclets are ... A: The bracelets are sterling silver with a thin gold plated to give a gold color. This is called ... | |
| Plating with gold | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: Good morning Thomas. I have been carving and polishing peach seeds as ornaments etc. The only ones ... A: there is way to plate your peach seed artwork. However, it has nothing to do with using solid gold ... | |
| Jeweler damaged Mum's sapphire | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: My Mum gave me her engagement ring when I got married last year. My Dad's partner owns a jewellery ... A: Sarah, I expect the jeweler is wanting you to trust their judgment on the replacement stone. Whereas ... | |
| Jeweler damaged Mum's sapphire | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: My Mum gave me her engagement ring when I got married last year. My Dad's partner owns a jewellery ... A: How unfortunate it is that the stone was damaged. Yes, considering the addition of the new ... | |
| detached center stone | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: I had bought my fiance an engagement ring 10 months ago, its a semi mount with baguettes on each ... A: Doug. You have an unpleasant situation here and I believe I can help, that is, if the store staff ... | |
| Ring Resizing | 6/20/2011 |
| Q: My girlfriend has her heart set on this engagement ring: ... A: I went to the website and took several good looks at the ring. Do you see the lattice work inside ... | |
| Sterling Silver and 14 karat Gold | 6/19/2011 |
| Q: First of all, thanks so much for reading my question! I am so happy that someone is here to help out ... A: Alexandra, thanks for the question. Sterling is certainly softer than gold and may show some signs ... | |
| gold finish | 6/19/2011 |
| Q: I attached some pics of a ring that i really like but can't figure out the finish of the gold or how ... A: I have looked closely at the photo more than once and honestly it is simply too small to really see ... | |
| bracelet | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: i found a bracelet its bright silver looking but the only stamp on it is PD! is it likely made of ... A: Jason, although rare in my experience, I have found nickel plated items which are very slightly ... | |
| seal for jeweled handle | 6/17/2011 |
| Q: We produce jeweled handled pig whips, the stones are applied with glue and I am looking for some ... A: Meri, I would recommend a clear epoxy coating. This would need to be the kind that cures water ... | |
| bracelet | 6/17/2011 |
| Q: i found a bracelet its bright silver looking but the only stamp on it is PD! is it likely made of ... A: Jason, PD is a legal marking for 950 Palladium jewelry metal, meaning 95% palladium which is as high ... | |
| Opal/silver bracelet | 6/12/2011 |
| Q: I had the clasp repaired on the bracelet. It had to be silver welded. The repairman then buffed the ... A: Is each stone made of three sections with a thin piece of silver between each section? This is not ... | |
| stain on gold engagement ring | 6/12/2011 |
| Q: Somehow my gold engagement ring has a reddish stain on it. I can't seem to clean the stain off, nor ... A: Beverly, there are generally two sorts of stains on gold items. One is a surface color like from a ... | |
| hallmark markings??? | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: i am very interested in purchasing a ring for my wife and on the inside of the band it is stamped ... A: You are correct on the 14k marking. That is one of the Federally accepted stamps for 14 karat gold. ... | |
| natural ametrine | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I'm not exactly sure how to phrase the subject. I recently found what I believe to be a beautiful ... A: Linda, thank you for this question. I am not familiar with that area but do find the Pine Barrens ... | |
| 22 k gold bangle | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I recently came through Dubai and purchased a 22 k gold bangle for my wife. It is a little too ... A: Mike. Dubai is certainly known for gold. Whether or not the bangle can be re-sized depends ... | |
| Best way to verify an Ingot purity | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: I'm very impress on the qualities of your answers. I would like to know are there any tools to ... A: the best method more available to everyday folks is an x-ray spectrometer but that is an expensive ... | |
| resizing a ring that has a Single CZ stone? | 5/25/2011 |
| Q: I have a dilemma. I got engaged yesterday and need to resize my ring tomorrow. It is a single CZ ... A: The CZ must be removed. A tool must be used to gently bend back just enough prongs to allow the ... | |
| jewelry mark | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: I just purchased a strand of tahitian pearls from China (Yikes!). The clasp is supposed to be 14k. ... A: Mae, Thanks for this question. The mark 14/20 is not a normal mark associated with 14k gold. 14k ... | |
| Possible ring size reduction issue | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: My girlfriend and I have been shopping around for an engagement ring for awhile now with some ... A: Matthew. Thanks for this question. Special thanks for the image. When a size is removed, that ... | |
| platinum ring marks | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a diamond ring that has the following marks: O1 K 081 PLAT ~ I've searched everywhere to try ... A: The only mark with meaning to me is the PLAT, generally considered to represent platinum of 95% or ... | |
| Diamond burned | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: I took my wife's engagement ring to a jeweler to raise the center diamond by expanding the prongs in ... A: unless a jeweler is going to use a laser welder to do the platinum work you are totally correct. ... | |
| antique ring | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: i was given a topaz/or aquamarine &what my mother was told was platinum ring that belonged to my ... A: It is interesting how you were given such differing answers. Of course, "interesting" is not helpful ... | |
| Sending high quality diamond cluster ring in for repair. | 5/13/2011 |
| Q: I was told that customers who send in jewelry for repair which contain big size diamonds can make ... A: Laura, I only rarely have heard of jewelers around my area being accused of switching stones. It ... | |
| melting silver in a graphite mold | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: I have been trying to pore ingots using 99.9% silver granules into a graphite mold with the graphite ... A: Lex, you might be able to get the graphite to stay hotter by keeping it on a firebrick or similar ... | |
| melting silver in a graphite mold | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: I have been trying to pore ingots using 99.9% silver granules into a graphite mold with the graphite ... A: Lex, be kind to the expert because without seeing it being done, I miss a lot of clues as to what ... | |
| Rhodium Plating | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: I wish set the stone in the ring after the ring is rhodium plated. Can I set the stones in a ... A: Laura, it all depends on your reasons. If you plan to do any finishing work on the stone setting ... | |
| Markings on a white gold diamond ring | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: I have a white gold diamond ring and have always wandered what the marking meant, it has a marking ... A: Jerry, the H&R is the maker's mark. USA regulations for gold marking require a maker to "sign" the ... | |
| coral losing color | 5/8/2011 |
| Q: I bought a red coral necklace with chunky nuggets with black marbling. When I tried it on the first ... A: Cindy, I would try hair spray first. After that you might try fixing the dye but not knowing what ... | |
| Platinum band changed shape | 5/7/2011 |
| Q: I've had the same platinum eternity band (full description: platinum prong set Eternity diamond band ... A: Amy, thanks so much for getting back with me and with the good news of insurance. The fine ratings ... | |
| carat markings inside ring | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: Just purchased a great men's ring from estate. The inside is marked K14 rather than 14K. Would this ... A: Rod. Considering most jewelry sold in the USA is outsourced or simply begins with a foreign ... | |
| Platinum band changed shape | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: I've had the same platinum eternity band (full description: platinum prong set Eternity diamond band ... A: First, thanks very much for the well done photos. That helps immensely. I was not there when the ... | |
| Quartz? Ring | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a ring that was in my friend's estate. It is marked K14 on the inside. I believe the stone is ... A: Gina. I was curious. If light did not pass then the stone would likely not be quartz. However, your ... | |
| gem markings | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: My wife has just bought a ring with 3 stones sold as topaz.A mark on the ring shank shows CZ. She ... A: Standards are in place for showing the quality of metal used in a jewelry item. As you might ... | |
| coral losing color | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: I bought a red coral necklace with chunky nuggets with black marbling. When I tried it on the first ... A: Cindy, Naturally colored coral does not bleed. What you are seeing is some sort of dye added to ... | |
| VanDell Scarab Jewelry | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: I have a beautiful scarab bracelet, according to my jeweler it is 14K gold and so soft that the ... A: Most of the VanDell bracelets were gold filled. I have not personally seen a 14k gold one but 14k ... | |
| Ring Identification | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: I was clearing out some old boxes recently and found an old ring that I didn't recognise. The design ... A: Paul. I really appreciate the kind comment. The cyber machine between us doesn't know if your ... | |
| Ring Identification | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I was clearing out some old boxes recently and found an old ring that I didn't recognise. The design ... A: Paul. What you have is a variation of the claddagh design from Ireland. According to various ... | |
| Platinum/palladium ring | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I had my engagement ring (and wedding ring) made for me and was quite specific in asking for it to ... A: From what you have told me and seeing your good photo*, my conclusion is that the ring is made of ... | |
| gold pierced earrings | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: I received a lovely present of smokey quartz drop earrings. They set in 14K gold, about 1/2 inch ... A: Susan, A photo would help in letting me know how the posts are attached to the stone drops. This ... | |
| Quartz? Ring | 4/30/2011 |
| Q: I have a ring that was in my friend's estate. It is marked K14 on the inside. I believe the stone is ... A: Gina, thanks for well done the picture. It is similar to what I imagined. Will the stone pass light ... | |
| Quartz? Ring | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: I have a ring that was in my friend's estate. It is marked K14 on the inside. I believe the stone is ... A: Gina, If I am reading your question correctly, the stone is a ball shape and faceted. Actually, the ... | |
| 14k gold diamond ring | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: i have aring appears to be about 2 k diamond .has the 14k mark by itself,othe other side appears to ... A: Rick. We have been going through all sorts of thunder storms, lightening and hail in other towns. ... | |
| Marking in ring | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: I just received a lovely engagement ring. The inside of the band has the marking PL then a strange ... A: I have included a link to a British hallmarking(assay) office just in case some of your symbols are ... | |
| sizing a 23k gold triple shank ring without using solder | 4/23/2011 |
| Q: What procedure would you recommend to size a heavy 23k gold ring? A: Maurice, First, I do not know if the ring is going up or down in size. The following applies to ... | |
| Removing fingernail polish from jewelry. | 4/23/2011 |
| Q: Unfortunately tonight, my kids decided to take all of my mother in laws jewelry and put it into one ... A: Nan, I know kids are inventive but this is the first porridge of jewelry and those other ... | |
| charms | 4/21/2011 |
| Q: I don't really have experience with jewellery repairs etc. but a friend asked me to attach some ... A: Karola. I would need to know the sort of solder you plan to use and see the charms to provide ... | |
| Can you use a torch with soft solder? | 4/21/2011 |
| Q: I've been planning to make some costume jewelry out of old watch parts, and I had planned on hard ... A: Yes, Carrie, you can use a torch to soft solder. The trick is to keep the flame as gentle and low ... | |
| melting of cubic zirconia | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: Good Morning Thomas Im looking for some advice please. I took 3 gold rings,(22,18 & 9ct)1 with a ... A: I don’t know what secret tricks the jeweler might have but I do not believe turning white gold back ... | |
| Resizing | 4/15/2011 |
| Q: Do you think the ring in the photo can be resized from a 7 to a 9? Thank you so much for you time. A: Krista, you say with the photo,"14k Gold (I believe)". If it is gold, the ring looks like it can be ... | |
| Platinum Engagement ring re-size | 4/13/2011 |
| Q: I have just gotten my platinum engagement ring re-sized as it was slightly too big when i first got ... A: Bee, There is a reason for a solder line but it doesn't have to be that way. It all has to do with ... | |
| soldering set rough diamonds | 4/8/2011 |
| Q: I have received a custom order for a sterling silver engagement ring. The client is very specific in ... A: I appreciate questions from jewelers. My answer must be general since I cannot see the diamonds and ... | |
| new white gold engagement ring already has some scratches. | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: I recently got engaged and instead of picking out the ring himself, my fiance had me go with him to ... A: Dawn, there is not really anymore I can add to the answer. Unfortunately, I cannot clearly see the ... | |
| new white gold engagement ring already has some scratches. | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: I recently got engaged and instead of picking out the ring himself, my fiance had me go with him to ... A: Dawn, your ring is lovely. I see there are side stones, too. My suggestion to help avoid scratches ... | |
| Sterling Silver necklace | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: I was cleaning my sterling silver necklace in a jewelry cleaner for sterling silver. I left it in ... A: Kimberly, Sterling reacts with sulfur in the air and from the environment to create a tarnish on ... | |
| new white gold engagement ring already has some scratches. | 4/5/2011 |
| Q: I recently got engaged and instead of picking out the ring himself, my fiance had me go with him to ... A: Any silver, gold or platinum jewelry rings will scratch or show some dullness from contact with ... | |
| How to clean diamonds set in silver | 4/1/2011 |
| Q: I have a beautiful ring that has a sapphire in the center which is surrounded by eight diamonds, ... A: I believe this information will help. I would love to see your ring. We saw Princess Diana's ... | |
| RESIZING | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: I RECEIVED A 3 STONE PEAR DIAMOND RING IN PLATINUM. THE ONLY PROBLEM ITS A SIZE 5 AND IM A SIZE 7. ... A: Gina, if the ring can be exchanged for one of the proper size at no cost to you, that would be the ... | |
| Larimar stone onto white gold ring | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: Yesterday the stone fell out and to send it back to the DR would cost a fortune. Could you advise me ... A: Scott, it the stone was cemented in place you can do it yourself. If set with metal prongs or other ... | |
| Chlorine severe discolouration on white gold bracelet HELP! | 3/30/2011 |
| Q: I have just had a mainly white gold Pandora bracelet, severely react to chlorine in a pool and end ... A: Alexandra, I am sorry you had this experience but most likely all can be restored. Silver without ... | |
| "scrap" gold | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: I would like to 're-make' my wedding band and have many pieces of old gold. It would seem that I ... A: Using an internet search I found at least two jewelers who appear from their websites to do better ... | |
| cleaning jewelry | 3/26/2011 |
| Q: i wanted to know what a good way to clean up jewelry that was in a fire its got heavy black stuff ... A: Jimmy, I have cleaned many items with fire damage. In most cases it comes down to three primary ... | |
| i think i ruined my sterling silver rings | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: Please help! I read online about making an at home jewlery cleaner using hot water, a teaspoon salt ... A: Erica, first of all, relax and know your rings are not ruined. : ) The James Avery jewelry is very ... | |
| A&P marking | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: have a 14k gold ring w/ emeral setting,between to diamonds. it has a mark inside A & P 14k what is ... A: The use of plumb with gold was started near 1980 when the marking regulations changed in the USA. ... | |
| Engagement Ring Troubles | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: Thomas, My fiancee proposed in December of 2010 (Just 3 months ago). My ring is a beautiful 1ct ... A: There is an old saying about "don't hurt the messenger" and that applies here. There is no way you ... | |
| testing for solid gold | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: Can you test for slid gold and silver with a magnet? ANSWER: Dear Jacqueline, Only a few metals ... A: Considering the experimental nature of iron/gold alloys and the absence of gold or silver cobalt ... | |
| testing for solid gold | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: Can you test for slid gold and silver with a magnet? A: Only a few metals are magnetic and are attracted by a magnet. Gold and silver are not magnetic and ... | |
| restoring silver look | 3/11/2011 |
| Q: I have some vintage jewelry how do I restore that silver look, is it easy and can I do it myself A: The real question is if the silver look CAN be restored. If the jewelry is white gold, a polishing ... | |
| Platinum Repair | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: I have inherited my late Grandmother's platinum wedding band and using it as mine. It is about 40 ... A: This is an excellent question. I am glad you defined the method used to repair the prongs with ... | |
| 14ct | 3/6/2011 |
| Q: I have purchased a 14ct gold chain which has CID before it? Any ideas what this is kind regards ... A: Karen, the letters CID do not match any of the normal hallmarks employed by the UK for indication of ... | |
| Antique Finish | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a family crest ring deeply engraved and I would like to make a antique finish (dark ... A: Daniel. Is the ring gold? Is it silver? Silver is rather easy to apply an antique finish. You ... | |
| engraved | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: i received a necklace as a gift and its gold. on the clasp is engraved. 417 and on the opposite side ... A: I can tell you about the 417 but not about the maker's mark, ALI. There are several jewelery makers ... | |
| KI14k marking | 3/3/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering what the letters KI, or possibly K1 met that directly precedes the 14k marking on my ... A: Brian. I do not even attempt to identify trademarks of manufacturers. That generally is a rabbit ... | |
| Ring sent for resizing - diamond has chip | 3/3/2011 |
| Q: I hope you can give me some advice on how to handle a situation with a jewellery store. I bought a ... A: Trish. This is one of those situations which is certainly disappointing to you and may be ... | |
| gold marking | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: I have a what looks like a cougar pin with the marking of 862 on the back of it. I have searched ... A: Celine, thanks for the question. Unfortunately, the 862 mark does not mean a thing to me and I do ... | |
| Wood on silver | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: My hobby is making jewelry from wood and metal and sometimes with silver. Now a friend of mine has ... A: The illustration enhances my concept of the ring you are going to make. The cement I recommend is ... | |
| Stainless Steel Jewelry resizing | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: I was supplied with a collegiate ring from my alma mater in the USA and the company sent it around 4 ... A: Michael, unfortunately there is not a "reach up and hope to get the ball" answer for stainless steel ... | |
| Ring Stamping | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: I have a ring with the following inside the band; china, SW 925 2C, what does all of this mean? ... A: Lydia, the only mark shown which is associated with the metal is 925, the mark for sterling silver. ... | |
| Gold Karat Mark | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: Thomas, I have a bar pin with what appears to be 14 K on the clasp. What is confusing me, is that ... A: From what I see the markings to the left are curious but not part of the quality mark. 14k is what I ... | |
| re-tipping and polishing wedding rings | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: I took in my rings to be re tipped. My wedding rings will be 5yrs old Sept 2011. Well I was ... A: I wish you did not have such an unpleasant experience. I will talk about the various points in your ... | |
| mother or pearl pendant | 2/22/2011 |
| Q: I purchased this at a flea market for $17. Can you tell me anything about it? it is about 3 inches ... A: Jennifer, I know little about your mother of pearl carving except that it is likely from close to ... | |
| White gold ring | 2/21/2011 |
| Q: I found a white gold ring in a parking lot, it says (AU .925) inside. What does it mean? A: Ray, the stamp 925 simply means sterling silver. Sterling is a legal definition of a silver alloy ... | |
| 750 stamp and two B's? | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: I have what I think is antique art deco engagement ring. When I took it to get cleaned they thought ... A: Lauren, I knew getting a clear photo would be difficult! However, I can see the "B's" inside the ... | |
| 750 stamp and two B's? | 2/17/2011 |
| Q: I have what I think is antique art deco engagement ring. When I took it to get cleaned they thought ... A: Lauren, please keep in mind I am working long distance in answering your question. With the ring in ... | |
| Metal quality mark | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: Thnx for working hard on this site! I have a box chain necklace that is marked NC 14K. I have done ... A: Michele, no need to worry about the NC having anything to do with the quality of the metal. That ... | |
| Delft Casting | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: I have just started experimenting with Delft casting; all of a sudden after having no problems ... A: Yvonne, thanks for this question. If your silver is starting to solidify as you are pouring it, ... | |
| Patina(los) | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: I would like to know how to remove the unwanted patina from a piece of jewellery! I read in a ... A: Tara. I hope the weather is cheerful in your part of the world! You ask a good question. Keep in ... | |
| 1/20 20 kgf. 16inch chain | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: Is it real gold and how much would it be worth. A: Gail. Thanks for this question. The markings on the chain are accepted marks in the National Gold ... | |
| Help! | 2/13/2011 |
| Q: I am in need of your assistance! I have recently acquired a small gold wedding band and i have a ... A: Audrey, you are correct on the marking meaning "plumb". When the standards for stamping jewelry ... | |
| Ring marking | 2/13/2011 |
| Q: I have ring that looks gold and marked only with R?AFT. It is a 32 degree Scottish rite ring. ... A: Barry, without seeing the ring I cannot say with any certainty what the marking means. If stamped ... | |
| testing silver | 2/7/2011 |
| Q: 925 a duller white for lower grades have you ever heard of this? Also I find not all 18k acid will ... A: Dave. Actually, I have not normally used 18k acids to test silver. As I recall, when doing that on ... | |
| 14/20? | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: what does the 14/20 mean stamped on jewelry mean? A: Michelle. This is a good question. The term 14/20 is a reference to a more complete quality ... | |
| i have a few silver jewellry items | 2/3/2011 |
| Q: My jewellry which is siver has 777 stamped on them what does this mean? A: The mark 777 does not fit any conventional mark for silver jewelry. It is possible the mark is a ... | |
| Moulds | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: I'd like to make a nice ring for my lady's birthday. I've never even attempted this before but ... A: Jed. Thanks for the question. Up until December 31, 2010 at quitting time I was a professional ... | |
| Rhodium palladium | 2/1/2011 |
| Q: I read your response regarding rhodium plating palladium white gold. I actually have a full ... A: Karen, thanks for this timely question. Please read what I have said carefully. If you want to jump ... | |
| Green Beryl. Engagement ring or no? | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: Recently I went to a arts and crafts festival. While there my girlfriend and I fell in love with ... A: My wife has an oval rubellite tourmaline as the main stone in her engagement ring. The stone is not ... | |
| White gold solder for platinum ring | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: I was hoping to ask you a question. I purchased an engagement ring in February 2010. It was a hand ... A: David, I cannot take sides but I do tell how I would do the job and question some of what you were ... | |
| Black Metal Inquiry | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: I'm doing some preliminary research for a jewelry product idea and am hoping you can help offer some ... A: Rory, Thomas is back------------------------------------- TITANIUM I found this quote concerning ... | |
| Black Metal Inquiry | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: I'm doing some preliminary research for a jewelry product idea and am hoping you can help offer some ... A: Rory, I wish I could be of more help here. I started to "reject the question" because it IS out of ... | |
| Initials THGE & HGEG inside rings | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: what do the initials 18K THGE and 18K HGEG mean inside two rings my husband bought today? I know ... A: Unfortunately I suspect your items are not solid 18k gold but rather a quite thick form of ... | |
| Right-sizing Oval Prong Settings | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: Thomas, I have a number of faceted stones, at least one of which I'd like to mount as a pendant. ... A: Mark. I will try to help you with selecting the best setting size. Considerations to keep in mind ... | |
| Combining plastic and gold | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: Thomas: Hi! I am allergic to almost all metals, and have been unable to wear any jewelry made of ... A: Sherry, I will give two ideas on how to do it. First thoughts on putting plastic with gold require ... | |
| Technibond | 1/16/2011 |
| Q: Is Technibond safe? If not, what are the risks? A: I thought at first you might be asking about a cement. That I could not find and am not familiar ... | |
| what does the 14k H mean on the stamp | 1/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a jade ring that was given to me years gone by and it has never dulled like costume does so ... A: I do have an answer for you. According to regulations for stamping jewelry in the United States, ... | |
| Black enamel inlay on 14 carat gold ring | 1/14/2011 |
| Q: My husband bought a 14 carat gold Crown of Thorns ring with a black possibly enamel inlay to accent ... A: Kate, I do not know if the black inlay is actually enamel which technically is a fired glass fused ... | |
| Gold vs titanium | 1/14/2011 |
| Q: My fiance has a gold engagement ring, we want to get titanium wedding bands, is it okay to wear the ... A: There will be more wear on the gold ring paired with a titanium band than one paired with another ... | |
| grandmothers ring | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: I have tried to find out what kind of stone is set in this 18kt ring I inherited from my grandmother ... A: you are not going to be able to identify the stone from images and honestly need to have a certified ... | |
| Removing super glue from a gold and diamond ring | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: How can I safely remove super glue from my gold wedding band and gold and diamond engagement ring? ... A: Your problem has happened to other folks and some got the rings cemented to their fingers in the ... | |
| converting cufflinks to earrings | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: I have some beautiful amethyst and 14K gold cufflinks that I want to convert to drop earrings. Can ... A: Cathy, these are lovely cuff links and will make really nice earrings. Having a photo to see makes a ... | |
| converting cufflinks to earrings | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: I have some beautiful amethyst and 14K gold cufflinks that I want to convert to drop earrings. Can ... A: The basic rule as to which gemstones are tolerant of heat from jewelry soldering is "diamond, ruby, ... | |
| Damaged 9carat gold jewellery? | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: I was using sno-white water to clean, and I had 2 9c gold rings on, this morning I noticed they both ... A: Chris, I certainly do agree that cleaning products can have an effect on gold jewelry. The effect ... | |
| Free Form Silver | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: Greetings Thomas Is there a way to pour melted Silver into a cooling liquid, for the purpose of ... A: Mike, I have poured metal for casting pieces and in the process found pieces with such special ... | |
| Ring has two stamps (14K and 10KT) | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: A ring I own is stamped with 14K and also 10KT. I am curious why? A: Machel. You give us an interesting question. There are three main possibilities why your ring has ... | |
| gold discoloration | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: Two of my gold rings turned a bronze or brass color after I cleaned my jewelry by soaking it in ... A: Kelly. Lots of folks use denture cleaner for jewelry but I do advise against it. What happened to ... | |
| Mystery Metal | 12/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a small bracelet that looks like it is sterling silver but the mark on it reads "24K 9999". ... A: Rick, the mystery metal will remain a mystery until testing is done to determine if it is indeed ... | |
| rhodium dipping | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: Once you did a ring that is 14k yellow gold, can you return it to its original color/appearance if ... A: Michelle, with white popular enough today that many ladies have gone to rhodium plate to make their ... | |
| trying to keep 2 rings together | 12/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a wedding band set that the engagement ring and the wedding band are not connected. They seem ... A: Linda, the best way is to have the rings tack soldered together at the bottom. This is generally ... | |
| wedding rings thinning | 12/8/2010 |
| Q: My engagement ring and wedding band are thinning. Is there anything a jeweler can do so it doesn't ... A: Sue. Yes, some things can be done to help your rings. If the rings are thin on the sides from ... | |
| Is this ring resizable? *Images given* | 12/3/2010 |
| Q: Currently size K my girlfriend is possibly a J maybe an I. It is a Journey style ring with five set ... A: I do appreciate the actual images of the ring. Also, you explanation of the paint image helped me ... | |
| Chain for an 7 yr old | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: My goddaughter is now 7 and wears her baptismal cross on a chain but the chain has broken and I need ... A: Jo, Gold prices for the pure metal have risen dramatically in the past few years. Some years ago, ... | |
| Chain for an 7 yr old | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: My goddaughter is now 7 and wears her baptismal cross on a chain but the chain has broken and I need ... A: Jo, was the chain made of hollow links? Look at the ends to find out. My suggestion is a simple ... | |
| Plating Jewelry with Acid Sensitive semi precious stones | 12/1/2010 |
| Q: I shall highly appreciate if you could tell me how can we avoid sensitive stone being spoiled when ... A: Remember, I am not expert in mass production methods. This is stated in my profile. However, I ... | |
| earring replacement | 12/1/2010 |
| Q: I am desperastely looking to get an earring replaced that i lost. It was my mothers and they have ... A: Taj, a wax casting might work. I have a couple of suggestions regarding that. From the first ... | |
| earring replacement | 11/30/2010 |
| Q: I am desperastely looking to get an earring replaced that i lost. It was my mothers and they have ... A: Unfortunately, what you are asking is almost an unobtainable goal. I am familiar with the type of ... | |
| Preserving a charm | 11/30/2010 |
| Q: I have this cheap necklace that is just a chain and one charm but I love this necklace and it has ... A: Jenna, thanks for the question. If the chain and charm are costume jewelry there is unfortunately ... | |
| color plated 14k Gold | 11/29/2010 |
| Q: how are you today? I have a question about the trend of color plated solid 14k yellow gold. I've ... A: Alice. I saw some of these items in a trade magazine today. The colors were extreme compared to the ... | |
| Work on a platinum ring done with white gold? | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: I purchased a diamond and platinum ring several months ago, and I needed it sized up by a size and a ... A: Crystal, thanks for the follow-up and excellent photos. Jewelry is so very visual and we may often ... | |
| Work on a platinum ring done with white gold? | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: I purchased a diamond and platinum ring several months ago, and I needed it sized up by a size and a ... A: Crystal. Considering the popularity of platinum, this is a well timed question. ... | |
| Gold quality | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a white gold money clip marked 14KGI on it. I was told by a gold buyer today that it was not ... A: The GI(or GL) is not a mark I find in the US regulations for a quality of gold. I suspect this is ... | |
| 14 k gold questions | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: I have an old 14 K ring with a small diamond in it from my Grandmother. I don't know how old the ... A: Is there a 14k stamp inside the ring? Is that why you called it a 14k ring? In that case, you really ... | |
| drill for antique coins | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: Thomas, I have learned alot from your postings! My question is would you suggest a Dremmel drill ... A: March. A Dremel™ should work just fine and will give better control than a large drill used for ... | |
| how do i attach | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: I have an amethysist oblong stone, cut and polished and I need to make it into a necklace. I have ... A: Connie. You most likely need a kind of Fold-over Glue On Bail, Bell Cap, or perhaps Cinch Mount. ... | |
| durability of ss/5%platinum for an engagment ring | 11/14/2010 |
| Q: found a beautiful diamond engagement ring that is very affordable....the reason is that the diamonds ... A: With the prices of precious metals rising, efforts have been made to introduce new metals into ... | |
| blue devils division world war 2 | 11/14/2010 |
| Q: I have this old ring. It's from world war 2. It says Blue Devils Division and has a devil inside of ... A: Vinny, I am a jeweler and not a military historian. Yet, there is lots of stuff on the Internet ... | |
| Resizing Columbian emerald ring | 11/13/2010 |
| Q: I had my emerald ring sized down from a 6 to a 4.75 at a jewelry store. When I went to pick it up, ... A: Have you heard anything back from the salesperson? You should have been called fairly soon after ... | |
| melting 10 or 14 k gold | 11/13/2010 |
| Q: I am curious to know: I read an answer to melting gold. If 14 karat gold is melted to 2000 degrees ... A: Generally if melted from one piece, the melt will be uniform internally. If meted from several ... | |
| RING SHANKS | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: Please can you confirm re. this question, as still unsure about understanding! Thank you! I have ... A: Alison, I apologize for not answering completely the last time. As for the shank becoming thicker ... | |
| GOLD RINGS | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: Please can you answer a couple of questions for me? 1) If I wear a 9ct gold ring next to an 18ct ... A: Alison, much depends on the particular alloy of gold, meaning the recipe for gold whether 18ct or ... | |
| bracelet | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: My mother recently gave me a gold bracelet my father bought on his way home from Japan in the ... A: The numerals and letters mean nothing to me in the 285 AR, which could represent a manufacturer, ... | |
| Would a 18k gold piece in a necklace tarnish easily? | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: Hey, i was wondering; i saw one of your older answers about a guy named Don's ring and i was ... A: Adam, pool chemicals can be quite destructive to jewelry. What happens is that with some jewelry ... | |
| Platinum Rolled Gold & Orion Diamond | 11/6/2010 |
| Q: I've got a pair of earrings which the jeweler says it's made up of "Platinum Rolled Gold" & "Orion ... A: Candice, sorry for the delay. I am trying to find out more to hopefully give you a better answer. ... | |
| can i take a hollow pendant and fill it with gold to make solid | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: my question is this. i recently purchase something i wanted for the longest time. it is a pendent of ... A: Scott. Thanks for the photo. I see and know exactly what you are talking about. I do imagine the ... | |
| A question about tightening the prongs on my antiqje platinum enagement ring. | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: My fiance proposed to me with a family heirloom: a platinum engagement ring from probably the early ... A: Morgan. I can understand your situation to some extent. There is possibly some remedy but you must ... | |
| 18KGP | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: I live in St Helens, England and am looking to buy some jewellry from China. The metal is quoted as ... A: Tricia, I have no confirmation of what the items from 2008 actually proved to be. As with those ... | |
| 18KGP | 11/1/2010 |
| Q: I live in St Helens, England and am looking to buy some jewellry from China. The metal is quoted as ... A: Tricia. Can you please use a follow-up and let me know where to find the reply from 2008? That ... | |
| engravings faded | 11/1/2010 |
| Q: I have this ring that I got made by a jeweler a few months ago. It's just a simple metal ring with ... A: Cole. The depth of the engraving and where and how you wear the ring has a lot to do with how long ... | |
| jewelry | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: I found an earring on the beach today that has stamped on it 18k 950 ,it is a hollow hoop earring 1 ... A: I believe the earring should be tested. Palladium is not out of the question but the earring would ... | |
| Holding wedding and engagement rings together | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: My engagement and wedding rings are a set, but both bands are flat so they just sit against each ... A: Jan. Adhesives might hold for a while but likely not for long. I have used most sorts of cements ... | |
| jewelry | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: I found an earring on the beach today that has stamped on it 18k 950 ,it is a hollow hoop earring 1 ... A: John, sight unseen I can provide information and you can work out your next step from that. There is ... | |
| New stone in old setting? | 10/29/2010 |
| Q: I like Edwardian/Nouveau solitaire ring settings, but it is very expensive to get one with a good ... A: That photo and the detail shown gave me an instant answer to yourYES, providing the structure of the ... | |
| I don't know what i have or how to test... | 10/27/2010 |
| Q: I bought some rings that seem to have the look and weight of gold, but some only have an "H" stamped ... A: Allen. This is a fine question. People not in the jewelry business are understandably uncertain ... | |
| white gold allergy - not nickel, is it palladium? | 10/25/2010 |
| Q: I am desperate to find out what is in my ring that is causing an allergy and I really hope you can ... A: I will try my best. I am not certain how accurate the home test for nickel truly is. In any ... | |
| shank on engagement ring has cracked | 10/25/2010 |
| Q: Hi Thomas please can you help me my engagement ring has cracked just before the shank i have had the ... A: Edna, please let me know if you have received an answer previously for this question. If not, I am ... | |
| solvent for adhesive | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: The string used on my 20-30 yr. old amethyst necklace broke, and when I tried to take it all apart ... A: Joan, likely the best solvent to try is acetone. Older fingernail polish remover contained acetone. ... | |
| adhering cz to gold hoop | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: I am new to jewelry making. I have purchased gold filled hoops (55mm) and would like to adhere a cz ... A: Laura, Thanks for the question. You certainly need a place to put the stone and a hole in the ... | |
| Cleaning/Buffing of band ring | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: had the shiny polish taken off from a jeweler when purchased giving it a matte finish. What process ... A: Removal of scratches means buffing the metal down to the level of the scratch and essentially ... | |
| Prongs on engagement ring | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: I have my Mom's platinum engagment ring - center stone is a carat with 2 small diamonds on both ... A: Please keep in mind that platinum is the most expensive metal used in jewelry. Not only is the metal ... | |
| WHITE GOLD VERSES STERLING SILVER | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: I have read lots of conflicting views on-line about the hardness of white gold (9ct/10 Karat) and ... A: Alison, I am glad you got back with me. I want anyone who contacts me to ask more if they need more. ... | |
| WHITE GOLD VERSES STERLING SILVER | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: I have read lots of conflicting views on-line about the hardness of white gold (9ct/10 Karat) and ... A: Read all the hardness values you might, experience proves that the gold alloy is tougher than ... | |
| Colouring 9ct white gold black | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: I hope you can help. I have made a ring in 9ct white gold (7% palladium)that needs to have an ... A: A black plated layer would be the best if you could get it to plate well deep in the recesses. This ... | |
| Compostion | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: What is the composition od 915? A: There is not a standard metal quality stamp for 915. However, this does not prevent someone from ... | |
| White Gold Bracelet | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a white gold Braided rope bracelet with markings on the clasp, it has a triangle, that has a ... A: as mentioned in the instructions to the questioner, I do not try to identify manufacturer's marks. I ... | |
| TEST STONES | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing a terrible test stone [came with/ acid kit]it more than scratched all jewelry. My ... A: Megan, A "scratch stone" used for acid testing of jewelry must do two things well to be effective: ... | |
| resizing | 10/13/2010 |
| Q: I read one of your previous questions about resizing sterling sliver. My boyfriend and I have been ... A: Katrina, As much as I would like to help you, at this time I cannot accept work outside the ... | |
| How can I make yellow gold look 'older' | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: I dont know if this is possible or if you know the answer, but I have a 9carat yellow gold ring ... A: Sandra, this is the very first time I have been asked this question. And, yes, there are some ways ... | |
| ring indentification | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: I found a 10k gold ring with what I think is a diamond. I checked the diamond with a line on a ... A: As I state in the instructions box, I do not attempt to answer questions of trademarks of ... | |
| puffed heart charms | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a charm bracelet that was my mothers from the 40's it has puffed heart charms on it that ... A: Can you follow-up and give me an idea of the number and sizes of the puffed hearts? I might be able ... | |
| masonic ring | 10/7/2010 |
| Q: I have an old masonic ring that is enameled gold. On the inside is has only the letter C - not in ... A: The letter "C" in the ring means nothing to me concerning the quality of the metal. This is not a ... | |
| Resizing a ring | 10/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a diamond ring that I bought to engage my girl friend but unfortunately I got the wrong size. ... A: Luis, I understand how you want it to be right for this lady. A size in the USA is right at 1/10 ... | |
| repairing horn jewellery | 9/19/2010 |
| Q: I bought a ring made of horn and the circular ring part of it cracked. When I wear it and it warms ... A: Oh my, I do wish there was an easy answer for this one. Horn is an organic item and one which does ... | |
| ring markings | 9/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a ring marked stainless steel/10k ODI. any ideas you might be able to give me would be ... A: Der Jason, In the USA a combination of metals requires the identification of the precious metal ... | |
| jewelry marking | 9/18/2010 |
| Q: What does the marking GIA on tne inside of my ring mean? My ring is stamped also on the inside with ... A: I can see where you might get the idea that the GIA inside your ring could have something to do with ... | |
| White Gold Errosion | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: I've only had my CT white gold and diamond engagement a month and I've noticed on the outside of the ... A: Georgia. Thank you for this question. The truth of the matter is that gold jewelry metal is softer ... | |
| ring marking | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: could you please tell me what "EL 10k" means in my ring - someone said "electro plated" but i've ... A: Al, the someone was mistaken. EL does not refer to electroplated. The federal regulations in the ... | |
| Gold Plated antique Watchbox | 9/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a old antique watchbox I belive it is Gold plated, as there is signs of wear on the feet of ... A: John, generally a jeweler will turn down any plated items or even quite worn "20 year" rolled gold ... | |
| 18K H.G.E. Amythest Ring | 9/13/2010 |
| Q: My grandmother gave me an amethyst ring,(obviously it is vintage) and inside it says "18k HGE" I ... A: Lily, I wonder if your grandmother knew or knows the ring is not 18k gold? Regardless, she did ... | |
| Ring marking | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: I bought a 14k diamond ring today at the pawn shop. Inside is carved 14kFDC. I know that the 14k ... A: I know of one company with FDC as the trademark. This is a company located in Ohio, USA. Normally, ... | |
| acrylic coating to protect silver | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: I want to buy a 1 oz Panda silver bullion coin, plain or rope bezel, and sterling silver Italian ... A: Bob. With metals like copper and brass which are routinely coated with a lacquer or acrylic, I have ... | |
| modern white gold alloys and chlorine | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: I understand that white gold is susceptible to corrosion in chlorine. I'm wondering whether the ... A: CORRECTED PREVIOUS ANSWER....thanks for this, Dan. Dan, sit down at my table, have a tall glass of ... | |
| modern white gold alloys and chlorine | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: I understand that white gold is susceptible to corrosion in chlorine. I'm wondering whether the ... A: Dan, generally a new band will be of normal temper and is fine. If however the band must be sized, ... | |
| modern lwhite gold alloys and chlorine | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: I understand that white gold is susceptible to corrosion in chlorine. I'm wondering whether the ... A: Dan, please understand that I am not a metallurgist. However this is an excellent question. I will ... | |
| fixing a silver ring | 9/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a silver ring and it cracked on the bottom of the band, I would like to try to fix it ... A: Georgi, If you have a gas/oxygen torch, silver solders(these are high temp solders, not the "silver ... | |
| A Very Old Ring? | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: My mother-in-law gave me a ring that belonged to her mother in Germany probably about 40-50 years ... A: Caroline, there is really no way I can tell what metal the ring is made of without having it to ... | |
| cleaning colored topaz | 8/26/2010 |
| Q: I just recently bought a Neptune's Garden Topaz Ring set in 10kt white gold and I gave it to a ... A: I understand your concern with the topaz gemstone. Quite honestly, I have used an ultrasonic ... | |
| repairing labradorite | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a pendant with a "tongue" of labradorite on the bottom and I dropped it on a tile floor ... A: Amy, labradorite in one of my favorite stones. In fact, I have a rough piece with one polished face ... | |
| Gold diffrences | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: Iam just wondering what the differnce is between the diffrent carats like 10car.14,24 and how much ... A: Leann, I attached a little chart to make a visual description of the different karats of gold. Pure ... | |
| pearl | 8/21/2010 |
| Q: a friend of mine gave me a pearl necklace and i was curious to find out if it is real so i did the ... A: Amanda. I have not heard of that "sun test" and since almost all pearls are cultured I am not ... | |
| re-laying metal to remove engraving? | 8/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a hand-engraved shared setting diamond platinum band from Tiffany's. I would love to be able ... A: Linda, first action is to ask the jeweler who will size the band about the depth of the engraving ... | |
| Finishing silver clay jewellery with embedded gems | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: I'm planning on making some jewellery for myself from silver clay and have some small sapphires, ... A: Mel, I provide an answer with a stipulation: I am not an experienced metal clay craftsman. There is ... | |
| 14K | 8/10/2010 |
| Q: and tia for your time. I bought a new yg ring stamped 14k, size 6. I had it resized to a 7 1/4 and ... A: Mlmi, All I can say about the jeweler not knowing the ring was not really gold as stamped is that ... | |
| Replace Abalone on a bracelet | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: I lost a piece of abalone on a cuff bracelet and would like to have it replace. Do you or know of ... A: Phyllis, thanks for the question. Right off hand I do not know of someone to recommend. In general, ... | |
| melting/recovering gold | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: i discovered a small box of old teeth and dental items that were filled ,capped and bridged w/ ... A: Bill. Likely the quickest and more efficient ways to separate the teeth from the gold is a hammer. ... | |
| cleaning tarnish from under clear stones | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: set in vintage rolled gold.They could be crystals or spinels.The rest of locket is okay. Why the ... A: As I understand it the company you mentioned made many lockets of gold filled or rolled gold. The ... | |
| need help | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: i have 2 metal chains in my house one of them says 14k and the other 14k italy im woundeing if they ... A: wascar, you have to go by the markings and where you got the chains. Did these come from a reputable ... | |
| Soldering 14k/18k rose gold to 18k palladium | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a very complicated ring design in different colored golds with many soldering operations that ... A: Jen, Thanks for the clarification. This makes a definite difference in how the job is approached. ... | |
| Soldering 14k/18k rose gold to 18k palladium | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a very complicated ring design in different colored golds with many soldering operations that ... A: I believe I can help you with this but need need one piece of information made clear for me: You ... | |
| gem sizing | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: I have allot of loose gems and I want to mount them in rings but I'm not sure on how to measure them ... A: David, give me a day and I will get a chart showing how to measure different shapes. If the gauge is ... | |
| what's the best electric drill or dremel for me? | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: I have been all over the web trying to find someone who could answer my question, I think you are ... A: Sheila. I can understand frustration with battery powered drills. Even if traveling and on the ... | |
| stone cutting/polishing | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: Thomas- I know absolute zero about stones, gems, or cutting of the afore mentioned but would like ... A: Ronda, thanks for this question. I have done some stained glass and like your idea. Here to start ... | |
| 18k white gold & diamond engagement ring | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: i was wondering if you could help? my partner has just bought me a lovely ring and im doing a little ... A: I would want the ring in my hands for testing to be absolutely certain but I do believe the markings ... | |
| Gold Prong Settings | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: I was thinking about having a ring made for daily use out of 18K gold. However, someone told me ... A: Albert, thanks for your question. What "someone told me" is not to be considered reliable in this ... | |
| jf on a my pin | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: i have pin marked 14k jf it's a leaf with a pearl on it.. what does jf mean? A: The jewelry marking regulations in the USA say that if an item has a quality mark (the metal stamp), ... | |
| Ring Sizing | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: You mentioned something about metal spring-loaded ring sizers. Do you know where I could find one? ... A: Lindsie, This link will show you the spring type: ... | |
| ring sizing to x1/2 | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: I am wanting to buy myself an art deco diamond ring and obviously would need to get it made much ... A: Jeanette, the sizing system I use is different from the UK version but the question can be answered ... | |
| Electroform rings | 7/19/2010 |
| Q: Hope your vacation was great. Quick question and hopefully just as easy to answer. Can a 14k ... A: Alice, I very much appreciate kind words about vacation. I needed the time off and was stressed. ... | |
| Yellow gold earring repair | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: We had a yellow gold earring repaired to replace a post. The earring was returned as white gold. ... A: Gerry, I would believe the jeweler is responsible to return to you a gold colored earring because ... | |
| GI stamp | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: I bought a 14K white gold ring that has GI stamped on the inside. What does GI mean? Thank you, ... A: Mariam. I believe the GI is a maker's mark. The way the National Gold and Silver Marking Act ... | |
| 14K and PT950 Both Listed on Wedding Band | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: My wife (for a month now) just realized that the inside of her wedding band says both 14K and PT950. ... A: Jeff, looking at the band, is it one piece? With some wearing there would be a definition of the ... | |
| Palladium | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased a designer bracelet and was told it was palladium. I paid $100 for it and it's ... A: Penelope, As I see many items of jewelry brought in for service everyday, I have found out that the ... | |
| rhinestones | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: what is the best way to glue back in a loose rhinestone on an old necklace. It has the gold foil ... A: I will tell of cement to use but please keep in mind that many crafts store carry rhinestones, both ... | |
| Repair/Restore Engagement Ring | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: My mother never had had her engagement ring and wedding soldered together. One side of the ... A: This style of ring is quite familiar to me. I have seen many with years of wear and many with wear ... | |
| Accidentally cleaned silver with gold and gemstome cleaner | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I was browsing the internet for help and found your answer on gold being cleaned with silver ... A: Julie, it sounds like a light tarnish. A good chemically treated polishing cloth should take off ... | |
| Gold Hallmark Question | 6/20/2010 |
| Q: Can you tell me what the Hallmark LK18 means? I'm assuming 18 K gold, but just wanted to be sure. ... A: Actually, I cannot tell you for certain about these marks. Like you, I would believe it to be 18k as ... | |
| gold bracelet | 6/19/2010 |
| Q: i have just bought a 14k gold bracelet it as pat.dec.15.1920 &14k can you tell me why a piece of ... A: David, on some older pieces of jewelry I have seen a patent date. I cannot say if the mark refers ... | |
| important | 6/19/2010 |
| Q: i go tanning and my boyfriend bought me an engament ring from helberig the bigest dimoned turn blue ... A: Ashley, there is no way for me to tell if stones are diamonds or any other gem without having the ... | |
| re-plating old jewerly | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: I have several older rings that were gold plated. This has since worn off. I wonder if there is a ... A: Dianna, the gold plate can be done but is it worth it? A complete refinishing is needed first to ... | |
| Engagement Ring | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: My girlfriend just received her grandmothers wedding ring which I believe is made out of Platinum. ... A: The ring really needs to be seen by a reputable jeweler. In general, the fix is to take off the ... | |
| platinum vs palladium white gold, 1 more question | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: I wrote earlier about platinum vs palladium white gold- in terms of shine, durability, and mounting ... A: Palladium white is durable enough. I would not be overly concerned with that part. It does not bend ... | |
| platinum vs palladium white gold, 1 more question | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: I wrote earlier about platinum vs palladium white gold- in terms of shine, durability, and mounting ... A: Tia, I am here to answer both inquiries. You are one of the few questioners who is aware of ... | |
| Silver working | 6/10/2010 |
| Q: I am a custom pen maker and would like to experiment with rubbing silver dust into the open grain of ... A: I have not made pens but have made small tables and boxes of wood. For a long time I mostly finished ... | |
| black antiqueing | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: i have a yellow gold ring with black antiqueing in some of the reliefs that is getting worn how can ... A: John. Factories will use a chemical to color the gold surface, a black electroplate or a durable ... | |
| gold markings | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: i have a 10k gold opal ring that is stamped 1okp does that means it is gold plated A: Kay, that mark is a good one and not one to bring concern. The kp does NOT mean plated. What it ... | |
| platinum vs. white gold | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: My engagement ring is made of platinum. We are now shopping for wedding bands. Do I need to get the ... A: Marisa. Congratulations beforehand on the upcoming wedding! : ) In a single word, the long term ... | |
| Olympic Ring | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: My boyfriend ran track on the U.S.A. team in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, in which all of ... A: Toya. As rare as that ring is and the honor it represents, certainly the best of care is warranted. ... | |
| Rhodium coating/plating on vintage YELLOW gold ring | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: I have my mother's original engagement ring she received in 1938. IN 1998, I had it polished, a new ... A: What you ask is quite pertinent to the current trend which we have experienced of white jewelry and ... | |
| Palladium Wedding ring | 5/21/2010 |
| Q: my engagement ring is platinum and my wedding ring is palladium and diamond, we went with the ... A: rhodium plating is not needed unless you want the color to be the white color of rhodium. This is ... | |
| White Gold Ruby & Diamond Ring | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: I received a white gold ruby & diamond ring in July from my husband. In September one of the rubies ... A: I have not seen the ring but believe the company is being very unfair. Remind them of the stones ... | |
| Sizing Nightmare | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: I bought an 18k white gold ring a month ago. It needed to be sized down 1.25. It has been sized ... A: Cherrie, thanks for letting me know. If you want to rate the answer you may do that and if you need ... | |
| Sizing Nightmare | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: I bought an 18k white gold ring a month ago. It needed to be sized down 1.25. It has been sized ... A: Being a major chain does not assure fine craftsmanship. Yes, some do very good work. Some do not. ... | |
| stamping jewelry | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: I am having trouble stamping my pieces with my hallmark as well as the metal stamp. In one case I ... A: Nanette, I started to answer and have decided to wait for tomorrow evening. Tomorrow at work I can ... | |
| redoing oxidation | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: I have some David Yurman sterling silver (with some gold) rings that were sized by a jeweler and he ... A: Karen, certainly I will get back to you. Generally I try to answer the same day but personal events ... | |
| cracked shank | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I have an 18k gold diamond engagement ring (purchased 2000 so not that old) and the shank cracked ... A: Tracey, thank you for the reply. I answer this to say thanks but also because when I receive ... | |
| Vermeil | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a vermeil necklace (mesh shaped into a square chain. The gold flating has come off. Is ... A: The most reasonable way to restore the gold layer is to find a jeweler who will do gold plating. ... | |
| cracked shank | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I have an 18k gold diamond engagement ring (purchased 2000 so not that old) and the shank cracked ... A: Tracey, to truly have an idea of what may be going on with your ring I would need the ring in these ... | |
| melting silver | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I'm a chemistry teacher, and each year, we produce silver in a lab that we perform. Theoretically, ... A: I sure hope I can help with this. My use of a Bunsen burner is limited to many years ago. However, ... | |
| Serious problem with Engagement ring | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: My daughter was recently engaged and was given a lovely designer ring. The ring has a rose gold ... A: Barbara, this question tugs at my heart for your daughter. Please know, this is not the answer but a ... | |
| platinum | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: Good morning Thomas. I got a ring at an estate sale. I took it to a jeweler and he said it was ... A: Ray, platinum is marked with either numerals showing the parts per thousand of pure metal in the ... | |
| Melting Gold | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I'm planning on melting some old scrap gold jewelry both my wife and myself have had over the years, ... A: Jeff. Thanks for the question and glad to meet you. We have been to the UK once and if possible ... | |
| Boric acid phenomenon | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: This query came to me, and I have no idea as to the answer. Perhaps you can help. A young woman ... A: I hesitate to guess at this event in the beaker. I have not seen this sort of crystal formation ... | |
| How to make proper alloy of gold and nickle? | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: I want to make a white gold alloy of gold and nickle and want to make some jewelery of it but when i ... A: Rajesh, I apologize for the delay. I typed an answer to let you know I would answer today after ... | |
| diamond stamp? | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: what is the stamp mark for a real diamond set in silver? A: Adam, Thanks for this question. There are NO legal stamps for gemstones in jewelry. The Federal ... | |
| soldering silver | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: Do I need silver to solder a charm onto a silver bracelet or can I use lead-free solder. A: Lucy. We visited the UK in the fall season of 2008, spending slightly less than 3 weeks going from ... | |
| gold testing | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a concern, I bought two alike 3 color chains (white, red, and yellow)last week, when i ... A: I understand why you are concerned. I have seen only one gold chain attracted to a strong magnet in ... | |
| Cameo | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a cameo at an estate sale. The setting is marked E14k. Can I assume this is 14k gold ... A: Christy, you can assume the E14k means the metal quality is 14 karat gold. The E is not a defined ... | |
| best glues for CZ | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a solid plaster moulded statue that i would like to attach CZ stones to. I am trying to ... A: Jon T, I do apologize for being a day late with this answer. I am within the site guidelines but ... | |
| Diamond Ring | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: After my Mother's passing, I found what appeared to be a diamond ring in her belongings. We found ... A: Angie. Thank you for this question about the ring and special thanks for the very clear photo of ... | |
| GOLD RING | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a plain gold band with markings inside. Could you please tell me what they mean. SH 9 .375 Z ... A: Ann, thanks for this question. The 375 is most likely the metal quality, being 9 ct. In the USA we ... | |
| Beautiful CZ Ring Markings | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I believe my question is within the parameters you requested - if not, please disregard. I *think* ... A: Jan, I am glad you found a good one and it is gold. As for the 00, really I do not know what it ... | |
| setting a paraiba tourmaline | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I've bought a very beautiful paraiba tourmaline, pear shape, approx 6 carats. I've also had a ... A: the paraiba is a most beautiful gemstone! My suggestion is to find a higher end jewelry business ... | |
| hallmark | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: i have recently inherited a bangle in a rose gold colour,which has no hall marks but does have a 15 ... A: Steve, if the 15 is all you have, I fear this means nothing to me and likely has nothing to do with ... | |
| resizing ring from 71/4 to 5 | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: I want to purchase a Jade ring but it is a size 7 1/4 and I need it to be resized to 5. I want to ... A: Follow-up to Rhett: Rhett, thank you for the excellent ratings. This note is to say thanks and to ... | |
| Garnet Ring | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a garnet ring that is marked with CIC or CID 10 K. I know the 10K but never seen CIC. I ... A: I truly wish I could give you a source for and easy answer. Unfortunately, that is not readily ... | |
| pearl nachre | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a strand of excellent pearls with a heavy nachre on them and I am worried about ruining them. ... A: Elizabeth, you do well to not spray on hair spray or perfume while wearing the pearls. I am happy! ... | |
| broken Chinese jade bracelet | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I returnedrfrom Beijing a month ago with a beautiful jade brAcelet It is light green, in one solid ... A: oh that the drop onto a tile floor had not happened! Yes, there is hope and a solution using the ... | |
| resizing | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I have recently had some of my mums ashes set into glass and mounted in a sterling silver ring. I ... A: Lou, whether or not the engraved portion may be saved depends on the location on the inside of the ... | |
| Pave Cubic Zirconia Cleaning | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: I have a pave sterling silver cubic zirconia wedding band. I have had it for about 4 years. I use to ... A: I am sorry you are having problems getting your ring clean. I know the ring means a lot to you and ... | |
| Follow-up to Platinum vs. Palladium | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: Please forgive me in advance, as I am new to this site and your forum - so perhaps you have recently ... A: at the moment I am an employee of a jewelry store and do not own my business. For that reason, I ... | |
| Follow-up to Platinum vs. Palladium | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: Please forgive me in advance, as I am new to this site and your forum - so perhaps you have recently ... A: Barry, I do appreciate you follow-up. Too often I hear little or nothing back from the one asking ... | |
| Pouring pure gold into 1 oz graphite ingot | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I have refined aprox. 20 ozt.of gold from scrap jewelry using the aqua regia method and precipitated ... A: David, graphite can carry away a lot of heat quickly. While I can hold a charcoal block while ... | |
| Difference between gold-layered(GL), gold-filled(GF), and gold-plated(GP). | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: Is it true that gold-filled and gold-layered look like gold and retain their color and shine while ... A: Emeka, thanks for this question. Generally it is true that gold filled items keep the gold layer ... | |
| Molten Silver poured into liquids or damp objects | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: I have been experimenting with silver for a few weeks now. I tried pouring some molten silver in ... A: Esteban, graphite forms come in different compositions. Some will take the heat just fine while some ... | |
| Molten Silver poured into liquids or damp objects | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I have been experimenting with silver for a few weeks now. I tried pouring some molten silver in ... A: Eteban, you are having fun, yes? I expect you are. Shapes which come with a surprise are fun and ... | |
| Follow-up to Platinum vs. Palladium | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: Please forgive me in advance, as I am new to this site and your forum - so perhaps you have recently ... A: Your question is well timed and I am certainly very appreciative of the link to my answer from a few ... | |
| Replacing Gem in Necklace | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a necklace with 5 mystic fire topaz gems in it. I have lost one of the gems from the necklace ... A: Erica, there should be little if any problem getting the stone replaced. First, to save wasted ... | |
| fire damaged gold | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: gday thomas my mothers house burnt down in a bushfire and a lot of her gold jewellery melted in ... A: Marko, thanks for this question. I am sorry about the fire, traumatic as such an event generally can ... | |
| Coloring copper | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: I do a lot of pounded copper jewelry snd I knoe there is a way to color it by using s small torch ... A: coloring copper with heat depends on the colors of oxidation of the copper, the tarnish formed when ... | |
| wearing titanium with white gold | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: I have an 18ct white gold engagement ring and am now looking at wedding rings. I would like to know ... A: Helen, I have not had direct experience with wearing of titanium and 18kt gold together. None of ... | |
| gold | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a bracelet that is marked 750 14 AR. Does that mean it is 18k gold or gold plated or what ? ... A: Darlene. Good news! I didn't think the 14 with no "K" had a meaning on quality but it added ... | |
| Toggle Clasp | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: Are there toggle clasps made with stainless steel? I have searched and searched. My boyfriend works ... A: Cindy. I have not seen toggle clasps made of steel which are available for sale as a clasp set ... | |
| gold | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a bracelet that is marked 750 14 AR. Does that mean it is 18k gold or gold plated or what ? ... A: The marking on your bracelet is quite confusing. The numerical mark for 18k is 750 and I see where ... | |
| melting gemstones | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: i am trying to find out at what Heat temperature do gems like blue topaz, peridot and other ... A: Sean, this is an interesting question and at first thought I can see where it would seem possible. ... | |
| Jade Bangle size | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: I purchase a few jade bangles on Ebay from dealers in China. But when I received them, they are ... A: Jean, thank you for this question. Unfortunately, jade cannot be stretched. Jade is a mineral ... | |
| threader earrings | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I had a pair of the shorter threader earrings that had a solid heart at each end. You unscrewed one ... A: Threaders are neat and I have not seen the ones with a screw on attachment for the back part. The ... | |
| Cleaning a ring that has been sandblasted | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a ring that was sandblasted to give a matte finish. It is tarnishing and looks dirty. How do ... A: I have a question before I answer yours. If you have opportunity today or this evening to use the ... | |
| gold plating | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: My wife bought a piece of costume jewelry (a pendant depicting houses in St. John's NFLD on a 16" ... A: Eugene, if the item is silver a gold plate will be relatively easy to do. You can call around to ... | |
| Curing Brand New Melting Dishes | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I am new to metal casting. I had some scrap silver that I was hoping to cast in cuttlebone, but I'm ... A: I am surprised the torch method did not work for you. If the melting dishes you have are truly made ... | |
| Jewelry Cleaning | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: The gas line to my house was hit by a foundation repair company. It exploded and burned to the ... A: First, I am sorry for your loss. I believe there is a chance of recovering some of the jewelry. If ... | |
| Platinum marking? | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a pin, that was my grandmother's, that I know is at least pre-1969. Was too young before ... A: I have a pin, that was my grandmother's, that I know is at least pre-1969. Was too young before ... | |
| 14k deco bracelet | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: I am sending a photo of the 14k stamp on this piece. Next to it is a sideways W. Does this just mean ... A: Well, your second question came as I was sending a response to the first! The symbol of a sideways ... | |
| Platinum marking? | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a pin, that was my grandmother's, that I know is at least pre-1969. Was too young before ... A: Elizabeth, thanks for this question and especially for the nice photo. Jewelry is difficult at best ... | |
| Rhodium plating on yellow gold | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: I recently had my 14K yellow gold diamond ring rhodium plated by recommendation of the jeweler. I ... A: First, let's talk about the diamonds. Most stones are just fine left in a ring when rhodium plating ... | |
| metal quality | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: if a ring says it is 14kt gold (yellow) but the inside band say 1-30 rgp is this a bad qaulity. Says ... A: I really need to have the ring in my hands to examine or test more to know for certain what is ... | |
| Rose Gold Plated Watch | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: Hey Thomas, I bought a rose gold plated watch and it's really nice but after a few wears it ... A: Christina, I know of no home plating kits and even if offered a "safe" kit would not provide a ... | |
| setting a stone | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: If I have a setting that is 20x20mm can a stone that measures 18.8x18.2 mm be set into that setting? ... A: So much as to whether a stone will fit a setting depends on the type of setting. Next, it depends on ... | |
| Clear Nail Polish | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: If I were to put clear nail polish on some silvertone rings, will it last longer and not tarnish? A: If the rings are cleaned neatly with alcohol to remove any fingerprints, etc., which could lead to ... | |
| braid on wedding band - strand breaks | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a wedding band bought about 9 years ago. It is a mens band with 2 gold wires woven together ... A: Dave, I am sorry you are having these problems with the woven wire on your wedding band. I had a ... | |
| platinum prong repair | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 2 carat pear shape diamond set in platinum with side trillions - the prong on one trillion ... A: My first suggestion is this: Please take your ring off to clean and check all stones for security. ... | |
| azurite ring | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: The polished shaped azurite stone in a silver ring setting has fallen off, luckily immediately ... A: Judy. I believe the best cement to use is a two part epoxy cement. One I prefer is Hughes 330, ... | |
| black titanium | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: i am very new in jewelry making. im a sculptor who has ventured into jewelry making. anyway, i am ... A: I do not believe you will fine classes devoted to either titanium or tungsten carbide for jewelry ... | |
| diamond jewelry markings | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: i have a sterling silver cross pendant w/ clear gems. would there be a specific mark on the back ... A: The markings on the ring are all it legally needs: Manufacturer and metal. I believe FAS is for the ... | |
| chipped colombian emerald | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: Yesterday I went to my local jeweler to pick up 2 rings I had loose gemstones set into. After I got ... A: I dearly do not like to see this damage or hear of it happening. I will tell you one thing right up ... | |
| Tanzanite chlorine exposure | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: I was stupidly wearing my yellow gold tanzanite & diamond ring and dipped my hand into "super ... A: Linda, my best research tells me that pool water will not harm or etch the tanzanite gemstone. Yes, ... | |
| melting gold | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: Greetings Thomas I hope you can shed some light on the process of melting gold. Can I just put some ... A: Cliff, how and what you melt depends on the reason for melting the gold in the first place. To take ... | |
| unplated diamond stub earrings | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: What the difference with plated and unplated diamonds stub earrings. In other words which one is ... A: Naomi, thanks for this question. Which is better, plated or non-plated earrings? If you mean ... | |
| Gold | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: My husband has been given a ring by a friend who has since returned to the Middle East. Although he ... A: Shirley, thank you for this question. I believe the answer is an easy one for me and that is a ... | |
| my platinum diamond engagement ring | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: My fiance and I purchased a beautiful ring from a very distinguished up scale store this Christmas ... A: There is a strong trend in ring design for many smaller accent diamonds on the sides and shoulders ... | |
| Ring sizing and diamond loss?? | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: I really need my engagement/wedding ring sized down quite a bit. I have lost a lot of weight because ... A: Mia, I just finished answering a question about a new ring which was losing stones. I can understand ... | |
| real gold or fake | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: Thomas, I was give a bracelet by a relative , I was told it tested positive for gold, but the only ... A: Lisa, unfortunately with only 90% as a marking I do not have enough information to say with any ... | |
| Ring Repair | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: My mother recently passed on her wedding band to me. However, when she still wore it she began ... A: Lena. If is is gold this ring can most likely be repaired and sized to your finger with little ... | |
| diamond eternity band | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: i am considering the purchase of a diamond eternity band, 3MM 1.0 carat from a very well known ... A: Debbie, purchasing the ring from a very well known jeweler and the offer you plan to give for the ... | |
| old diamond ring | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: My grandmother died and left me her ring. Old miners cut and 4 fine fulcuts. I took it in to get ... A: Marsha, this is a difficult situation. Do you have a receipt from the jeweler who sized the ring ... | |
| steel clatter ring | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I just bought very cool steel Irish clatter rings, knowing nothing about steel. I ... A: Kelley, steel is not properly sized using a jeweler's torch. The only reasonable way I know to ... | |
| ring repair | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible to see one of the illusion plates? I have an antique ring that was altered terribly ... A: Many sorts of prong and setting designs are given common names describing the shape or general ... | |
| ring repair | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible to see one of the illusion plates? I have an antique ring that was altered terribly ... A: Michele, I have two links given below to a major supplier of jewelry findings (parts) to the jewelry ... | |
| marking inside ring | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: my husband received a ring 25 years ago on the inside the marking resembles a c inside of a c and ... A: Unfortunately the information from inside the ring is not enough to determine the metal quality of ... | |
| stone setting | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: I am very interested in bead and pave stone setting. I would like some ideas of stone bead and pave ... A: I am sorry I do not speak the language of Peru. I also apolpgize that I cannot teach you more of ... | |
| Really need help on finding an earring | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have lost one of a pair of earrings. I was wondering if yuo could help me try to find where I ... A: Sara, trying to find a match is almost impossible unless you know the manufacturer of the earrings ... | |
| diamond tennis necklace | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: Is there a particular reason that a diamond tennis necklace won't lay flat - it rolls to the sides. ... A: Patty, I would likely give several explanations and still might not get the right one. Generally, ... | |
| platinum | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: my ring says novell PLAT or the v in novell is a heart shape i cant tell. can you tell me what kind ... A: Matt, I went to the Novell web site but it did not specify the quality of platinum in their jewelry. ... | |
| palladium | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know if it is ok the wear palladium and white gold together. Thank you A: I would have no problems if my wife chose to wear white gold and platinum on the same finger. The ... | |
| Stainless Steel | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: What solder do I need to join stainless steel to sterling silver and stainless steel to gold i.e, ... A: If trying to join stainless steel and sterling the melting temperature of the silver solder will ... | |
| cloudy sterling silver | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I bought several new pieces of inexpensive sterling silver jewelry on ebay recently. A couple of ... A: Esther, thanks for this question. Full strength household rubbing alcohol does not cause ... | |
| fake antique finish on silver | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased a sterling silver filigree ring, and it has a fake antique finish (black paint ... A: Mandy, there should be no problem doing what you want. If you can try a solvent to dissolve away the ... | |
| QUALITY MARKS | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I HAVE A 0.5 CT TENNIS BRACELET MARKED 825 OG WHAT DOES THE 825 OG STAND FOR A: Amanda, the marks you gave me do not match the standard ones for metal quality in the United States. ... | |
| platinum hallmarking | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: im wondering if you could help me.i have recently just purchased a platinum diamond ring,however now ... A: Julie. Thanks for this question. First, take a look at the web page of the link below. This is ... | |
| Can a diamond be set higher? | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I recieved a very nice pave setting engagement ring with a 1 ct. center diamond that was from my ... A: Jess, this is a good question. First, consider how high you want the stone to be and ask a jeweler. ... | |
| wooden engagement ring | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I thinking about making a wooden engagement ring for my girlfriend and would like to mount a ... A: I thinking about making a wooden engagement ring for my girlfriend and would like to mount a ... | |
| Rhodium plating | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I recently took my white gold rings in to be replated for the first time. I've been wearing them a ... A: Lori, I am glad you let me know what is going on. Generally a beaded (milgrain) edge is part of a ... | |
| Rhodium plating | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: I recently took my white gold rings in to be replated for the first time. I've been wearing them a ... A: Lori, thanks for this timely question. This gives me a chance to clear up at least one ... | |
| marking on handed down diamond ring | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a diamond ring that was my mothers. It has a marking inside the band-14K IGE. Can you tell me ... A: Bob, as stated in instructions just above the box where you type your question, I do not research ... | |
| platinum marking | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering about a ring marking... If it is a maker's mark, I apologize in advance for asking, ... A: Drew, the meaning of markings vary from country to country. Your ring is marked as would be suited ... | |
| Etching silver with silver nitrate and a E3machine | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I hope you can answer a question for me. I'm interested in taking a jewelry / metal etching class, ... A: I have always believed both chemicals to be poisonous and silver nitrate also capable of causing ... | |
| Platinum Diamond Ring Setting Re-work | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I inherited a new 1.16 carat round diamond platinum (95% platinum) engagement ring where the diamond ... A: Anna, if the work is done properly and the operator makes certain to have a solid weld all along the ... | |
| Platinum Diamond Ring Setting Re-work | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: I inherited a new 1.16 carat round diamond platinum (95% platinum) engagement ring where the diamond ... A: Anna. Thanks for this question. To have the ring made again only to correct this off center diamond ... | |
| Sizing | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: We purchased a lady's platinum & diamond ring. The center of the ring is set with a .70cts round ... A: Jeff, honestly without seeing the setting of the smaller diamonds (other than the channel set ones ... | |
| Quad Diamond Ring Setting | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: !!) I found a really pretty Past, Present & Future quad princess cut ring that princess cut diamonds ... A: Theresa, the answer to your question varies somewhat according to the quality and actual setting ... | |
| do you think this is of any value | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: 7grams)rubbing liquid foundation on arm and dusting with powder then rubbing it over to see if it ... A: Rhona, thanks for this question. We visited the UK last autumn and the only regret was not having ... | |
| Notching and Alternative Metals | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: What size drill bit do I need to create a notch for a peg setting and does it matter what the size ... A: Theresa, most peg settings have a peg close to 1 mm square. I like to use a drill slightly smaller ... | |
| metals and rings | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I've been working with wire and jump rings to make jewelry for my wife and some of her friends. I'd ... A: John, here are two primary resources. One is a supplier and the other is a magazine in which you may ... | |
| diamond ring | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I inherited a diamond ring that is stamped PT90. Does that mean it is platinum? Thank you. A: Michelle. The normal markings for platinum include Platinum, Plat, and PT. When it is only an ... | |
| Argentium staining fingers blue | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I am a jeweler and have just been contacted by a customer from London Great Britain. She had me ... A: --------Thomas is back------------------------------------------------- Pal, I am back at the ... | |
| Argentium staining fingers blue | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: I am a jeweler and have just been contacted by a customer from London Great Britain. She had me ... A: this is not your answer. I will try to get a suitable answer to you tonight. I have not heard of ... | |
| 14k gold ring | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: Do you know what 14k ev2 means. This is stamped on a diamond and emerald ring. Thank you A: Brenda, the only part of the stampings for which I can provide help is the 14k, which is a legal ... | |
| Melting Silver ARound Gemstones | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: What is the process called when you want to frame a gemstones in silver and how do you do it A: Miriam. A gemstone may be framed in silver or another metal in a multitude of ways. The question is ... | |
| platinum | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: my wife has a high school class ring we think its platinum but not sure it has accr and a 3 inside a ... A: Steven, I am not able to tell you what the accr and 3 inside a circle means. I can tell you if a ... | |
| kiln firing stones | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: If i wanted to fire something in a kiln with stones in it, how hot can it get?.. would they ... A: Shelly. Thanks for the question. The best I can say about how hot can it get is included in these ... | |
| value of ruby | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: in 1988 i found a ruby in n. carolina.today i took it to a jeweler and asked about it.they couldnt ... A: ANSWER: Mike, quite honestly it is not possible for me to evaluate a rough gemstone material without ... | |
| value of ruby | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: in 1988 i found a ruby in n. carolina.today i took it to a jeweler and asked about it.they couldnt ... A: Mike, quite honestly it is not possible for me to evaluate a rough gemstone material without having ... | |
| Where can a student buy gold/platinum? | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: My daughter is a student at SCAD. She will be taking a course in working with gold and platinum ... A: Steve, please give me a day or two to come up with names and addresses. I will need to go by my ... | |
| Aztec Ring? | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I purchased this ring at a flea market about 15 years ago. Just recently, through cleaning, I ... A: Robert, I have to answer your kind comment because the allexperts machine will think I have a ... | |
| Aztec Ring? | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: I purchased this ring at a flea market about 15 years ago. Just recently, through cleaning, I ... A: Robert, thanks for this question. Special thanks for the nice and clear photo. I would imagine the ... | |
| platinum | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: If I read correctly- platinum made with cobalt will not be magnetic. Is there platinum made with ... A: Renee. First of all, I do wish for you a very fine holiday season and coming new year. May needed ... | |
| pearl finish | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: I was given a Mikimoto pearl ring that is about 45 years old. Sadly, one side of the pearl must ... A: Cheryl, you can be proud to have this old ring in your possession. I imagine it is lovely except for ... | |
| Jostens jewelry | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a very old ring that my Great Aunt got from Jostens when she worked there as a gift for ... A: Tracy, the only way to get the ring properly appraised is to take it to a certified gemologist ... | |
| gold ring | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: My husband had a gold ring made for me , it has diamonds and is heavy. This is the only ring I have ... A: I must ask you to be patient for a day. We are getting right into the middle of Thanksgiving stuff ... | |
| pearl enhancer findings | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a pearl that is about 14mm. It's shape is kind of like round bottomed strawberry in that the ... A: Rita, I certainly appreciate you question and my imagination shows a fine piece of jewelry when all ... | |
| Pink Sapphires and Sparex Acid | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: I am a jewelry student working on my undergraduate exhibition. I have some rough pink sapphires cast ... A: Erin, you have intrigued but likely stumped me on this one. Please be kind in any rating you might ... | |
| is my crucifix 14KG? | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: My husband just gave me a crucifix on a chain. The chain is tagged as 14KG, and so is the piece that ... A: Mary, jewelry is being manufactured in many countries in the current market. Turkey is exporting a ... | |
| Plating a metal ring | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: When I was pregnant, I gained some weight and by my 6th month, my wedding ring wouldn't fit anymore. ... A: Grace, I understand the value of this costume jewelry ring to you. Yes, it does help represent a ... | |
| Gold filled quality marking | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: On the flex-let band of a benrus ladies watch the markings are:- One end: 1/20-10KOGF.TOP Other end: ... A: Michael, metal quality marks vary somewhat from country to country and I am not an expert on ... | |
| Dress studs marking | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I have inherited a set of dress studs. They are marked SIL. What does that mean. A: Unfortunately, the answer will be not directly to the meaning since the mark SIL is not a recognized ... | |
| Horn Lacquer | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: just read your very interesting answer on protecting patinas - I searched for suppliers of the 'Horn ... A: Finola, what you will need is a lacquer made for metals. A colorless lacquer for wood might work ... | |
| Lustrium | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: Which metal is denser, lustrium or gold? In other words, does a ring made of lustrium weigh more or ... A: Sam, this is an excellent question. Although I do not know the density (specific gravity) of ... | |
| 9ct "solid gold nuggets" | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: Is it not fraudulent to claim a 9ct man made charm nugget as "Solid Gold?" Isn't the pure gold ... A: Juanita, unfortunately I am not familiar with the legal allowances in describing gold items in ... | |
| Discolored gold and platinum | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I soaked 2 gold rings with stones, 1 gold necklace w/ gold charm. 1 gold necklace w/ 3 small ... A: Janet. I believe you have some backing up to do, perhaps wishing you had not soaked the jewelry in ... | |
| white gold with platinum mount | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I am buying a white gold solitaire diamond ring with a platinum mount, and I was told that the ring ... A: Judy, I would not shy away from the platinum setting. When a sturdy design, platinum prong settings ... | |
| When an old ring gets polished...... | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: I had a ruby replaced from a vintage rose gold ring that had been my grandmother's. I was surprised ... A: Wendy, this is a very appropriate question. You see, I have not had many questions on this web site ... | |
| White Lustrium | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: My daughter has a white lustrium class ring. She tried to clean it with Tarnex...AAAAGGGGHHH! Now ... A: Nancy, with the higher prices of precious metals traditionally used in class rings, manufacturers ... | |
| Ring Marks | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: Received 2 rings from China today and decided to loop them to see what the carat weight was and ... A: Thea, thanks for this fine question. Nowadays, it seems more and more people are concerned with the ... | |
| 18 k White Gold, Palladium or Platinum | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: There is so much information and different opinions out there re: these metals. I am more concerned ... A: Crystal, I answered a question similar to this one a while back. If I can find it on the net I will ... | |
| wooden engagement ring | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I thinking about making a wooden engagement ring for my girlfriend and would like to mount a ... A: Jeff, this ring should prove to be an interesting project. I believe a sturdy earring stud will ... | |
| white gold brooch - tarnish? | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I have this vintage white gold brooch that is set with sapphires and omc diamonds. When I bought it ... A: Ines, thanks for the question. I have unfortunately been delayed a day due to a problem with my ... | |
| ring marks | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: Please can you tell me if my ring is white gold or platinum by its markings, B&N 750 thankyou A: Tina, thanks for this question. Generally the markings in the UK are quite specific, if the item is ... | |
| goldplating too gold | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a cheap ring that I really liked the style of, so I recently had it gold plated by a local ... A: Lin. This is a good question. But, I don't think my answer will be the most pleasing to you. I ... | |
| 417k gold ? | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: I saw a gold bracelet for sale that had a hallmark of "417k" on it. What does this hallmark mean? ... A: Cynthia. Thanks for this question. In the USA, gold items are marked with either a karat stamp or ... | |
| RING STAMP | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE A RING IN SIDE ITS STAMPED 10K RJW I WAS WONDERING WHAT IT MEANT? PLEASE E-MAIL ME WITH A ... A: Eric, thanks for the question. Your ring is stamped as is legally required by the National Gold ... | |
| Ring Sizeing | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: My name is Christy and I have a silver Onex ring that I just love and I need to enlarge the size ... A: Christy, see the bottom for added information from today, 10-22-09.Hello, My name is Christy and I ... | |
| buffing sterling | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I make jewelry out of my home. Just getting back into it after several years. I purchased new ... A: Mary. I can hear your frustration with a deadline approaching. Sterling is about the most ... | |
| childs third grade test | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: My daughter forgot her book to find some answers for a test in the morning, have two questions left, ... A: quite clearly your daughter would learn more of this by looking it up herself and my answers may be ... | |
| Repairing Stainless Steel Cross | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: My mother in-law was given a stainless steel necklace with a cross for her confirmation from her ... A: Justin you have pretty well figured out the problems of this repair but maybe I can help. I will ... | |
| Diamond Ring Markings | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a somewhat vintage ring that has the following inside the band, can you please tell me what ... A: Heather, the best I can tell from the markings is that the 14k EV matches the standards for the ... | |
| Red gold | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help me out. Im a jeweller in New Zealand. I make Mokume Gane. The problem Im having ... A: Follow up--------------------------------------Last from Thomas--------------------------------- ... | |
| marks on cross | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: Can you tell me about the marks on this cross? There is a star 140 AR in one section and 750 in ... A: Mark, thanks for the fine photo. The photo makes a huge difference since jewelry is such a visual ... | |
| Ring Sizeing | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: My name is Christy and I have a silver Onex ring that I just love and I need to enlarge the size ... A: Christy. This is not your answer but is a request from me to you for a little more information. ... | |
| white gold necklace | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I bought a white gold necklace for my girlfriend costing about one hundred and seventy pounds. The ... A: Terrence, any skilled jeweler who does jewelry repair work should be able to repair the necklace. ... | |
| Double-sided Omega Won't Lay Flat | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: Thomas: Hi! I love my new white gold/yellow gold 16" omega but it keeps flipping up. What can I ... A: Patt, the basic problem some ladies have with two sided omega style necklaces is based in the very ... | |
| markings on ring | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: i purchased an eternity ring on Ebay in the UK, it was advertised as 14k white gold with a full ... A: Your information is pretty clear judging from the many pieces of jewelry I have seen made in China. ... | |
| Red gold | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help me out. Im a jeweller in New Zealand. I make Mokume Gane. The problem Im having ... A: Izaak, I always appreciate questions from jewelers. In some cases I am the one who learns and in ... | |
| Mothers eternity ring | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: My mother's eternity ring has recently been passed to me. It has three small diamonds in the white ... A: Norma. I will attempt an answer but too many parts are missing to be able to be very accurate with ... | |
| Palladium Questions | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking to buy an engagement ring but I have a couple questions before I pull the trigger... 1. ... A: Luke. This is an excellent question. Let me ask you a question for yourself: Why are you ... | |
| pin | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a flower brooch with seed pearls and what I think are small diamonds.On the back it is marked ... A: Dena, Thanks for the question. The markings on your brooch follow exactly the legal requirements ... | |
| training for jewelry | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: My name is Meera Choudhury (age 34), residing in Delhi, India. I have completed a diploma course in ... A: I thank you for this interesting question. The most interesting part is the effort you have made in ... | |
| RINGS | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE 3 RINGS A FRIEND OF MINE DONE A OLD TRICK TO SEE IF THEY WERE REAL AND SHE SAID THEY WERE . ... A: at the bottom of the page below your question is a place ATTACH IMAGE. Click that and a place opens ... | |
| black rhodium platig | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I purchased a 'cheap' pair of pierced earrings, and I want to convert them to clips. However, I ... A: Cynthia, thanks for this question. Plating services are geared to large jobs, meaning large ... | |
| liver of sulpher | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I just read the last question on liver of sulpher, I have used this product in the past, a long time ... A: Sue. I sure hope this will help. Jewelers refer to the chemical as Live of Sulfur but other names ... | |
| Removing adhesive from gold tone watch | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a resale watch to give as a gift for a friend. It is in excellent to mint ... A: Carol, thanks for the question and the fine photo. Photos always help since much of jewelry is a ... | |
| letters and numbers | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: inside ring letters KzP 750 what dose it mean or K P 750 A: Mary. I do not know what the ring looks like and that makes it more difficult. However, the ... | |
| What does the jewelry marking 325 China mean? | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: Recently I bought a bracelet (and an estate sale) - I thought it was simply lovely. Once I got it ... A: Marina. As we both know, estate does not mean old. Items in an estate sale might be antiques or ... | |
| resizing/hallmark | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: I recently got engaged, And my ring was purchased in spain. I live in Australia. I needed to get my ... A: I wish this removal of the markings had not happened and can understand the value of such. A ... | |
| 14 K gold chains | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: I have seven gold chains all marked 14K. I was in need of cash so brought two of them to jeweler ... A: Laurie, there is a simple answer: Go somewhere else. If more than one other place says the chains ... | |
| lost weight. rings are too big now. | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: Since getting engaged and married 11 years ago, I've gained about 12 pounds and then most recently ... A: Thomas is back with a follow-up-------------------------------------------------- Diane, I sent ... | |
| setting gemstones. | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: Anu here.I have been checking out a pear shaped amethyst on ebay.The seller says it is vvs1 and ... A: Anu, do not quickly come to the conclusion that loose stones are far cheaper than set stones. In ... | |
| 14 ksp | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a ring with 14ksp engraved. What does this mean? A: Art, from my reading of the national act for marking precious metals, a piece of jewelry does not ... | |
| silver jewelry | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I accidentally put my Tiffany silver bracelet in the jewelry cleaner for gold. I only had it in ... A: Emily, sorry about your Tiffany silver. Generally what I see from Tiffany is not plated and is ... | |
| My white gold ring band is not as shiny as before after downsizing | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: One week after I got my 14k white gold diamond/sapphire ring, I took it for a jeweler to resize it ... A: Carole, this is a long one! Here we go and I do hope it helps. Please consider what I say in looking ... | |
| Platinum reworked into wedding bands? | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a question for you if I could, please. I have a platinum or white gold (not sure - all I know ... A: Ana, Thomas Is Back in the Building-------------------------------------------------- : ) I ... | |
| My white gold ring band is not as shiny as before after downsizing | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: One week after I got my 14k white gold diamond/sapphire ring, I took it for a jeweler to resize it ... A: Carole, there is no reason at all for your band not to be just as shiny as before. I have been ... | |
| Engraving | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a stainless steel ring that I had some engraving put on to. I wish I could see the writing ... A: Audrey, how well an coloring the engraved areas will work depends on the depth of the engraving. ... | |
| Gold Marking | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: What does 14K OII mean when engraved on gold ring with diamonds? A: Heather. Thanks for the question. I receive many questions about the stampings in rings and on other ... | |
| settings | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: Two questions for you... 1. I have a 5x7 mm sapphire that comes up a little short on on the 7 ... A: First, I assume the sapphire is a faceted gemstone and will need a seat cut into the bezel. In that ... | |
| ring sizing vurses metal gauge | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: I have 18 gauge argentium/white palladium mokume sheet. I want to make a size 7 / 9mm wide ring. ... A: Generally, I try to go a bit over size then cut out what is needed to make it on the correct size. ... | |
| Removing rhodium plating redux | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: On 5/26/2006 you answered a question about removing rhodium plating on silver. I was hoping you had ... A: Ray, perhaps the best solution is not to do any repairs on items which are rhodium plated and made ... | |
| Rhodium plating | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I have two questions: 1) When a a ring is dipped in rhodium how long do you dip it for to get the ... A: Zane, you are one of the rare questioners who asks about the process of rhodium plating. Sure, ... | |
| metal quality marks :) | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I bumped into this site, trying to find out what kind of markings i have on a necklace i received as ... A: Unfortunately personal issues have taken time here and I did not get back to you today. I write now ... | |
| dipped gold | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I want to know how to hand dip jewelry in gold A: Leslie, the word "dip" is commonly used to refer to jewelry plated with another metal. When it ... | |
| Gold Ring | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: What does it mean when inside the ring it says "R.S.C. 18k GF" ? ANSWER: Hi, Tracy. Thanks for ... A: Tracy, I will speak for jewelry marked according to standards in the U.S.A. as your question appears ... | |
| Gold Ring | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: What does it mean when inside the ring it says "R.S.C. 18k GF" ? ANSWER: Hi, Tracy. Thanks for ... A: Tracy, I cannot guess about the stone. A jeweler will need to see the ring to confirm what I have ... | |
| Gold Ring | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: What does it mean when inside the ring it says "R.S.C. 18k GF" ? A: Tracy. Thanks for sending in your question. I suppose the markings for gold and precious metals are ... | |
| bleached ring | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a question about 14k gold rings that were bleached. I am not a person AT ALL savvy on ... A: Laurie, I had forgotten you said the rings were yellow. Certainly that eliminates any rhodium plate ... | |
| bleached ring | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a question about 14k gold rings that were bleached. I am not a person AT ALL savvy on ... A: Laurie, what is called commonly as "dipping" refers to electroplate of the ring. Generally, that is ... | |
| bleached ring | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a question about 14k gold rings that were bleached. I am not a person AT ALL savvy on ... A: Laurie, bleach is a major culprit in damaging jewelry and is especially bad for white gold. What ... | |
| Pearl Earring | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a pearl earring that was inset in silver and diamonds. There was only one pearl and it just ... A: Krystal, generally department store jewelry departments do not have repair services at the store. ... | |
| matte silver--very, very matte! | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I am so greatful to have found you--and on my first try!! I bought a silver ring and was in love ... A: Maxine, unfortunately I cannot accept work through this sight. I have worked with a few questioners ... | |
| A chip in the gold of a ring | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a ring given to me by my girlfriend it is 9ct gold plated waves that sit on a stirling silver ... A: Garath, if the plate surface of gold is chipped, this is a hard plate with likely another metal ... | |
| How can you tell Platinum from sterling silver or white gold? | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a large filigreed cameo that was my grandmothers. The story is, it is platinum. How do you ... A: unless you have experience with all three metals all will be guessing and could definitely be ... | |
| platinum/tanzanite | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: My sister purchased an emerald cut tanzanite on a Caribbean cruise. She later bought a platinum ... A: George, the problem is not only the insurance. You have to also consider what a jeweler might face ... | |
| CZ, Super Glue, And Acetone | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: I was working on a school project and got superglue onto the tiny cz stones on my white gold ring. ... A: Amanda. Thanks for this question. From the first time someone glued their fingers together with ... | |
| Diamond Fractures Under Prongs | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Thomas, My wife has a 1.54 carat diamond solitare ring. Recently, it was loose around the prongs, ... A: Felix. Thank you for this question. First of all, look closely at the stone to be certain both ... | |
| No stamp. | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: I was engaged a year ago and had diamonds from ring I inherited from my grandmother reset on a size ... A: Elle, I quite honestly do not believe a well known jewelry business who is also quite willing to ... | |
| Silver oxidation | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I read your answer to Kelly about how to remove oxidation from her silver ring. You did an ... A: Cheryl, the basic and most common chemical for creating a dark patina on silver alloys is Liver of ... | |
| Stainless steel toggle clasp | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a stainless steel charm bracelet which I would like to repair. I've brought it to several ... A: Michelle, your photos are quite clear and show exactly what the problem is with your broken ... | |
| What does this symbol (WGP) mean? | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: Could you please tell me what the WGP means on this jewelry description? 18K WGP PENDANT JEWELRY 1 ... A: Anita, thank you for the very fine photo. Moldavite is very interesting material, considering its ... | |
| schooling | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: I wish to find a teacher or school that teaches gem cutting and jewelery making design ect A: Jerry, I have your question and will write an answer tomorrow evening with more time to think about ... | |
| Pewter Metal Necklace Fix | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a very important and sentimental necklace that just recently broken. The ring attached to the ... A: Julian, you will see below why I asked the shape of the Mary pendant. I would not attempt to solder ... | |
| gold chain | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: I SEEM TO REMEMBER BEING TOLD THAT ADDING SOME TYPE OF OIL TO A CHAIN HELPS IN UNTANGLING IT. IF ... A: If any lubricant is going to help untangle a fine chain, it would be of only very slight help. It is ... | |
| casting in gold | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: I belong to a lapidary club and started to learn about casting silver and tried to cast a gold ring ... A: Jacky. Thanks for this question. It is nice to get a question from someone trying to do the work ... | |
| diamond extractions | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: I have just recently opened a pawn shop. I have been receiving plenty of scrap gold, much of it with ... A: Jonathon, some years ago during a previous "gold rush" I had an arrangement with a friend who was ... | |
| question about chemical burn on gold necklace | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help me or direct me to someone who can. I left overnight a 14k yellow gold solid ... A: Jimmie, I appreciate photos but in this case I don't believe that will help. Combine cameras, ... | |
| Flaws in Blue Sapphire | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I bought a 5.1ct Light Blue Sapphire gemstone and got studded in the ring with the stone open on one ... A: Deep, before I attempt to answer in some way, please tell me more. Use the follow-up to get back ... | |
| question about chemical burn on gold necklace | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help me or direct me to someone who can. I left overnight a 14k yellow gold solid ... A: Jimmie, I know of no chemicals in those cleansers which will leave permanent damage to the gold ... | |
| gold vermeil over silver | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1940's gold vermeil over silver bracelet by Matl ( a mexican maestro ).. It is composed of ... A: ANSWER: Irene, the real problem with any gold plated items including those made of precious metals ... | |
| gold vermeil over silver | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1940's gold vermeil over silver bracelet by Matl ( a mexican maestro ).. It is composed of ... A: Irene, the real problem with any gold plated items including those made of precious metals such as ... | |
| ring markings | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: i have been left a ring its got a ruby stone with 8 little diamonds around it but im unsure about ... A: Samantha, your ring is stamped with hallmarks for metal quality and apparently also a maker's mark. ... | |
| amber necklace | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: I forgot to remove my amber necklace before swimming laps and it is now cloudy and dull. Can this ... A: Karen, your question appears easy enough but leaves me with some questions. Is your necklace amber ... | |
| under gallery | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: A: Jan, much depends on what you mean by under gallery and on the form of the top section of the ring ... | |
| Ring Markings | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I bought a Opal ring that has VL 14kt marked inside. Does this mean is Vermeil or real gold? ... A: I am back------------------------------ Bette, finding the maker means locating a registry of ... | |
| Ring Markings | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I bought a Opal ring that has VL 14kt marked inside. Does this mean is Vermeil or real gold? A: Bette. Vermeil is defined as sterling silver with a gold plate on the sterling. The plated layer ... | |
| My Brothers dog tags. | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can answer this question. I have my brother’s military dog tags and I wanted to get ... A: Nancy, I certainly appreciate your love and motivation in memory of your brother. I hold those who ... | |
| Cholorine and jewelry irritation | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I found your answers about jewelry allergies to be the most complete on the web. My mother and I ... A: Kay, thank you very much for this question and your kindness. I certainly appreciate your ... | |
| Karat Marking | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a heavy gold wedding band and the only marking is 10KL. Do you have any idea what 10KL ... A: David, the 10k has legal meaning and the L does not, not in my latest look at the regulations for ... | |
| Re-working Platinum wedding band | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I have a 6mm, Flat Court, Platinum Wedding band. It is 2.2mm thick and is comfort fit, size V. I ... A: Brian, thanks for the follow-up. As for "compressing from the inside out", the effect is the ... | |
| Custom Wedding Banding | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I have been searching for weeks on-line for a set of wedding bands. Unfortunately all the jewelers ... A: Tony. I have a custom project going now with unusual language symbols and your question reminded me ... | |
| white gold turning yellow | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a diamond ring with matching band that I have had for 41years and a cluster diamond that I ... A: Neely. I am quite glad you put the 41 years in your question otherwise my answer might have been ... | |
| Re-working Platinum wedding band | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: I have a 6mm, Flat Court, Platinum Wedding band. It is 2.2mm thick and is comfort fit, size V. I ... A: Brian, I sent an answer to you the other day but my mail shows the question again. If you get two ... | |
| Having A Custom Piece Made | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: Greetings Thomas! My question has several parts; I will try to be concise. I was given a lovely 5mm ... A: Kharman, interesting name certainly! : ) Here we go: I suggest you show the jeweler your ... | |
| sparex | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: I am a new jewelry student and just mixed up my first batch of sparex. It is very brown and not at ... A: Sparex is not a highly refined chemical and does not need to be to do the job as a jewelry pickle ... | |
| White gold tarnished and dirty, also sizing. | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: In 2002 my husband bought my engagement/wedding set from a chain jewelery store. The set is white ... A: Thomas is Back ______________________________________ Vanessa, thanks so very much for the photo ... | |
| 40 c | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: even if you dont know what does mean the 40 c any way I do apreciated much your esforce. By the ... A: Yayita, I must answer your nice comment just as a question or the computer between us thinks I have ... | |
| White gold tarnished and dirty, also sizing. | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: In 2002 my husband bought my engagement/wedding set from a chain jewelery store. The set is white ... A: Venessa, this is not your answer. I will do that a little later. Please do me a favor and if at all ... | |
| mystic platinum topaz | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: are you able to make the gem mystic platinum topaz or do you know where i could find someone who ... A: The secret to finding the stones and avoiding too many finished jewelry sellers is to specify “loose ... | |
| Ring | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: What do the markings on a ring I have mean? "Exquisite CM - 10K 88" A: Sandi, I only answer on metal quality marks and as with most of the other experts, do not try to ... | |
| Iridium Wedding Bands | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: My fiancee is facinated by the metal iridium and is interested in this metal for our wedding rings. ... A: Edith. Iridium is one member of the platinum family of metals, an essentially inert metal and ... | |
| ring found when digging my garden | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: P.S not sure if it bronze or gold ANSWER: Dear Martin, I did not get the photo. Please try to ... A: Martin, I would dearly love to tell you all about this found ring but simply cannot considering what ... | |
| ring found when digging my garden | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: P.S not sure if it bronze or gold A: I did not get the photo. Please try to attach it again. If the page does not have the "attach an ... | |
| Who can copy an heirloom ring for daughters? | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: Although it has no stamps it is obviously at least 14, maybe 18k. I has 4 leaves and 1 larger and 2 ... A: Sam. Great idea you have here and the best way to possibly leave each daughter with a special ... | |
| My earing stems turned brown | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: Does that mean the gold is fake and can it be cleaned or fixed A: Alexander, generally if the post is a base metal such as brass with an overlay of gold, tarnish will ... | |
| Removing Engraving | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a cake server and knife that is currently engraved and I didn't know if you had any tips or ... A: Tiffany. Glad you came to this web site. The basic rule for any plated tableware is not to buff it ... | |
| care for rhodium plated sterling silver w/ cz stones | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a rhodium-plated sterling silver engagement/wedding ring set with a solitaire ... A: Carina. Thanks for the question. The main concern as I see it is abrasives which will wear on the ... | |
| A Chemist with a New White Gold Ring | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: I have recently been engaged and was given a lovely white gold ring. However, I am also a ... A: Sara, you have one up on me in the chemical fields. I will give it a shot. I will tell you what I ... | |
| repairing enameled jewelry | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: My mother has a pair of square renoir-matisse earrings. One is in perfect condition and the other ... A: I do not do enamel work, at least not enough to consider myself a qualified enamel worker.. ... | |
| lost earring | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: Thomas, I am sure you are asked this question alot, and I apologize for the repitition, but my ... A: Michael, to duplicate the earring will certainly be more costly than was the original pair. Labor to ... | |
| Pickling solution? | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I just read the item from a new person (like myself) and your explanation helped me also. I just am ... A: Bonnie, the pickling solution we use is named Sparex. We use it for quite a long time, just adding ... | |
| Drilling holes in rocks | 7/5/2009 |
| Q: I have some sea rocks that are smooth and shiny and would be excellent for jewelry. What drill bit ... A: Lauren. You can drill the tumbled stones from the sea but will likely need a diamond drill bit. If ... | |
| watch repair | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a tissot PRS-200. i was wrestling around with my friends and the wrist band broke. ... A: Angelo, a fine watch you have. Thanks for the clear photo. The best I can tell from images of your ... | |
| resizing | 7/4/2009 |
| Q: Can I have a sterling silver ring resized from a 7 to a 7 1/2 or would it be best to have a size 8 ... A: Dottie, if the ring is not rhodium plated or plated with something else to prevent the natural ... | |
| Silver Jewelry Cleaner | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: I left some silver jewelry in over-the-counter jewelry cleaner (specified specifically for silver ... A: Lib. I actually get several questions about this very subject every year. The tarnish removing ... | |
| About stone and marking | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: This is Mumu from Japan. Thanks for your previous replies. Today I got to ask you something about ... A: You say kindly, "I am so sorry to ask you many questions." Mumu, I am so sorry to be able to only ... | |
| How to tell what a ring is made of | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: The woman said it was silver with a gold overlay. Did not specify HGE or rhodium plate. It appears ... A: Donna, if the ring has a sterling quality mark somewhere and is gold plated, you have vermeil. That ... | |
| Diamond has fallen out of engagement ring | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: My fiance brought my engagement ring just on 6 months ago. It's an oval cut 1ct diamond flanked by ... A: Thomas is back in the building.............................. Hi, Melissa. I hope my simple sketch ... | |
| rhodite | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I was given a very nice ring; however, it is about a size too small (unless I give up my wedding ... A: Follow-up............June 9 Cindy, the ring looks like a normal metal to me but I cannot tell just ... | |
| Palladium Vs. Platinum Rings | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: Found your previous information really helpful. Thinking of buying Palladium wedding rings with an ... A: Nick, Thomas is back in the building-------------------------------- I searched Fraser Hart but ... | |
| How to tell solid gold from gold filled? | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I have recently purchased an estate ring with no markings. I was told that it was solid 24K gold ... A: Sam, 24 karat gold is a very rich yellow color and also very soft. You could likely deform the ring ... | |
| Palladium Vs. Platinum Rings | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: Found your previous information really helpful. Thinking of buying Palladium wedding rings with an ... A: Nick. Good to hear from you again. First of all, the combination of palladium and aquamarine should ... | |
| up- sizeing an eternity band | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: my husband purchased a diamond eternity band online for me, but he got the wrong size. i need to ... A: Georgette, thanks for this question. Before even considering having the ring sized, if possible ... | |
| Gold plating immediately wearing off? | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: Hello, I am in America. Recently I received a gold plated ring. I am not exaggerating when I say ... A: Jaime, I appreciate this question. I believe what you have is an example of VERMEIL. To verify ... | |
| 14K FP gold | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: Irecently bougt a ring that was advertised as being solid 14K gold, but when I look at the metal ... A: Juliette, the marking FP is not a metal quality mark. Now, GP may be used for Gold Plated but is ... | |
| rhodite | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: I was given a very nice ring; however, it is about a size too small (unless I give up my wedding ... A: I am back___________________________________________________ Cindy, the net is confused with names. ... | |
| resizing platinum semi mount | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: Greetings from Canada. I have purchased a 950 platinum semi mount in sz 6 3/4. I have a sz 9 1/2 ... A: Alice. May I assume your enhanced center stone is a Yehuda diamond? These stones have fractures ... | |
| rhodite | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I was given a very nice ring; however, it is about a size too small (unless I give up my wedding ... A: Cindy, before I even attempt to answer this question, you need to tell me two things. Are you ... | |
| marrying settings to shanks | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I am new to jewelry and loving making necklaces and earrings as a hobby. I cannot resist the ... A: Thomas is back in the building----------------------------------- Diane, there are specific shanks ... | |
| marrying settings to shanks | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: I am new to jewelry and loving making necklaces and earrings as a hobby. I cannot resist the ... A: Diane, I will help as much as I can but need more information. Can you use the follow-up to get ... | |
| White Gold Ring | 6/1/2009 |
| Q: Gday Thomas, I recently (10 months) brought my partner her engagement ring, which is a 10K white ... A: Phil, I believe from the location of the hairline crack that the ring has a defect in the metal ... | |
| White gold ring resized and is now tarnished | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: I bought a 14k white gold ring yesterday which was a size too small. The ring looked perfect. I ... A: Kathy. Thanks for this question. Right at the top, I believe your ring certainly can look like it ... | |
| yellow gold rings | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 yellow gold rings set with diamonds. they were bought at different stores at different ... A: Gold can very much be affected by chemical exposure. Chlorine is perhaps the most damaging to karat ... | |
| Soldering Silver w/Gold Easy Solder | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: I am a bench jeweler and always say no to soldering anything silver with inlay. This time I have a ... A: Crystal. Sorry I was not sure of what you had in mind on the first try. Soldering anything silver ... | |
| Soldering Silver w/Gold Easy Solder | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: I am a bench jeweler and always say no to soldering anything silver with inlay. This time I have a ... A: Crystal, I have used about every sort of gold solder on silver and every sort of silver solder on ... | |
| Diamond has fallen out of engagement ring | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: My fiance brought my engagement ring just on 6 months ago. It's an oval cut 1ct diamond flanked by ... A: Melissa, I am sorry you had this happen. Perhaps I can give direction to help answer some of what ... | |
| rhodium plating | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I am considering buying a watch that is from a quality Swiss watchmaker and I am wondering if the ... A: Cindy, the durability of rhodium is good but it will wear. Much depends on the thickness of the ... | |
| Turquoise | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I found this site by luck! Here's my question. My father passed away and left me some chunks of very ... A: Nancy, any treatment to improve the color of the turquoise will mean taking advantage of the porous ... | |
| Jewelry | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: How will I remove gold plating from sterling silver jewelry. A: Alex, essentially three methods are there for relatively easy use if you have the stuff to do it ... | |
| Melting Silver- Part 2 | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: This is with reference to our Q&A nearly 1 year ago ... A: Stu, I cannot help with this type of ingot mold. I have used clay which has been formed and ... | |
| making silver headpins | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: Tom, I would like to know the "in's and out's" of this process. I have read some on line, such as ... A: Ellen, thanks for this question. Actually, I rarely use headpins since the work I do does not ... | |
| diamonds | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I went to a jewelry store to have a ring sized and the person got the heat to close to the diamonds ... A: Laura, you have a very kind and focused attitude, focused it seems on things more important than ... | |
| composition of white gold | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: I have read some of the articles in this website, regarding to "white gold 18k" and "white gold ... A: You are quite correct about the color of natural gold; pure gold is a very rich yellow color. ... | |
| fire damaged gold | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: Thomas, I lost everything in a house fire 4 years ago. I have finally been able to (emotionally) go ... A: Sandra, believe me, my heart goes out to you in this situation. My losses were through a break-in, ... | |
| necklace marked 14K but is it | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: I was given an old flat chain necklace and was going to discard it, but then saw that it was marked ... A: Jane. I have seen plenty of gold plated items stamped either 14k or 10k. Many do not have a ... | |
| Wearing down of engagement ring | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I really hope you can help me. I've had my engagement ring for 3 months, and have just noticed that ... A: Thomas is here again------------------------------------------ Honestly, I have not heard of a ... | |
| Damaged Amber Pendant | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: We have a damaged loop on top of an amber pendant surrounded by a light solid mount .It is a large ... A: I have a few photography friends I have met only on the web who live in your country. I have much ... | |
| Wearing down of engagement ring | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: I really hope you can help me. I've had my engagement ring for 3 months, and have just noticed that ... A: perhaps the time difference in our locations will allow you to attach a photo and use the follow-up ... | |
| gold | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I bought this earring mounts 3mm 4 prong the fine print on the stud reads 14/20 DF. i know its ... A: Alexa, even with magnification the stamps on an earring stud are often difficult to read. There is ... | |
| altering shank width | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I had my engagement ring custom made and the designer got the band (shank) width wrong, it is too ... A: Amanda, considering your follow-up information, tapering the band down should be a relatively simple ... | |
| repairing small pits in watch case | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: My 18K white gold (fortunately not rhodium plated) watch fell to the ground when the strap broke, ... A: Greg, I understand what you are dealing with from the damage to the watch case. Is there any way to ... | |
| altering shank width | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: I had my engagement ring custom made and the designer got the band (shank) width wrong, it is too ... A: Amanda. I wonder if you got to see a model of the ring prior to it being made? The ring appears to ... | |
| Resizing of an engagement ring | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I sent my engagement ring in for resizing. But as it got resized, the goldsmith advised me that the ... A: Marthie, you caught me just in time before I leave for my work place. Without seeing the actual ... | |
| Resizing of an engagement ring | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I sent my engagement ring in for resizing. But as it got resized, the goldsmith advised me that the ... A: Seeing how the diamonds are set is quite helpful to me. For the ring to be reduced in size from 0 ... | |
| Gold worn down | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: I am afraid I don't know the carats but my white gold engagement ring has got very thin at the back ... A: Rachel, good evening to you and thanks for the question. If your engagement ring is wearing on the ... | |
| Gold tipped shells | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I'm wanting to paint the edges of small shells for earrings... I'm pretty sure its not 23kt gold ... A: Desiree. Thanks for the question. Indeed, there must be a conductive layer on the shells where ... | |
| polishing gemstones | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a beautiful, oval shaped, 1 inch long sterling silver agate ring which has a 1/2" long ... A: Bonnie. Some agates are my favorite stones. There is a special nature to these stone which I do ... | |
| diamonds | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I went to a jewelry store to have a ring sized and the person got the heat to close to the diamonds ... A: Laura. Thanks for this question. Generally, diamonds are quite safe and unaffected around the heat ... | |
| wrist watch from USSR | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: I inhereted my grandmother's wrist watch. It is about 30-40 years old and make is Zarja, which used ... A: Ruta, thanks for this question. The watch is gold plated. AU10 is common in gold plated Russian ... | |
| Meaning of Marking on jewelry | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: Compliments of the day. Just two days back, I bought a white colored chain from Flea Market with 830 ... A: again, these markings are not ones with which I am familiar. My expertise deals with goods produced ... | |
| Ring alteration | 5/10/2009 |
| Q: My engagement ring is 18k white gold with a small .85 ct embedded diamond. Also, the band has ... A: Stephanie. I would dearly like to see a photo of the ring but gather from the description the stone ... | |
| Glue for Jade & Silver | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I need to put a jade stone back into a sterling silver setting....I made the ring in 7th grade and I ... A: Melody, I am older than you and I can't remember what glue I might have used back then, either. : ) ... | |
| rose gold look-alike | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: I really love the appearance of rose gold but frankly find the price very prohibitive. I am getting ... A: Andrea, considering the economy and the quite high price of gold items today, I understand why you ... | |
| silverjewlry/oxidation | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: I recently acquired a collection of filigree Bedouin silver jewelry. What is the best way to clean ... A: Diane. You give me an interesting question. As with Indian and Afghan jewelry items I have seen and ... | |
| Tarnished gold vintage beads | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: Thomas I came across necklace of gold color hollow beads strung on an old or antique sterling ... A: Laurel. Now this is a neat question and one I have not been asked before. And, while 9 karat ... | |
| Pin | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: and then continues with GEMW STERLING. I do not know what the GEMW stands for, but i do know ... A: I still believe this is sterling judging from the stamps on the item. If there is gold color, I ... | |
| Pin | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: and then continues with GEMW STERLING. I do not know what the GEMW stands for, but i do know ... A: Tracie, thanks for the question. I believe you have it right on the pin except I would attribute the ... | |
| wedding band being made all wrong! | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: Thomas, Hello, I found a vintage wedding band/design and asked at the jeweler (where my fiance but ... A: Diane, being only on one side of the fence with only one view makes it difficult for me to say in ... | |
| Removing the name from a 14K Gold Cartouche | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a 14K gold Cartouche pendant that belonged to a deceased relative. The Cartouche is two ... A: Ann, thanks for this question. I also have a cartouche and my name is there in raised forms ... | |
| ring resizing | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: i was looking through your previous answers to people about resizing rings and you seemed to be ... A: If you suspect it is not reasonable to size the ring, you are quite correct. To remove a section ... | |
| 18k Y gold solder question | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: It is okay to use easy 18k y gold solder on 10k y gold? Thx A: Laura, yes, you can use 18k solder on 10k gold. The melting temperature is not so much of a problem ... | |
| Yellow gold turned pink with heat | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: This has happened to me several times, with new gold (wire) or when working on customers gold ... A: Laura. This is an important question to anyone doing jewelry work. The pink coloration will happen ... | |
| diamonds and gold | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: i was wondering do jewelry companies ever make gold plated or filled rings with actual real, natural ... A: Allison, honestly the methods of identification of diamonds and precious metals are beyond simple ... | |
| Gold Soldering | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: Is there an easy way to gold solder. I have several bracelets that I like to wear and I am hard in ... A: Kerry, if you want the jump rings soldered closed and to keep the gold color, you will have to stick ... | |
| weighing loose diamonds | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a small bag of diamonds that range from the 1/3 carat to 3/4 carat and was wondering if there ... A: Amber. Thanks for this question. The calipers will only go so far in estimation of the carat ... | |
| 10K gold ring | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a waterfall type diamond cluster ring and on the band inside reads ' 10 K E J '. what does ... A: Dody. The EJ is most likely the maker's mark, showing the mark of the manufacturer. If in the USA, ... | |
| To pickle or not to pickle? | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: I am in the infancy of trying to learn jewelry making with sterling silver and copper. I have a ... A: Thomas is back---------------------------------------- Rosemarie, a soldering iron which will go to ... | |
| To pickle or not to pickle? | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: I am in the infancy of trying to learn jewelry making with sterling silver and copper. I have a ... A: Rosemarie, I am glad to meet someone interested in doing jewelry work. The soldering iron sort of ... | |
| Resized? | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a inexpensive engagement ring and wedding band for my girlfriend (inexpensive ... A: Joe, this answer is mostly lacking in good news but there is a slight possibility of one good ... | |
| Bracelet | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: My husband bought me a bracelet for my 40th whilst we were in Spain on holiday. The markings on the ... A: Heather. My lovely wife and I visited the UK last fall season. We had a very fine trip. We do hope ... | |
| SILVER SMELTING | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: IM NEW TO SILVER SMELTING. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET,GUESS I MISSED WHERE I NEEDED TO LOOK.IM ... A: Jon, here is a simple list of three companies. Between these you should find what you need. 1. Try ... | |
| Loss of Mass on Refining | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: If you refine 20z. of 22kt. would your loss be 5.23g seeing that 22kt is 91.6% pure? The remaining ... A: I hope the communications is clear enough for both of us. : ) First of all, here are the numbers ... | |
| diamond earrings | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: Have a pair of diamond earrings that I had the stem changed. The earrings are totally closed on the ... A: Norma, hello and wishing you a fine day for all. This question is good for me to receive from you ... | |
| Untreated ammolite 6.1mm x 6.1mm | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: I have an untreated ammolite stone and I am told it is of the highest quality. I would like to put ... A: Susan, ammolite is so beautiful and is also so fragile. Most used in jewelry has either an epoxy or ... | |
| Plating problems | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: Read your response to Jeanette in regard to her plating issues. It was very informative and ... A: Nicole, I need to reply or the allexperts machine between you and me will think I have left a ... | |
| gold ring | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: i was wondering if you could tell me what this means? please regards stephanie A: Stephanie. We were fortunate to visit the U.K. last fall. We loved the visit and would like to visit ... | |
| Plating problems | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: Read your response to Jeanette in regard to her plating issues. It was very informative and ... A: Nicole. Thanks for getting in touch. I am not certain if I can help since I do not know any ... | |
| Iodine and white gold/silver. | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: I work at a veterinary clinic and we use iodine to clean out the scratches and bites we may receive ... A: Rebecca, thanks very much for the question. Veterinary clinic? Oh my, we are in the middle of ... | |
| Holding gems in setting | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: My wifes ring consists of a 1.3 caret marquis diamond in the center flanked by two trillant cut ... A: Harry, if the ring is of any worth I would not resort to cements unless it is a last resort. With a ... | |
| Gold changing color?! | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a client that has come to me with something that I really don't know what answer I should ... A: Thomas is coming in the door---------------------------------------- I am back. I sure wish there ... | |
| Gold changing color?! | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a client that has come to me with something that I really don't know what answer I should ... A: Whew..I sure wish I could have the ring in my hands to test! Apparently the solder is a higher ... | |
| screw mounted gems | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: My mother recently passed away and her mother's mothers (my grandmother's) ring was one of the ... A: Pamela. The screw mount stones are seen only rarely today. Generally, these were used for ... | |
| 14K gold clasp | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: Should I assume if a bracelet is stamped 14K on both clasps that the bracelet is 14K? A: Diane, if this is the second time you have received an answer on this, I am sorry. I sent an ... | |
| Setting Tiny Gemstones | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: I have been struggling to find resources on how to set tiny faceted gemstones in square and pear ... A: Stone setting is a specialized part of jewelry work. Often special tools are needed but more often ... | |
| Palladium or Gold; and which Gold?? | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I can't decide between a wedding band and solitaire engagement ring in Palladium (touted as the ... A: Rania, I thank you for these questions. I imagine others have wondered the same and still may not ... | |
| Question about silver colored chain | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: I found a very beautiful and seemingly new necklace lying around in my mother's room ( She lets me ... A: Tiffany, the marks are for 14 karat gold. Either 14k or 14kt or 585 are just fine and all mean the ... | |
| Solder | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I submitted a question a little while ago and I received an email with the link to my answer. I was ... A: First of all, the first question was marked “private” and this requires a confirmation of your email ... | |
| Solder | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I submitted a question a little while ago and I received an email with the link to my answer. I was ... A: Terri, we will try this time. This is what I said: >Terry, is there any way you can get a picture ... | |
| drilling holes in rocks | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: I would like to use tiny river stones to make jewelry. How do I drill a hole through a tiny stone? ... A: Mary. Thanks for this question. Stone of most any sort is much harder than people realize. Even ... | |
| platinum ring | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: i have a ring,given to me by my father.the mark on the inside of band says 1095 irrid plat can you ... A: Christine. Thanks for this question. Your marks do not directly fit the metal quality marks for ... | |
| gold testing acids vs electronic | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: !!! A: Cheryl, in my experience I have generally used the acid(scratch)testing method and have found an ... | |
| "Italian gold" real or not? | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I stumbled upon your answer to a different question on the Internet and thought perhaps you could ... A: Peggie, what you need is a jeweler who will do a test on the metal. They will possibly need to ... | |
| Cost to resize ring | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: Thomas: Is $280 reasonable to resize my wedding and engagement rings? I took my wedding ring and ... A: I wanted to mention one thing in regard to your follow-up. Also, I must reply to any follow-up ... | |
| Gold Quality | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I have two quick questions. I'm looking into purchasing a ring online and I'm worried that the ... A: Emilie, I can never tell for certain about any jewelry unless I have it in my hands. However, the ... | |
| Cost to resize ring | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: Thomas: Is $280 reasonable to resize my wedding and engagement rings? I took my wedding ring and ... A: Amy, I am back as promised. Thanks so very much for the added information and the lovely photo. ... | |
| Cost to resize ring | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: Thomas: Is $280 reasonable to resize my wedding and engagement rings? I took my wedding ring and ... A: Amy, this is not your complete answer. That will be done tomorrow evening. In the meantime, if you ... | |
| Can this ring be resized? | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I hae my heart set on this bridal set. It is 14k white gold. There are a total of 35 small diamonds ... A: Bryn, no problem about the picture. Funny how this site works since you can still attach from your ... | |
| 18ct Gold Cartouche from Egypt | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased an 18ct yellow gold cartouche pendant from Egypt. I had it stored away for 5 ... A: Lorraine. Thanks for this interesting question. I will try to answer but without the pendant in my ... | |
| Can this ring be resized? | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: I hae my heart set on this bridal set. It is 14k white gold. There are a total of 35 small diamonds ... A: Bryn. First, congratulations on the weight loss, assuming this is a plan. It is not an easy thing ... | |
| Question on gold stamp | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: Can you tell me what the characters on the left side of this tag mean? ... A: I suspect the mark is supposed to be 1/20 12k and not 1/26. Sometimes a small stamp as on a chain ... | |
| Question on gold stamp | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: Can you tell me what the characters on the left side of this tag mean? A: Jim, this is a pretty clever photo with the magnifier. Unfortunately, I still have difficulty ... | |
| Rhodium plating | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: Can this process be reversed? If so in what time frame? How will the yellow gold look if process ... A: Kym, rhodium is often used as a plate on white gold to make the white look even whiter. Recently, ... | |
| Stamp | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: Good morning, I just got a ring and I the markings on the inside, say "PLT" and "ODU". Everywhere I ... A: Shelly, I have not seen PLT used as a abbreviation for platinum in marking jewelry. According to ... | |
| Omega Necklace - Clasp Replacement | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: I have an 18k white gold omega necklace with a push in box type clasp. The clasp doesn't seem to ... A: Maria, hello today and thank you for this question. Yes, the clasp may be replaced on your omega. ... | |
| The gold melting process | 2/21/2009 |
| Q: With everything in the economy in an uproar, I had decided to look into gold. Unfortunately, with ... A: Mike. Now it is a lot clearer to me. If you run into problems with the process in the future, ... | |
| The gold melting process | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: With everything in the economy in an uproar, I had decided to look into gold. Unfortunately, with ... A: Mike, this is not your answer. I will write that and send likely this evening after I get home from ... | |
| 950 vs vintage 10 90 irid/plat | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: Help...Hubby and I were married 10 years ago, but couldn't find a wedding ring to go with engagement ... A: Joette, at this point I am not sure what to say. Your positive comments are very encouraging to me ... | |
| 950 vs vintage 10 90 irid/plat | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: Help...Hubby and I were married 10 years ago, but couldn't find a wedding ring to go with engagement ... A: Joette. I do hope my rambling answer will be of some help. This is tough not having the rings in my ... | |
| bracelet hinges | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: Do you know of a supplier who can supply small hinges (1/2" wide by 1/2" long or so)suitable for ... A: Dale, hello and thanks for this question. The problem with locating findings like this(findings ... | |
| 18kt over sterling silver | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: Will a ring that is 18kt over 925 sterling, loose it's gold color? A: Charlene, thanks for the question. This is a good question but first I must be certain we are ... | |
| Plating issues that don't end!!! | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a very small business in jewelry here in Los Angeles and had several issues with the plating ... A: Jeanette. The anti-tarnish items from Rio Grande should help. However, if properly prepared I would ... | |
| Coppersmithing | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: Hey mate, I just have a few inquires relating to some coppersmithing I wanted to try with some ... A: Dylan, I will leave this open and wait a few days to see if you get back. I got the attachment this ... | |
| ?stg silver lobster clasps | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: .I recently purchased some lobster clasps on ebay, said to be sterling silver. There is a stamp 925 ... A: Sue. Thanks for this question. The link below is copy and paste but it will show two different ... | |
| Follow up WG + silver | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: getting better yet.. 1. Well I tried ur galvanic method w/ sodium hydroxide. It does work, but why ... A: Alex, I recommend the baking soda and aluminum method above other methods. Yes, sometimes I will add ... | |
| Jewelry "repair" | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: Hey there The word repair in the subject box is in quotes because this would involve more than a ... A: Ernie, you have read the situation correctly. This would be more than a simple repair. I have not ... | |
| replacing oxidation on silver jewelry | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: By mistake I removed the oxidized part of a design on the elaborately detailed surface of a heavily ... A: Mardie, the hard boiled egg trick is one I have not used. : ) I suspect it could work even better ... | |
| Coppersmithing | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: Hey mate, I just have a few inquires relating to some coppersmithing I wanted to try with some ... A: Dylan, thanks for the question and I hope you come up with a way to make this copper and lapis ... | |
| I am not able to mark my jewelry | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I purchased a ring stamp and I would like to mark my jewelry, but when I try to , all it does is ... A: MIchelle. I wish I was there because it would only take a few minutes to show you and help you get ... | |
| stone, band compatibility | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking at buying a band and round diamond separately. The band has two options....a 50 pt ... A: John. This is a good question and fortunately for me the answer is fairly easy. Over the years we ... | |
| GOLD | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: HI I HAVE JUST BOUGHT A RING MARKED 10 K AND AU WHAT DOES THS MEAN A: Carly, the 10k means the ring is 10 karat gold. (Jewelry marks are sometimes fake and sold as gold ... | |
| silver markings | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: I know sterling should be marked 925. What about a supposed"Peruvian" piece marked 950. Is that ... A: Diane, silver from Peru would generally be 925 Sterling for sale in exported items but some years ... | |
| ouestion about some metal marks | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: 750 also on the right side of the stamp thier is a circular objet which resembles a head that has a ... A: Brian, hello and glad to have you ask this question. I am unable to tell you about the "head with a ... | |
| Resizing a matte-finish ring with design | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. My husband and I recently ordered lovely 18k white gold wedding bands (for ... A: Sarah, thanks for the link so I may see the band designs. Apparently if the manufacturer did not ... | |
| Omega necklace with exposed mesh | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: This morning I dropped my reversible 14k white and yellow gold omega. Picking it up I discovered ... A: Adrienne, first of all, thanks very much for the photo. That helps a lot in knowing the real ... | |
| solid gold vs. god plating | 1/28/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a ring on the Internet. It arrived as gorgeous as described with the "14K" ... A: Margo. This is not your answer. I will write your answer this evening when I get home from work. In ... | |
| Braclet Markings | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: I found a braclet years ago that looks gold, and has a double safety clasp on it. On one side of ... A: Toni, first of all from the markings I have no reason to believe the bracelet is other than marked. ... | |
| damaged cz...sniff ...sniff | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: Just wondering if its very costly or very hard to replace a very small cz on a pave set engagement ... A: Sophie, the new stone will not cost very much at all. To set the stone if bead set means the stone ... | |
| numerical marks | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: i have a necklace that is marked with Italy 925 what does that mean? A: Jack, what you have is a sterling silver necklace made in Italy. The numerical marks represent the ... | |
| jade bangle | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: I forgot to remove my jade bangle when I went swimming in my pool. There was a strong smell of ... A: Kate, I have not heard of chlorine damaging jade. Certainly I would keep stones such as pearls, ... | |
| resizing handmade ring | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: I've been looking for a unique wedding band and finally found one that I really love. It is from a ... A: Jillian. Thanks for asking. As best I can tell, the company obtains jewelry from jewelry makers ... | |
| ACID TESTING GOLD | 1/23/2009 |
| Q: It came with different bottles of acid to test for 10k, 14K and 18K (as well as silver and platinum ... A: Jinny, welcome to my answer site and glad to have this fine question. I will first direct you to ... | |
| Jewelry that was in a fire | 1/22/2009 |
| Q: How do you clean jewelry (gold rings and necklaces) that were in a fire? They were not burned but ... A: Irene, thanks for this question. Please know, this is not your answer. I wanted you to know I will ... | |
| stamp on gold ring | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: i dont know if you can help but i recently bought an 18ct yellow gold ring from a car bootsale,it ... A: Rebecca, thanks so much for the question and the fine close up photo. In past years the site did not ... | |
| which metal to choose? | 1/19/2009 |
| Q: I am currently facing a very tough decision- the metal to use in an engagement band and wedding ... A: Lauren. I do see the decision is a tough one. Yes, sterling silver will wear more quickly than ... | |
| Allergic reaction to white gold | 1/19/2009 |
| Q: I just received my High School class ring. It's 14-kt. white gold. I've been wearing it for two ... A: Alexandra, I am sorry you are having a skin sensitivity reaction to your new ring. It has been many ... | |
| titanium ring | 1/18/2009 |
| Q: Thomas I have a titanium wedding band ring set with three sapphire's, how can clean the ring ... A: Jason, titanium is one of the more durable metals used in rings and sapphires are one of the more ... | |
| Charm Bracelet | 1/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a yellow gold charm bracelet. My problem is that one of the charms keeps falling off the ... A: Anu, I can imagine the problem you are having with the charm slipping away! I do not suggest using ... | |
| Solder | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: I make twisted wire jewelry and have come to the point where I need to learn to solder, since my ... A: Carol. I appreciate this question from someone who is doing jewelry work. Please take some time and ... | |
| ring sizing trouble | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: I am in the process of following a project from a book and am making a silver russian wedding ... A: Neil, I have to answer all that comes in to me through the question format..otherwise the machine ... | |
| jewelery as assets | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: I need some money. I took my rings to a local store that advertised it buys old jewelery. They ... A: Susie, thanks for this question. Some years ago when gold prices were high (but not like recently), ... | |
| ring sizing trouble | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: I am in the process of following a project from a book and am making a silver russian wedding ... A: Neil, I did misread part of the original question. You said this: "...Q or close to it, mine, when ... | |
| ring sizing trouble | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I am in the process of following a project from a book and am making a silver russian wedding ... A: Neil. Thanks for this question. I see you are approaching this project from the beginning with a ... | |
| Casting with Gem Stones | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I would like to cast with gemstones using lost wax casting. I know there is a name for this, but I ... A: Rikson, I appreciate this question. The process you would be using is called “casting in place”, ... | |
| beach stone setting | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a small, round, flat beach stone measuring about 15mm across and only about 3-4 mm thick. I ... A: Lisa, perhaps the base can be as close a fit to the stone bottom as possible. If cement is used ... | |
| etched silver bracelet accidentally | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a Tiffany silver bracelet and forgot to take it off before house-cleaning. A drop of the tub ... A: Stacey, I suspect a jeweler can polish out the clouded surface with little if any difficulty. The ... | |
| beach stone setting | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a small, round, flat beach stone measuring about 15mm across and only about 3-4 mm thick. I ... A: Lisa. Thanks for this question. When doing work for others a jeweler runs into all sorts of ... | |
| cutting stone | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a question about cutting stone. I have a barn full of cut slabs of semi precious stones ... A: Lisa, what a resource you have! The best for me to do is put you onto a website showing the saws and ... | |
| erinite | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: Thomas Is erinite a synthetic,imitation or natural gemstone A: Michael, please accept my thank you for a question on a new subject. With all the questions I have ... | |
| Half-Sovereign Case | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a gold half sovereign case that belonged to my great-grandfather. It has his initials ... A: Johanna, thank you for this question. Thank you very much for the photo! Some time ago I decided ... | |
| Wearing different Carat gold together | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: Can you wear different carat gold rings together or will the lower carat wear the higher carat out ... A: Donna. You are not the first to wonder about wearing gold rings of different carats together. ... | |
| gold ring | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: i have a 10k yellow gold ring with a long diamond shaped sapphire ring my mother got in 1959. it is ... A: Colette, the rhodium may be removed safely but this is not the same process used to remove other ... | |
| bezel set diamond removal | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I went ring shopping and I found the perfect one. It has 3 bezel set diamonds on ... A: Eva. The link worked for me with some fiddling to get a decent save of the illustration. Now I ... | |
| bezel set diamond removal | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I went ring shopping and I found the perfect one. It has 3 bezel set diamonds on ... A: Eva, is there any way you can use the follow-up to send me a photo of the ring or a link to ... | |
| gold ring | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: i have a 10k yellow gold ring with a long diamond shaped sapphire ring my mother got in 1959. it is ... A: Colette, depending on the condition of the ring, reconditioning is generally a good way to go. A ... | |
| Glue on my engagement ring | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: I accidentally spilled some toxic fabric glue on my engagement ring and it has hardened under the ... A: Good New Year to you, June. I will try to help with your fabric glue on your engagement ring ... | |
| Diamond cut | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: What is the difference between a baguette diamond, and a "Tap" baguette diamond? A: Christie, if you have a jewelry item with baguette diamonds it is possible some of these are tapered ... | |
| Sizing-Sterling Silver ring | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: We recently purchased a sterling silver ring w/ topaz stones, not realizing it was rhodium plated, i ... A: Karen, you are aware of possible problems when sizing a rhodium plated sterling ring and I will try ... | |
| Platinum ring damage | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a platinum diamond engagement ring. My fiancee and I went to a concert and the ... A: Simon. Thank you for this question. Researching the hardness of various jewelry metals and ... | |
| Altering existing ring designs with heat | 1/2/2009 |
| Q: This is a wonderful site. Thank you so much for devoting your time to it. I'm interested in ... A: Joe, regardless of the torch you have including fuel gas/oxygen ones which are much more suitable ... | |
| Removing powder coating on silver | 1/1/2009 |
| Q: What's a safe way of removing the white powder coating on a silver nacklace and pendant I recently ... A: Lloyd, whether soaking the silver in the Citri Strip will damage the silver or even do any good ... | |
| Removing powder coating on silver | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: What's a safe way of removing the white powder coating on a silver nacklace and pendant I recently ... A: Lloyd. I have not seen a white powder coating on silver in all my years of experience, at least not ... | |
| Bonding Pearls to metal | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: Which glue should I use to bond a bottom hole drilled pearl to the single stem insert on the top ... A: Rhonda, I first wish you a wonderful new year and 2009. As for the pearl, here is what I suggest: ... | |
| silver | 12/30/2008 |
| Q: I left my sterling bracelet and ring in the Tarnex for too long and now their finish is shot...is ... A: Nicole. I do have suggestions for you. What is funny is that I answered a similar question last ... | |
| k14 is it a solid gold? | 12/29/2008 |
| Q: Purchased a ring of Ebay. The description stated it was solid white gold. I am wondering if it is. ... A: Laura, you caught me just as I got back from a short allexperts vacation during the holidays. I ... | |
| gold earrings | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: I found you on the web and the website if quite interesting with lots of information. My questions ... A: With the revised National Gold and Silver Marking Act which went into effect in 1981, much tighter ... | |
| Gold Stamp | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: I have recently purchased an Italian Horn Pendant on E-bay that is marked 14KOZ I would like to know ... A: Shelly, the OZ is not a metal quality mark of any sort I recognize from the approved marks in the ... | |
| ammolite | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I am setting an 18x13 oval into a bezel for a ring, after it is cut. I am going back & forth w/ the ... A: Laurel, you have two different questions here but I will answer both and take the last one first. ... | |
| sizing with rubies | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: i sent a ruby ring to get sized and when i got it back the jeweller who sent it away to get sized ... A: Gary, it is not a large problem for us. We really don't see that many glass filled stones or perhaps ... | |
| sizing with rubies | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: i sent a ruby ring to get sized and when i got it back the jeweller who sent it away to get sized ... A: Gary, unfortunately some colored gemstone and even diamonds are fracture filled with glass ... | |
| Black Rhodium | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: Today I had my ring sized, it a silver men’s ring with black diamonds (cluster set)and black rhodium ... A: Mike, yours is the first question since I got back from a much needed holiday from the web. ... | |
| Polishing Methods & Equipment | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: Thomas, I am a self-taught hobby maker of jewelry but I have my standards. I generally only use ... A: Mary, I like the work you do. I agree that tarnish of silver items can be a major problem. I ... | |
| repair cracked jade bangle | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: I fell and cracked my jade bangle in three places. The cracks run through the entire width of the ... A: Elizabeth, as long as no pieces of the jade are lost, a stronger repair may be made once it does ... | |
| procedure for melting gold. | 11/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a pair of 24 carat gold earrings that I would never wear and want to know how I would melt ... A: Sherri, melting gold is not easy without correct tools to do the job. With those tools, the melting ... | |
| white gold | 11/30/2008 |
| Q: I got a second hand 10k wx band. It is white gold but yellowish. It has been polished at the pawn ... A: Paula, generally white gold with a yellowish tint will regain much of the whiter color when buffed ... | |
| turquoise sterling repair | 11/29/2008 |
| Q: I found your response about the cuff bracelet and have been asked to fix a sterling watch band with ... A: Jane. This is a good question but first here is some very basic info on books to help you identify ... | |
| Jewelry making | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: Let me start by thanking you for taking the time to read and answer my questions. I have always ... A: Sadie. I am working on an answer for you. Do not be disappointed if all subjects are not fully ... | |
| Melting Down Old Gold Rings | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: I would like to find a good reputable person/jewelers who are able to melt down 3 rings left to me ... A: Helen, likely we live far from one another and I will not be able to recommend a specific jeweler ... | |
| Learning to solder -- advice needed | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: I'm taking a metal working course and learning to solder silver/gold. I need a lot more experience. ... A: Pat, I always like to talk with folks who are involved in metal working like this. Please use a ... | |
| Certificate of Evaluation | 11/26/2008 |
| Q: I have purchase a tanzanite gemstone online and the seller is offering a CGJL certificate of ... A: Grace. We often do our homework way after school..all of us. As for the certificate, most Internet ... | |
| White gold allergy | 11/26/2008 |
| Q: I am an independant jewellery designer and have a client that says her skin turns black when she ... A: this is not your answer. Are you in the UK by any chance? Your use of k instead of ct makes me ... | |
| metals/stones for pool swimmers | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: My daughter is a competitive swimmer.Can you tell me which metals,stones or settings are most likely ... A: Joan. I will try to help you with this one. While I generally recommend against wearing jewelry in ... | |
| gold plate | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: I do work with silver jewelry, but my question is regarding an item I own that is sterling silver ... A: Ida, with the gold wearing off it must have been added to the silver by electroplating. Over time ... | |
| 14k mark | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a couple of early 20th cent. family rings - over the years even before I got them the karat ... A: Kerry, this is an interesting question. Here is why: I cannot recommend a karat stamp without also ... | |
| costume jewelry cleaning | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: I am new at collecting costume jewelry..What is the best way to clean tarnish off and dirt? Also i ... A: Phyllis, this is a delicate question. : ) You see, costume jewelry runs the complete range from ... | |
| Canary Diamonds v. Yellow Sapphires | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering how to tell the difference between canary diamonds and yellow sapphires. I ... A: Mel, I am not an expert on this but am an expert in putting either into a fine piece of jewelry art. ... | |
| metal quality | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: I would like to know how one can tell if something is actually 18ct gold. I have a ring that has ... A: Follow-up to Jenny--------------------------------- Jenny, thanks so much for getting back. You ... | |
| gold metal quality | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: A yellow gold ring is marked 14K and farther around, 525. It was sold as solid 14K. Is gold ever ... A: Avery, I seriously doubt 525 has been used as a mark for metal quality with gold. If so, it would ... | |
| metal quality | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: I would like to know how one can tell if something is actually 18ct gold. I have a ring that has ... A: Jenny, the only way to truly tell the quality of the metal is to have the metal tested. A jeweler ... | |
| yellow gold plating onto white gold | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: I want a particular gemstone ring, which is not common. My problem is that the setting styles that ... A: Gail. You present a very, very interesting scenario with your question. With so many ladies going ... | |
| identifying of iridium in gold ornments | 11/15/2008 |
| Q: how to identify whether iridium is mixed in the jewelery? and also in melted gold . Is it possible ... A: I do wish a look could tell the make up of precious metal alloys. Iridium is often added to platinum ... | |
| 24k AK | 11/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a ring that i was given 5years ago. The inside is stamped as 24K AK. It is a very heavy ... A: Amanda, if this ring is actually what the marks indicate, you have a ring made of 24 karat gold, ... | |
| Silver Filigree? | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: I'm a learning silversmith, and I have been experimenting with filigree techniques- but there is ... A: Sarah. Thanks for this fine question and best wishes to you on the filigree necklace. Filigree wire ... | |
| drop necklace | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a simple question for which I can find no answer. Can you define a "drop necklace" for me? ... A: Edward. There are many terms used in jewelry of which many are not familiar. Oftentimes, men are ... | |
| Gothic 14K gold | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: Thomas, I found a diamond initial ring, it appears old and it is very heavy (16.2 grams). The ... A: Vicki, I believe Gothic is the maker's name. It there is another stamp near the 14k which could be ... | |
| Gold flakes | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: I know almost nothing about gold, but my daughter has a small bag of gold she panned while in ... A: Erik, even with gold prices high for the last year and actually going over $1000 per troy ounce spot ... | |
| melting plated gold jewelry | 11/9/2008 |
| Q: I have a mixed bucket of plated gold jewelry. Is there an easy way to separate the gold from the ... A: David, thanks for this question. With the higher prices of precious metals in the last year your ... | |
| Metal Puncher? Soldering question | 11/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a metal puncher.. the kind with the different sized circles and you hammer in the rod to cut ... A: Melissa, was the punch rod too large for the hole? Generally these are a close fit but do not get ... | |
| setting non-calibrated cabs | 11/8/2008 |
| Q: I have two lovely non-cal bloodstones; one 4 ct measuring 13.18 x 8.21 x 5.66 mm the other a 2 ct ... A: Shawn, I have two recommendations as to where to have the ring work done. How reasonable the cost ... | |
| deformed engagement ring | 11/7/2008 |
| Q: My fiance gave me an engagement ring 5 months ago and i never take it off. the band is labled "14k" ... A: Kelly, first of all the ring needs to be brought to the attention of the place or person who sold ... | |
| Copper And Brass | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: I am beginning to set up a small hobby/business in jewellery making concentrating on non-precious ... A: Helen, I have not heard of anyone having health difficulty with copper or brass crafted jewelry ... | |
| ring sizing | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: I recently read your response to a question regarding the sizing up of a ring, but I was curious as ... A: Jackie. Thanks for the question. I am sorry someone has planted a basic distrust and concern in ... | |
| gold | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: what does it mean when the engraved ring say J B *8K? A: Tyler, in the USA only certain markings are allowed to show the quality of metal in an item of ... | |
| japanese silver | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: I'm about to buy a ring as a gift, however I'd ideally like to have it engraved and have been told ... A: Follow up to Emily-------------------------- Emily, thanks for getting back. I should think the ... | |
| japanese silver | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: I'm about to buy a ring as a gift, however I'd ideally like to have it engraved and have been told ... A: Emily, I am not familiar with a specific metal called "Japanese silver" and suspect it is a ... | |
| annealing fine silver wire | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: I have made a woven chain out of fine silver wire. The chain needs to be annealed but I am nervous ... A: Carole. I will try to help even if we do only rarely furnace anneal our metals. The information ... | |
| Repairing Broken Puzzle Ring | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: I recently received a 4-band sterling Turkish Puzzle Ring. Unfortunately, a couple days ago, the ... A: Linda, I am back. First tell yourself, before the ring was broken were you able to open and ... | |
| pearls | 11/1/2008 |
| Q: I bought a box of what looked like costume jewelry at a garage sale and I think there are real ... A: Kyle, thanks for the photo. When discussing jewelry, images are very helpful and some questions ... | |
| Opal | 10/31/2008 |
| Q: What equipment or supplies can be used to safely repolish a large opal ( with a rough top) in a ... A: Christine. Thanks for this lapidary question. I started in stone cutting and did that long ... | |
| P14K | 10/28/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a #1mom charm from an estate sale. The charm is stamped P14k. My guess is that the ... A: Jerry, this is the second question today on the same subject.. : ) I suspect the mark means PLUMB ... | |
| gold quality marks? | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: I have an old bracelet which belonged to my grandmother. On the inside is 18k DCD or PEP (it's ... A: Susan. Thanks for the question. I believe the letters are makers marks, marked as that should be ... | |
| gold melting | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: i recently started melting gold as a hobby and i would like to know perhaps if you know where i can ... A: Kris, I am back to speak with you. I appreciate your return and your question. Another jeweler may ... | |
| Melting Gold using acid | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: I'm using the Shor method of aqua regea. My questions are as follows. At the end of the above ... A: Heff, the basic knowledge of the high temperatures involved and the sort of torch needed is what you ... | |
| Cracked persian turquoise | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge! At an estate sale recently I discovered a ... A: Lavonne, I am no expert on vintage jewelry but in business have seen many older pieces with ... | |
| Melting Gold using acid | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: I'm using the Shor method of aqua regea. My questions are as follows. At the end of the above ... A: Heff. Thanks for this question. I have not personally used the Shor International refining system ... | |
| White Gold | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a white gold engagement ring and I the gold underneath is starting to show through. Is it ... A: what is showing is the natural tarnish effect of gold is allowing a yellowish color to show or the ... | |
| Platinum wedding band | 10/23/2008 |
| Q: My platinum eternity wedding band of 23 years no longer fit. I took it to a local jeweler who said ... A: Pam, I am quite sorry it worked out that way. If you have a regular attorney perhaps a phone call ... | |
| Hematite vs Black Pearls | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: How can I tell a hematite (pearl shape) from a real black/tahitian pearl? A: Katherine. Thanks for the question. I will give you several differences in pearl and hematite and ... | |
| Charm bracelet connector | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: Many years ago I purchased little lock like connectors for my charm bracelet as the gold solder and ... A: Rayleigh, I seem to recall connectors from some years ago. The ones I remember are not available as ... | |
| Platinum wedding band | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: My platinum eternity wedding band of 23 years no longer fit. I took it to a local jeweler who said ... A: Pam, whether the jeweler wants to do it or not, if you did not have a prior agreement to trade your ... | |
| Sterling and 10K Gold Chains | 10/20/2008 |
| Q: I recently saw some new chains/jewelry at our local Wal-Mart store that state it is sterling silver ... A: Deborah, wow what a question. : ) This is something I would have to see at the store to make a call ... | |
| Ring rash | 10/20/2008 |
| Q: I have been married for 4 years. One year ago I washed some whites in bleach by hand and did not ... A: Melisa, thanks for letting me know the added info and your plans. I also would think the other rings ... | |
| rose gold cracks | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: Good day! I am assembling an 18k rose gold top to a plat/pave dia shank with 18K medium red solder ... A: Ken, I assume the new piece is already cast and your reference to cooling is after the soldering is ... | |
| rose gold cracks | 10/18/2008 |
| Q: Good day! I am assembling an 18k rose gold top to a plat/pave dia shank with 18K medium red solder ... A: Ken, red gold in general presents several problems to the working jeweler. If soldering isn't ... | |
| marked "14K H" | 10/18/2008 |
| Q: Thomas I know you've already have a lot of question about metal markings but please let me ask one. ... A: Mimi, thanks for the question. Yes,I get lots of questions like this one but you do not have the ... | |
| Ring rash | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: I have been married for 4 years. One year ago I washed some whites in bleach by hand and did not ... A: Melisa, thanks for this timely question. In all honesty the only way to figure exactly what is ... | |
| Rhodium Plating | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: I am a beginner in jewelry design. Currently I am only stringing and I have not worked in metals. ... A: Shirley, you can go to this web site (copy and paste the link) to get an idea of what is needed to ... | |
| Pearl Restoration | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I have some pieces of pearl jewelry that are 35-45 years old. Most are in gold settings and some are ... A: Corey, generally water alone will not damage pearls to the extent you describe. Have you taken the ... | |
| sterling silver (925) repair | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I have some rings I like that I want slightly bigger, that have fines stones in, but are made of ... A: Jodi. Thanks for this question. I will give it my best shot. As for opals, I cannot tell you a ... | |
| replacement metals for platinum | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: We are trying to find a plain ring for my wedding band. I've had some issues with metal allergies ... A: Johnny, I really like the way you asked this question. What you want and what your need are clearly ... | |
| gold ring | 10/10/2008 |
| Q: I purchase a ring with a 14k stamp the was no other markings near or around this stamp I did have ... A: Steve, thanks for this question. The law in the USA says that if jewelry is stamped with a karat ... | |
| RODIUM PLATING & GEM STONES | 10/9/2008 |
| Q: When you white gold rhodium plated ring has gem stones in, can you replate the ring without removing ... A: Lelane, generally most stones are quite safe in the plating process. The stones which are affected ... | |
| Markings? | 10/8/2008 |
| Q: I have this ring that i bought from a friend, and on the inside of this ring, it has "IEG" with a ... A: Leslie, the only markings I work with are quality marks, those marks indicating the metal and the ... | |
| Ring Marking | 10/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a diamond cluster ring with a central Burmese ruby. The marking inside the ring appears to be ... A: Anne, I will try but without seeing your ring this is tough to answer correctly. The combination of ... | |
| Cracks in sterling silver castings | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: I am having small casting unit and mainly do silver castings. Now a days suddenly shanks of the ... A: I am grateful for the question. I will try to provide sound knowledge, however, please realize ... | |
| loose stone on engagement ring | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: My fiance and I purchased my engagement ring from an estate jeweler about 4 months ago. It is a ... A: CC. Thanks for the question. I will be going on a vacation from this site next week and you got in ... | |
| engagement ring | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I recently sent my ring in for repair as one of the claws holding the diamond had become soft. When ... A: Lesley, I am back. I hope this is worth something to you. Really, after rereading you question my ... | |
| engagement ring | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I recently sent my ring in for repair as one of the claws holding the diamond had become soft. When ... A: Lesley, if you get a chance before this evening let me know what you mean by "sent in" your ring for ... | |
| concerning the rhodium question you asked | 9/5/2008 |
| Q: That person was incorrect in the diagnosis of the rhodium question. OLD white gold does not need to ... A: If you received an answer previously, this is revised due to errors in spellcheck, essentially. This ... | |
| Soldering Sterling charms | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: I purchased several sterling silver charm bracelets and charms to give as gifts. I need to solder ... A: Erica, I am back.. Erica, with little or no experience soldering jump rings, I honestly cannot ... | |
| Soldering Sterling charms | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: I purchased several sterling silver charm bracelets and charms to give as gifts. I need to solder ... A: Erica, yes, soldered charms will not be lost unless a link in the bracelet is eventually worn ... | |
| childs 55 year old bracelt | 9/2/2008 |
| Q: it looks gold on top of exspandle band had a heart with design scrolled and on bracelet also under ... A: Betty. I hope this is a fine day or evening for you. As for the bracelet, there is not really much ... | |
| Gold carat question | 9/1/2008 |
| Q: I am questioning an online auction that advertises it rings as being 14kt. When I specifically asked ... A: Pat. Thanks for this question. Well, a little simple math will answer one question. Pure gold is ... | |
| Cleaning | 8/31/2008 |
| Q: Is it better to clean your jewelry at home with a steam cleaner or ultrasonic? A: Judy, I believe for general cleaning an ultrasonic is the best way to go. If stones are loose and ... | |
| Gold Band Ring | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a beautifully engraved 18k 6mm wide gold band ring. It is a cylinder style and rather thick. ... A: Linda, thanks for this question. The answer is essentially a big YES. Both I and my coworker have ... | |
| gold markings | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a 14K white gold ring, with the only markings "14K FG" and the "G" is a different font that ... A: Scott, I have to go by the markings specified by legal regulation. In this case the markings appear ... | |
| Casting HELP! | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: I started casting at a custom jewelry designer a few months ago and I am doing the casting. The ... A: Katie, I am back. I am back. As said previously, the procedure given looks pretty good except ... | |
| gold dipping | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: I hope you can help me , i actually design and make jewlery from homw , i wanted to learn how to ... A: Nadine. Since you mentioned gold dipping, I assume you want to plate the flowers with gold. If you ... | |
| Grey marks on polishing sterling silver | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: I am having trouble polishing engraving on Sterling Silver items. I have a polishing motor and use ... A: Jane. Thanks for this question. Likely the best way for me to help you with this is to mentally go ... | |
| Finding a company to pour gold jewelry | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: My question may seem strange but I am looking for a company that would melt my pure gold ingots and ... A: Ken, thanks for the question. Actually, this is a more complicated question than it might appear. ... | |
| Marking on my necklace | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: I have a marking on the little charm on my necklace and it has 925 TH and then there is a little ... A: Mckenzie. Glad you wrote me. I do not even begin to try and identify makers marks as stated in the ... | |
| D rings on briolettes | 8/23/2008 |
| Q: Thomas, Another, slightly shorter question. I am interested in attaching briolettes to chain via ... A: Aimee, I do hope this answer will allow attachment of an image. My suggestion is to form the wire ... | |
| shiny gold pendant gets a feather shaped area that is matted?? | 8/22/2008 |
| Q: i bought two shiny gold initial discs with the initials set in diamonds..the discs are separated by ... A: Kim, thanks for using the follow-up since this tells me much more that I had to start. Please ... | |
| Ring resizing | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a question about ring sizing. I would like to get my ring resized. It is now a size 8. I ... A: Kaylee, I suggest you do not use a "while you wait" repair place. While some do fine work, some ... | |
| Ring resizing | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: I have a question about ring sizing. I would like to get my ring resized. It is now a size 8. I ... A: Kaylee. Is this is a white gold 14k ring? Is that what is meant by 4k silver ring? Either way, ... | |
| inexpensive necklace i would like to keep | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: I have this necklace i just bought, and loved. It isn't fine jewelry or anything with a carat ... A: Alicia, thanks for the tough question. The answer is easy, meaning there is really very little you ... | |
| Platinum Ring | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: My husband recently bought me a platinum ring from the Bahamas it is stamped W PLAT inside which I ... A: Sandra, the markings for jewelry as accepted by the USA are not difficult. Since the Bahamas ... | |
| gold melting | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: i recently started melting gold as a hobby and i would like to know perhaps if you know where i can ... A: Kris, thanks for the question but realize I am not an expert in metal melting. We melt gold for two ... | |
| Damge | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: My fiance has noticed that her 18ct yellow and white gold ring has developed cracks and scratches, ... A: Dave, thanks for getting in touch and I am sorry there are problems with your fiancee's ring. ... | |
| broken 10k gold rope necklace | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: I was just wondering if it is possible to repair a small rope chain instead of having to replace it. ... A: Shawn. The basic answer is "yes", the small rope chain may be repaired. The repair will either be ... | |
| Ring repair | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: I just had my ring inspected and need to have the prongs repaired. The estimate for this was much ... A: Penny. To tell it like I see it, repair prices today surprise even me! With the increase in metals ... | |
| repair ring | 8/11/2008 |
| Q: My center diamond is loose in my wedding ring so I need to have it tightened, but I don't know who ... A: I do not know much of Costco since that company is not in my area. They might do the work but I ... | |
| Gold Refining | 8/10/2008 |
| Q: Hi, its me again sir. Remember me? Your information about our topic last time is so helpful. Im ... A: Butch, I would do it much like the refiners do it. The melt the metal(which they know is fine gold) ... | |
| gold markings | 8/10/2008 |
| Q: I bought a pair of jade posts at a thrift store. I know the stones are real- the posts have engraved ... A: Cathy, The only mark on the earposts which counts toward quality of the metal is the 14k. The OCD ... | |
| Soldering Stainless Steel | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: .. I have several stainless steel bracelets that are just marginally long enough to fasten. ... A: Final Answer to Jim. August 9, 2008 Jim, Thomas is back. Perhaps what I say will help you find a ... | |
| Making a Tennis Necklac | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: Recently my mother passed away and I inherited her jewelry. Those diamonds along with many diamonds ... A: Pat, God bless you and the family following the death of your mother. I do want peace for all. As ... | |
| sterling silver painted jewelry | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: My home was broken into recently, and jewelry was stolen. We have recovered most of it, and while ... A: Robin, I would go to a paint store or hardware store with lots of spray paints. Find a gold spray ... | |
| chlorine damage to diamond and platinum | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: we have just got married and my wife is concerned that she could be damaging her engagement ring and ... A: Steve, with all the current talk about chemical damage and specifically chlorine damage to jewelry, ... | |
| ring i found | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: I found a ring in a wealthy neighborhood. It says 925 MEDA on one side and the otherside , it says ... A: Karen, thanks for the question. I believe the ring is sterling silver, making that call from the ... | |
| silver oxidation | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: I have been working on silver oxidation for a few days but havent been able to do it successfully. i ... A: the chemical called Liver of Sulfur or Potash of Sulfur is used regularly to bring dark patina to ... | |
| Metal Quality mark on ring | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: i recently purchased a ring marked .93 950 K14. It is a silver colored band with two gold pieces on ... A: Brandy, thanks for the image. For next time, you could make the picture a good 400% larger and it ... | |
| Platinum marking | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a question about the marking inside my engagement ring. The stamp says "PLATINUM", followed ... A: Kirsten, you have more of a metal quality mark than most folks can expect to get. Using the full ... | |
| Cracked persian turquoise | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge! At an estate sale recently I discovered a ... A: Lavonne. Thanks for the question and really thanks for the picture. This is a fine question and one ... | |
| gold prongs | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: I set gemstones in mostly silver jewelry. I believe it is necessary to somehow heat prongs that are ... A: Follow-Up...Thomas came back. Cindy, you have asked with the follow-up what wheel to use to ... | |
| gold prongs | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: I set gemstones in mostly silver jewelry. I believe it is necessary to somehow heat prongs that are ... A: Cindy. Thanks for this question. Unfortunately, you have been misinformed. Heating a prong to set a ... | |
| soldering .925 silver & 14k yellow gold | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: I want a certain look for my wedding ring. The only problem is that I can't afford to get a 14k ... A: Joy, are the channel diamond bands the yellow gold rings and is the new citrine solitaire the ... | |
| changing the head on a platinum semi-mount | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: ring and using the center stone from a ring I own. The semi-mount has an illusion setting, and the ... A: Vicki, here are the estimates I have for you. In platinum the work is not inexpensive. Even gold ... | |
| changing the head on a platinum semi-mount | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: ring and using the center stone from a ring I own. The semi-mount has an illusion setting, and the ... A: Vicki, this is not your answer but an inquiry from me. I need to have some idea of how the original ... | |
| Italian gold | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: Thomas, I bought a 14K gold rope chain necklace on an online auction site. When it arrived in the ... A: Barbara, the truth is Italian gold is what ever color the manufacturer wants to make their ... | |
| Gold & Diamonds | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: What color is Gold & Diamond's under a black light? A: Lynn. Gold as with most metals does not react to ultraviolet light, the sort produced by a black ... | |
| color variation on sandblasted gold coins | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: Thomas - There is debate among numismatists regarding the colors seen on the very rare (and ... A: Follow-up to Andy, re matte proof coins--------------------------------------- Andy, thanks for ... | |
| Gold Bond Wires in Integrated Circuits | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: .. I am a hobbyist, extracting gold wires from integrated circuits. I have collected a good amount ... A: Butch, thanks for this question. What I say is based from my experience in working precious metals. ... | |
| Enhancing cubic zirconia | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: I bought a cubic zirconia ring and it is very dull and on the yellow side. I have tried cleaning it ... A: Maggie, unfortunately there is no treatment to change the color of a CZ stone. The color is in the ... | |
| color variation on sandblasted gold coins | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: Thomas - There is debate among numismatists regarding the colors seen on the very rare (and ... A: Andy, I am back. And, I do ask a favor of you regarding "rating the expert". I have told you I am ... | |
| Discolored gold bracelet | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: While filling my automatic clorinator on my pool, the odor was overwhelming. This has never ... A: Laura, jewelry cleaner will not work since the discoloration is a chemical reaction. This is what ... | |
| Gold Rings | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: I have triple pierced ears, and wear three sizes of gold stud earrings. My ears are rather ... A: Patricia, you need to get a good polishing cloth, one of the chemically treated ones like Sunshine ... | |
| turquoise bracelet | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a cuff turquoise bracelet that I purchased in Arizona in the 1970s. The bracelet is sterling ... A: Patricia, I am not far from North Carolina but do not know jewelers there. I do wish I could help ... | |
| turquoise bracelet | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a cuff turquoise bracelet that I purchased in Arizona in the 1970s. The bracelet is sterling ... A: Patricia. Back in the 1970's I made a lot of turquoise jewelry items, using stones I cut from ... | |
| allergy | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: I have been wearing my gold wedding ring for 25 years. recently, we were on a trip to Israel and ... A: Debbie, I am sorry about the problems you are having. Is your ring white gold? If not, something ... | |
| requirements | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: What is required to make and sell jewelry or open a jewelry shop in the U.S.? From what I have read ... A: Stephen, if you refer to certification of bench jeweler skills, certification is not required. ... | |
| Diamonique | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: What is your opinion on Diamonique A: Jennifer, Diamonique is cubic zirconia, with the brand name made quite popular by the QVC shopping ... | |
| lost sapphire | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: I got a gold ring with one diamond and 2 sapphires for my 25th wedding anniversary. I have worn it ... A: Margie, we jewelers sometimes say to ourselves, "If something is going to go wrong it will be right ... | |
| Switched rings? | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: What can be done if you suspect that the ring you received back after repairs is not the same ring ... A: Kendra. Thanks for this question. I will give it a go. Switched rings or stones is a bane for the ... | |
| Removal of center stone | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: I have to rings set in a 6 prong head the center stones are 8mm I am wondering how can I remove them ... A: Nancy, you can remove the center stone yourself but there is a good chance this will mess up the ... | |
| opals over time | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: I have heard that opals fade over time. Is that true? Thanks -- Clara A: Clara, lots of myths surround opals. No, opals do not fade over time. The surface may become ... | |
| repair ruby engagement | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: 48 year old ring ruby central with small diamonds around. Shaft broke. One advice was that as ruby ... A: Alan, the higher estimate seem outrageous to me, however I have not seen the ring. You primary ... | |
| Resizing rings with Invisible settings | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I bought my girlfriend a diamond band and it as an invisible setting. She went to get it resized ... A: Dan. Thanks for this question, the second on invisible set stones in the last week. The first ... | |
| markings on a gold chain from italy | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: I received a chain with the mark of ITALY on one side and SP10K on the catch and 10KGIMA (the G ... A: Terry. There is always some confusion as to what markings on gold jewelry actually mean. I will ... | |
| Markings on British gold jewelry | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: I am sorting thru jewelry from my mother and she had several pieces I think belonged to my ... A: Jane, thanks for this very neat question. Of course, without the items in hand I cannot say much ... | |
| Settings of stones | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could tell me is it common to find a diamond with foil on the back of it? ... A: CJ, diamonds never have foil backs. Foil backs are little mirrors applied to the back of glass ... | |
| Soldering on a faceted smoky topaz | 6/29/2008 |
| Q: I do stained glass soldering (not torch) on a variety of stones, etc and have been asked to do a ... A: Barb, it is too bad you do not have a less valuable smoky quartz to use in a trial run. Even so, ... | |
| Ring resizing and/or repair | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: My engagement and wedding band will not come off. A bump of skin has formed between the rings and ... A: Diana, you should get an image with the answer. The explanation is in the text below. Diana, ... | |
| Sizing Error/Stretched Bridal Set | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a 14K bridal set, which was sized down too small. I returned to the jeweler and had them ... A: Sara. Thanks for this question about your concern on how the rings will be made thicker where ... | |
| resetting tennis bracelet | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: I have an old tennis bracelet and one of the links recently broke. I would like to reset all the ... A: The simple answer to being able to purchase blank tennis bracelets is yes. I do not recommend you ... | |
| Engagement ring | 6/24/2008 |
| Q: My husband bought me an engagement ring a few months ago, and I have a question regarding quality. ... A: Sarah, this one gets to me. A good craftsman knows there is control over polishing. It need not be ... | |
| old gold | 6/23/2008 |
| Q: i have several pieces of gold and I'm interested in melting it down to make a medallion where can I ... A: Willie. With gold priced high now, reusing gold you have is a good idea. Where to do it? You will ... | |
| Markings on a Magic-Glo ring | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: Hey there, I saw something very helpful when a previous person asked you a question about the ... A: Heather, generally when jewelry has markings for two metals as with the PLAT and 14k ring, this ... | |
| Purchased 18KGP Ring | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: Purchased a beautiful ring marked 18KGP in Canada,within days however, the plating is flaking off, ... A: Lisa, thanks for this question. Unfortunately, the only satisfactory way of repairing a damaged ... | |
| platinum rings irritation | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: I have two platinum rings purchased from different jewelers that began irritating my finger months ... A: Michelle, you have me perplexed with this question. What is happening and so quickly certainly ... | |
| rhodium | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: I hope you can help. Many people are bringing in yellow gold rings to be electroplated. I have found ... A: Chris, it is good to hear from a working jeweler. First of all, yes, I have had difficulty in ... | |
| prong broke and jeweler says clorine damage | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a topaz yellow gold ring that one prong chipped off. The jeweler says the metal has been ... A: Lorie, thanks for this timely question. You see, chlorine damage is a buzz word in the retail ... | |
| precious metal identification | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: I bought this bracelet at an estate sale. It's a 7" ladies bracelet with a hallmarked clasp. It ... A: Follow-Up to Neal, June 18, 2008--------------------------------- Neal, I am back. and here we go.. ... | |
| gold ring marks and lack of marks | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: I have aquirred a gold ring, purchased as 9k with Emerald and diamond. The ring is marked "750" and ... A: Graeme. This is a good question and my first thought is if the markings are correct, the seller was ... | |
| precious metal identification | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: I bought this bracelet at an estate sale. It's a 7" ladies bracelet with a hallmarked clasp. It ... A: Neal, first of all thanks for the excellent images. The macro of the markings is very clear and ... | |
| ring | 6/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a ring, that inside of the band has , 925 than on the other side a four leave clover. Could ... A: Eve. The clover is either part of the design or the maker mark. The 925 is the number meaning the ... | |
| silver jewelry | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: Ok if I wear a silver ring I know it will tarnish and will need to be polished unlike gold. Copper ... A: Donald. the only way to know if you can wear silver is to try it. You might get a very inexpensive ... | |
| Is my pendent real gold? | 6/12/2008 |
| Q: A few years ago my mother-inlaw gave me a gold saint medal. After wearing it for years the top part ... A: Dina, I believe the pendant is gold. The only way to know for certain is to have the metal tested by ... | |
| Antique ring | 6/12/2008 |
| Q: I read many of the your answers concerning white gold and I feel my question may have been answered ... A: Cynthia, thanks for this question. I suspect the ring was a white gold all along but likely not so ... | |
| soldering steel to 14kw gold | 6/11/2008 |
| Q: I am making a pair of wedding rings w/ 14k white gold and steel - the strip of steel is in the ... A: Quick added follow-up: This will make sense later if you have not read the answer below. The flux ... | |
| Melting Silver | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: I wanted to know if you can help me with a problem I am experiencing during melting sterling silver ... A: follow-up to Stouvant.------------------------------------ We had the need for a very large sheet ... | |
| Gold Content Marks | 6/9/2008 |
| Q: I found a piece on ebay that is marked 720 12K. The picture was not clear but the seller said that ... A: Michele, thanks for this question. You are astute to notice that the marking may very well indicate ... | |
| Melting Silver | 6/9/2008 |
| Q: I wanted to know if you can help me with a problem I am experiencing during melting sterling silver ... A: Stu, my experience is to pour the entire ingot at one time. Any time for the metal to cool between ... | |
| gold ring, and gold coin | 6/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a gold ring with sapphires that I purchased many years ago in S. Korea. It was marked 18K, ... A: Pat, thanks for this question. We possibly have one of two things going on here. The first is that ... | |
| black rhodium | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a black and white diamond ring, that needs the black rhodium redone around the black ... A: Roseanne, the problem is the price of rhodium and the rare use of black rhodium by the jeweler. We ... | |
| Black Stain on Pendant | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: I have a 9ct gold pendant, it is square with raised Chinese lettering on the front and a patterned ... A: Maria, thanks for the question. If the stain is tarnish on the metal that explains why normal ... | |
| markings | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: My brother came back form the Nehterlands and gave a ring to me. It looks good but I think its a ... A: Follow-up to Robert. Robert, to send an image you will need to do one of three things: Ask another ... | |
| re. gold marking | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: I have tried to search what the numbers mean and can not find anything. The stamp say: 10k t.o.b. It ... A: Jimmy. The marks are done according to the legal regulations in the USA for stamping gold. The 10k ... | |
| Is it real 14K | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: I just asked a question about my fiancee's engagement ring and another item popped up. The jeweler ... A: David, I just sent off your first answer. Now as for markings, the ring should be marked but if ... | |
| Engagement ring multiple resizing | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: I recently gave my girlfriend, now fiancee a 14K white gold engagement ring with 5 pave diamonds ... A: David, yours is an unusual circumstance but I am glad you have asked your question about the ring ... | |
| silver rings | 5/30/2008 |
| Q: i recently got a 14k white gold ring on next to the marking ok the 14k is another marking that im ... A: Kristy, there are thousands of marks the makers put on jewelry and this is one of those. The karat ... | |
| 14K Gold Meda China | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: I was just reading a question that a gal named Stacy had asked you last month about some ring guards ... A: Gail, I am back. Stacy graciously got back with me. Yes, she did get a real bargain since jewelers ... | |
| Replacing a Diamond | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: The diamond stone recently fell out of my wife's engagement ring while we were hiking. It is lost ... A: Matt, thanks for the question. Forgive the crude nature of the sketch done quickly with no ... | |
| gold or plate | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: recently got a ring with diamonds. its stamped 14KP and OD. i assume OD is makers mark by reading ... A: Maria. Thanks for this question. The "P" is confusing to lots of people. Back when the standards ... | |
| Gold Watch? | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a watch which has a gold plated strap but what appears to be solid gols casing. it has the ... A: Mark, thanks for the follow-up. I fear the numerals and letters mean nothing at to the quality of ... | |
| Platinum setting bent forward from white gold band | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: I recently got my hand stuck in my dresser and pulled out my hand and discovered that I bend the ... A: Kathy, thanks for this question. When differing opinions are given on a repair the customer begins ... | |
| Gold Watch? | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: I have a watch which has a gold plated strap but what appears to be solid gols casing. it has the ... A: Mark. Thanks for the question. First of all, I am not an expert on watches but do have references to ... | |
| Ring resizing | 5/19/2008 |
| Q: I am wondering if you can give me a cost estimate for resizing my wedding band. It is 14 K white ... A: Cheryl, Without seeing the ring I cannot give more than a ballpark estimate. I am thinking about ... | |
| diamond engagement ring | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: I have been given what looks to me like a victorian engagement ring. The diamond is round, with a ... A: Dee, as I said, I am certainly not an expert on hallmarks. Just to let you know, the hallmark system ... | |
| diamond engagement ring | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: I have been given what looks to me like a victorian engagement ring. The diamond is round, with a ... A: Dee. Thanks for asking my thoughts. I am a jewelry designer and hands-on metal worker, not an expert ... | |
| Plating with mounted stones | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a small pendant holding an Opal stone. The metal casting needs to be re-plated (gold, it ... A: Al, thanks for the question. Depending on the stones and the plating solutions used, plating is ... | |
| bent prongs new head | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: You probably have already answered this before. If so I apologize! I had the head replaced on my ... A: Yes, I have been asked about lost stones and bent prongs before but you have no need to apologize. ... | |
| white gold cracks! | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: For the last year i worked with yellow gold, silver, red gold, but recently i start to work with ... A: Sandra, I am back. Your English is excellent. : ) I am back and am not certain if I can truly ... | |
| white gold turn yellow | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: my wedding ring is white gold, i wear it all the time, i noticed that on the outside it is turning ... A: Nezar, thank you for your question. I do not believe rusty water will make white gold show yellow ... | |
| removing plating from sterling silver ring | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I was searching the net on how to remove the plating that is on a sterling silver/cz ring that I ... A: Robin, thanks for this question. Unfortunately, the plate is likely rhodium and the only way to ... | |
| Gold finish on guitar hardware | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: I read several of your answers, and it is quite apparent that you know your stuff. I hope you have ... A: Michael, you make me very happy. I often do not get to see the results of my advice or hear back ... | |
| mercury on gold...cleaning of | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: How am I to get the mercury off my customers gold ring? File it off? Then my file is ... A: Alison, none of us are really familiar with the issue of mercury on gold. And far fewer know how to ... | |
| Can white gold turn yellow because of my skin? | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: I have my 18k white gold engagement ring for the last 9 months and I am having serious issues with ... A: Louise.Thanks for the question and the wealth of information. You have eliminated many of the ... | |
| decoloration of a ring and charm bracelet | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: is it possible to have jewelry i guess re-dip in gold or sliver A: Yes, it is possible to have items plated with silver or gold; however, this is not practical with ... | |
| Platinum Ring | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a diamond and platinum cocktail ring that was my grandmothers and would like to know what the ... A: John, thanks for the question. With platinum popular today this is a timely question. In years ... | |
| converting earring posts to screwposts | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: I would like to learn about jewelery making and to start I would like to put threads on my earring ... A: Joan, thanks for getting back. Honestly, I have looked for rose gold ear backs from out suppliers ... | |
| gold | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: Is a ring marked "14K China" real 14 K gold the same as 14K ? Thank you A: This question is quite timely because jewelers are hesitant to provide "country of origin" ... | |
| Soldering silver | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a silver project I am wanting to solder together, but I didn't find out until recently that ... A: Sarah. My intent from the start was to feel out the question more and that way I can provide an ... | |
| Smoothing and Finishing Silver After Sawing and Drilling | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: I.m recently retired from the military and enjoying jewelry making for friends and family as a ... A: Larry, I am back with your answer. . You have hit on one of the more difficult and ... | |
| Smoothing and Finishing Silver After Sawing and Drilling | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I.m recently retired from the military and enjoying jewelry making for friends and family as a ... A: Larry, this is not your official answer but is to let you know I have it. Right now, it is zzzzztime ... | |
| matte silver | 5/1/2008 |
| Q: I would like to keep the matte look of silver which has just come out of the pickle solution. What ... A: Yvette, unfortunately I know of no way to protect the wonderful white matte of fine silver. Well, ... | |
| converting earring posts to screwposts | 5/1/2008 |
| Q: I would like to learn about jewelery making and to start I would like to put threads on my earring ... A: Joan. Thanks for the question on threading your ear posts. This is the first time anyone has ... | |
| project for college | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: Thomas, I´m a Spanish student working on a project about stone setting, and I´m looking for an ... A: Paula, take all the time you need to get back with me. We can always to to email if we need to do ... | |
| project for college | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: Thomas, I´m a Spanish student working on a project about stone setting, and I´m looking for an ... A: please use the follow-up or a new question checked "private" to get back to me with your first ... | |
| matte silver | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: I would like to keep the matte look of silver which has just come out of the pickle solution. What ... A: Yvette. Thanks for this question. The white color can be produced by what is called depletion ... | |
| tight fitting silver ring. | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: I bought a size 9 ring. As with other rings I have bought that have fit this one will fit snug are ... A: Kevin, thanks for the question. It sounds like the silver ring needs to be enlarged a little. How ... | |
| Re-polishing an opal? | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: My Grandmother has an opal (she has several being an October baby) that is dull on the surface, but ... A: Cathy, thanks for this question about polishing the opal in your grandmother’s ring. How well the ... | |
| Cracked shank after bleach - what to do? | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: My 9ct white gold ring which is quite wide has suddenly developed a fine crack down its inside and ... A: Anna. Thanks for this question with your concerns about the white gold ring. While I would not ... | |
| Gold finish on guitar hardware | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: I read several of your answers, and it is quite apparent that you know your stuff. I hope you have ... A: follow-up to Michael........ Michael, thanks for the fine rating and for the image upload. I do ... | |
| Gold finish on guitar hardware | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: I read several of your answers, and it is quite apparent that you know your stuff. I hope you have ... A: Michael. I would love to see that guitar. : ) Honestly, there is only one way to really achieve ... | |
| Jewelery Repair | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: I recently took a 10k gold necklace to a small jewelery store to be cleaned. As it was be polished ... A: A.J., I am not an appraiser but items are listed as to condition. A chain with several repairs would ... | |
| necklace | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a very old necklace that was in my mothers effects. It looks like gold in some places but too ... A: Laura, on British items which were gold, a crown and a karat mark were used until 1975. I cannot ... | |
| Jewelery Repair | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: I recently took a 10k gold necklace to a small jewelery store to be cleaned. As it was be polished ... A: A.J., thanks for this question. My answer may be a bit blunt is this sort of thing does no good ... | |
| Could I have bought a 14K surprise? | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: I am hoping you can help me. I just received a set of ring guards that I purchased from ebay. The ... A: Stacy, I got a question today asking about a similar jewelry item as yours. This person purchased as ... | |
| Ring maker | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: Im looking for a ring maker in colorado that can make me a ring but the ring is difficalt it is a ... A: Jeremy, I am sorry but I don't know any jewelers in Colorado. You need to look for a jeweler ... | |
| restoring an opal | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: My apologies for bothering you but I’m not sure where else to pose this question. I have a ... A: Sharon, I almost started my gemstone experience with opals. I consider these gems at the top of my ... | |
| Micro pave ring, is it durable | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: Are the rings covered with diamonds or with lots of sparkle in little diamonds durable? I have heard ... A: Vickie, thanks for this very timely question. WHAT IS MICRO PAVÉ The term “micro pave” refers to ... | |
| Metal Quality Markings - I think :) | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: My mother bought me a ring in Portobello Rd in UK. It's silver with a HUGE amethyst(I think, again) ... A: Leigh, the marks you describe sound very much like the standard marks used in jewelry in the UK. I ... | |
| gold ring dipped in white gold??? | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: i live in southern california and im interested in dipping my gold wedding ring in white gold. is ... A: Brenda, thanks for this timely question. This is timely because many women are now wanting the white ... | |
| markings on ring | 4/13/2008 |
| Q: .i was given a ring i think its white gold and diamond...the markings inside are dia 10, gtd,ga, ... A: Chris, the markings for the most part are not understandable without the ring in my hand. I do not ... | |
| Resizing a ring | 4/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a beautiful ring that needs to be resized. Our local jeweler said it cannot be done; it might ... A: Mary, I know a few jewelers in my area and a very few elsewhere who to bench work. The bench jeweler ... | |
| oriental gold 24k | 4/12/2008 |
| Q: I recently inherited a lot of jewelry from a relative that traveled extensively in the orient from ... A: Michael, in some countries where gold is considered a good property since it has value even when ... | |
| How to antique gold | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: How to anntique a gold ring A: Teresa, it is a coincidence but I answered a question on this same subject a day ago. What I will ... | |
| platinum | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: About 3 years ago, I received a very dainty platinum and diamond solitaire ring, but after a few ... A: first of all, I am sorry about the problems you experienced with the dainty platinum ring. Let’s ... | |
| gold jewerly | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: How do you give yellow gold jewelry an antique appearance? A: Steve, thanks for this question. You ask how to give gold an antique appearance. In fact, most ... | |
| markings on a ring | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THIS OLD RING THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME. INSIDE THE BAND IT HAS: H&S SYMBOL OF A ... A: Linda, I am not an expert on hallmarks however your do appear to be of the United Kingdom sort, i.e. ... | |
| ring | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a ring that is silver and gold in color. It is marked 825. The bottom of the band is worn and ... A: From what you have told me, my first thought is that the ring is costume and the mark 825 is likely ... | |
| Making engraved/etched jewelry | 4/3/2008 |
| Q: Question, Short Version: What is the most economical way for a jewelry beginner to produce ... A: Kimberly, thanks for the question. You are wise in not choosing to do the electroplate work at ... | |
| Mothers ring | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: I was given my mothers ring when she passed a wedding band gold think 9 or 18ct..It is tarnished ... A: Karen, the best contact would be a local jeweler who does custom work. Making something special ... | |
| Gold karat marks (not mfg marks) | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: I have some bracelets from an estate that are marked 22k either "om" or "dm" after the 22k. like 22k ... A: Paul, I am back and to apologize for the delay. I wanted to check the products and hallmarks I could ... | |
| diamond / 14k white gold | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: I am very rough on my rings. I have a invisible setting ring and my diamonds fall out. Can you ... A: Kit. Sorry you are having trouble with stones coming out of your ring. Unfortunately, the ... | |
| 18KGP - What does it mean? | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: Sorry if I've missed this, and you've answered it before. I've got some jewelry components that ... A: Alison, thanks for this question. I will try to help. In Canada, these marks are accepted for gold ... | |
| amber stone in ring | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: I have an amber cabochon silver ring that I had repaired. The shank cracked and had to be soldered ... A: Amy, they should have warned you of any possible damage or changes to the stone before doing the ... | |
| remove glue | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: I bought an 18K dress Rolex that has had the movement replaced. The jeweler who replaced the ... A: Follow up-------ahh..the movement is junk---------------- Considering how the movement was put in, ... | |
| remove glue | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: I bought an 18K dress Rolex that has had the movement replaced. The jeweler who replaced the ... A: Carol, removing the cement all depends on the type of glue used. Generally a better method watch ... | |
| Mohs Scale (measuring hardness of gems) | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: Do you know how "mohs" is pronounced? Is it MOE or MOTHS? Thanks! A: Fi, this scale of relative hardness based on one mineral scratching another lower on the scale was ... | |
| gold | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: i have a gold necklace with an angel wing perndant. last night i must have tossed and turned alot, ... A: Jessica, we repair items like this all the time. A broken wing should be repairable. If gold, ... | |
| 14K marking? | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: I just purchased a cameo pendant claiming to be 14KT gold. The markings on the back of the pendant ... A: Karen, thanks for the question. I have received a lot of questions on gold markings lately. The ... | |
| White gold ring reshaping and resizing | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: My wedding ring no longer fits on my finger and I am thinking about having it resized larger. It is ... A: Lucy, depending on the degree of twist in the band and the width, resizing and "flattening the band" ... | |
| Bonded inside a ring | 3/22/2008 |
| Q: My Mother's wedding rings were purchased in 1948. The inside has etched "Bonded" also "14KT". What ... A: Charlotte, unfortunately without the ring in hand, I cannot tell for certain what the "bonded" may ... | |
| gold verification request | 3/22/2008 |
| Q: I own an PAMP 500g piece of 999 gold. I don't know how to test it's authenticity, but try to test it ... A: First, here is information about the PAMP gold credits: Produits Artistiques de Métaux Précieux is ... | |
| Ring Resize - 8 to a 4.5 | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a lovely size 8 ruby ring that I need resized to a 4.5... I have been to several jewelers and ... A: Kelly, thanks for the question. I went here and saw the image and thank you very much for that. ... | |
| sterling silver | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if I can coat my silver Navajo necklace pieces with clear nail polish on the back of ... A: Marta, the acetone is what used to be the essential ingredient in nail polish remover and is a ... | |
| Removing an emerald from a ring | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a 4+ ct. emerald (emerald cut also) in an 18k gold ring. It is a bevel setting. I'd like to ... A: Colleen, the jeweler will likely use the safest method and that is to cut away the bezel. This is ... | |
| Jewellery Making / Design | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: I would love to create my own gold jewellery to keep or maybe even sell if it looked good enough (I ... A: Susan, your answer could be pages and pages but I will simplify that somewhat. Please give me until ... | |
| garnet ring | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: Thomas I recently acquired a silver ring with a broken garnet in it. Replacing the stone is not a ... A: RJ, give me until tomorrow evening and I will try to put together a simple sketch with an approach ... | |
| About resizing | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I are looking for an engagement ring. We came across one on overstock.com. It ... A: Laura. I do hope my answer was not discouraging. I have to be honest totally and tell it like it ... | |
| About resizing | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I are looking for an engagement ring. We came across one on overstock.com. It ... A: First of all, this is a nice and attractive ring, however I can’t tell how well it is made or how ... | |
| About resizing | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I are looking for an engagement ring. We came across one on overstock.com. It ... A: Laura, this is not your full answer. I will do that tomorrow evening when I get home from work. ... | |
| dull looking gold | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: and thank you for being there for us , my question is , I'am looking at a ring on e-bay, the ring is ... A: Cynthia, I am back as promised. Without a look at the ring I will present a few possible reasons ... | |
| Bracelet Repaire | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: I have 9" 10mm wide 44.9 gm 18K gold bracelets, that was resized, the two rings that were removed ... A: Zeus, thanks for the interesting and complicate situation of the bracelet. I will give it a fair ... | |
| white gold | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: I am a hairstylist and I was washing some ones color out without gloves I've done that many times ... A: Charlene, we have a salon right next to our jewelry business. After some discoloration of jewelry, ... | |
| Scratches on sterling discs | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: I am stamping initials on sterling discs (for necklace pendants.) The 1/2 inch discs come directly ... A: Debbie. Thanks for getting in touch. Sterling silver is relatively soft compared to other precious ... | |
| gold marking | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a ring advertised as 14k gold, but when I received it, it has a coppery color and the ... A: Cheryl, thanks for the link. This seller is well rated and I am certain that would not be the case ... | |
| gold marking | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a ring advertised as 14k gold, but when I received it, it has a coppery color and the ... A: Cheryl, did you purchase this on-line or locally? If on-line, please use the follow up option to ... | |
| gold | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: my father has a 9 carrott gold watch chain the colour is very bright how could we dull down the ... A: Lisa, first be very certain the chain is solid 9 kt gold and not overlaid. Do you see a series of ... | |
| Where can I Learn? | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: I work in retail, but i love to fix things. When people broke the jewelry for sale in our store, i ... A: Melissa. I am always interested in people who find jewelry work pleasing and those who want to ... | |
| silver marks | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: Greetings,I have 2 rings for which I cannot locate the silver marks. One is a silver and marquazite ... A: William. Thanks for this question concerning the silver marks in your rings. Let me give an ... | |
| markings on gold locket | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: My grandmother's 1946 gold locket has the marking 9ct lined. I know that the 9ct bit, but what does ... A: Heidi, I find no reference to this word "lined" used in describing the quality of metal in a jewelry ... | |
| Ring | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: the answers are very informative. My question is: I have a ring that has 3 heart shaped stones, ... A: Mandy, thanks for the question. First of all, I don't try to answer questions about marks for ... | |
| 14K JCM | 3/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a pair earrings and when looking on the post of the earring it says 14K JCM. What does JCM ... A: Debbie, folks nowadays seem to be quite concerned with the markings on jewelry. In the USA, the ... | |
| no marking on gold bangle | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: I recently purchased a gold bangle from a pawn shop and while it has no markings they assured me it ... A: Rhonda, thanks for the fine comment. This encourages me to keep it up here. I have to answer to ... | |
| MARKINGS AND QUALITY MARKS | 3/7/2008 |
| Q: I HAVE A BRACELET AND THERE ARE FIVE MARKS,THREE ARE OF A HEAD THAT LOOKS LIKE MERCURY,THEY FACE ... A: Follow-up. Steve, I took a look at some French hallmarks and a mercury head is there. I have two ... | |
| sterling silver | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if I can coat my silver Navajo necklace pieces with clear nail polish on the back of ... A: you have discovered one of the aspects of silver..the tarnishing effect. Depending on the ... | |
| melting silver for a cast/mold | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: I am just beginning jewelry making and lapidary class at our local park. Is there a formula for ... A: Chris, thanks for this question and best wishes in jewelry work. It is really neat to get the first ... | |
| German Silver? Sterling Silver. | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I know that German and Sterling silvers are two completely different things -- so to speak. I love ... A: follow-up March 4, 2008 9:34pm----------------------------------- Sarah, thanks for the links. ... | |
| German Silver? Sterling Silver. | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I know that German and Sterling silvers are two completely different things -- so to speak. I love ... A: Sarah. I believe this is the first if not one of the few questions I have received about german ... | |
| wondering about the "P" | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a ring that has P14kt in it, and i was wondering what the P stood for, does that mean the ... A: April, this is a good question. I had a similar question a while back and will quote this paragraph ... | |
| no marking on gold bangle | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I recently purchased a gold bangle from a pawn shop and while it has no markings they assured me it ... A: Rhonda, thanks for the bangle question. As for markings, the USA law does not require a jewelry ... | |
| gold ring with single diamond | 3/2/2008 |
| Q: i was given a ring by my husbands late grandmother after she died so we know nothing about it or if ... A: Sam, This is a quick follow-up. This link may help and I believe the man who wrote the article is ... | |
| soldering a sterling silver pendant ring | 3/1/2008 |
| Q: The sterling silver ring holding my pendant on the chain keeps pulling open and I want to know how ... A: Penny I am not perfectly certain of what you mean by "solder it the way it is" but will simply tell ... | |
| Darkening white gold to a black color. | 2/29/2008 |
| Q: I have a man's 1 caret baguette diamond (10 .10 stones) in a channel setting that is 14K white ... A: Tory, thanks for this question. Converting a gold ring to a black color is not as easy as one might ... | |
| sealers for book ends made of lepidolite | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: I have made some book ends of medium grained lepidolite which are very attractive when wet. Trying ... A: Dennis. Lepidolite is an attractive mineral and should make nice bookends. I agree, obtaining a ... | |
| Gold mark 14k PF | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: I recently found a gold ring on the beach with the following mark: 14k PF (followed by another ... A: Teresa, thanks for this question. I understand why you might be curious about your find since I ... | |
| Bracelet Identification | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a gold bracelet with what looks like silver in it. its marked "825 China, it has a shape of a ... A: There is a chance that an 825 gold is coming from China and that would be something like 20k. More ... | |
| not sure if ring is real | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: I found a gold ring with an oval diamond, in side the ring there are two bands on one side it has ... A: Joan, the only marks that mean something to me are the legal markings for the quality of the metal, ... | |
| Removing tarnish from under a CZ in Sterling silver ring | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: I enjoy reading your answers and now hope you can help me too! I have two matching sterling silver ... A: Dianna, thanks for this question about tarnish inside your sterling rings. There are products made ... | |
| wearing gold and silver rings together | 2/23/2008 |
| Q: Thanks for your help A: Angela, silver and gold are of different hardness and there is some outside chance the silver may ... | |
| Acid testing gold | 2/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a question about acid testing gold. I purchased a test kit on ebay. It seems everytime I test ... A: Jeff, thank for the question on using testing acids. First, I will simply run through the way my ... | |
| Pewter beads | 2/22/2008 |
| Q: I saw some very pretty pewter beads on ebay, but I've never worked with pewter - does it discolour? ... A: Liat, thanks for this question. I do not have questions about pewter very often. Old pewter as from ... | |
| chipped sapphire | 2/21/2008 |
| Q: I have a 6.64 carat sapphire for as the center stone of my engagement ring. It is really beautiful. ... A: Kristina, I am sorry your lovely stone has a chip. One solution is to have a jeweler loosen the ... | |
| Resize bracelet | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: Do you think this bracelet (see photo) can be made smaller by removing a link? It is rock crystal ... A: Cathryn, yes a link may be removed but the question is "how" it is done. The most simple method is ... | |
| liver of sulfur patina | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: I would like to ask about liver of sulfur. I recently did a few coins in a class and did some quick ... A: Jane. Thanks for this question. I have not used pmc but would like to try it someday. Work days ... | |
| marking on a ring | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: my mother had recently past away i was going through some of her stuff and found a few rings that ... A: Brandon, when my mom passed away some years ago we had the same situation with some of her jewelry. ... | |
| sterling silver bracelet | 2/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a silver bracelet from my aunt who is in her 70's. It's a hollow bangle. Stamped on the ... A: Melanie, much depends on the present condition of the bangle other than the broken clasp and how ... | |
| Sudden allergic reaction to my wedding ring and other jewerly | 2/17/2008 |
| Q: I have just read your answer to the same question re her having a sudden rash reaction to her ... A: Trish, trying to answer this question is like chasing a rabbit down its trail and the rabbit always ... | |
| Silver turning cloudy after polishing | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: I'm currently learning how to polish my handmade sterling silver jewelry on polishing wheels. On ... A: Nichole, you caught me just at the time I head to the bedroom to get some zzzzzzzz's. I will answer ... | |
| gold | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: i just got an 10kt gold and diamond ring on ebay did not pay alot... i am pretty sure diamond is ... A: April, I have found most eBay sellers to be honest in what they sell. Likely the ring is 10k and to ... | |
| 14k ZEI ring | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: I recently got engaged and my ring has 14k ZEI engraved on the inside. It is turning my finger green ... A: Brandi, thanks for this question. Honestly, without having the ring in my hand there is no way for ... | |
| Ring Resizing | 2/14/2008 |
| Q: I am looking at purchasing a diamond ring guard/enhancer. Can you resize these rings? A: Beth, the best thing is to get the guard as close to size as needed in the first place. However, ... | |
| Bent prong | 2/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 carat round diamond mounted in a yellow gold setting. I do, however, believe the 6 ... A: First of all, there may be several reasons the jeweler did not want to straighten the prong while ... | |
| Palladium with 14K Gold attachment | 2/13/2008 |
| Q: I have designed a ring that I would like in Palladium except for the flower, which I would like in ... A: First, is the jeweler familiar with working palladium? This is an old metal which went away for a ... | |
| putting a CZ in my gold engagement ring | 2/9/2008 |
| Q: After 35 years of marriage, the small diamond in my gold engagement ring fell out and was lost. I'd ... A: Derri, thanks for the question. The only way to know what size and what labor is needed to put the ... | |
| repair / solder stainless steel end cap | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: Can stainless steel jewellery findings be re-soldered? Because I make glass beads I have been asked ... A: Spike, glass work and lamp work has always fascinated me. There is real skill and artistry needed ... | |
| Sterling silver | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: Please tell me I have not ruined my braclet! My son has just returned from a 6 month deployment. He ... A: First of all, yes, there is hope for your bracelet. The heartfelt contents of this bracelet ... | |
| ring head sizing | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: I want to find a ring for a 1 carat diamond. I bought one with a 6mm head, but it is too small. ... A: Martin, here are two links to charts showing a relationship in carat size for round diamonds in mm. ... | |
| Wearing silver next to platinum | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: I've just read your comprehensive answer to a question about wearing a platinum ring next to a white ... A: I wish I could find the previous answer you read. I must have it filed away in storage! Thanks for ... | |
| Coral mishap | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: My mom has a native american coral necklace that she purchased a couple of years ago and did a HUGE ... A: Shelley, I am sorry for the mishap. Folks write me fairly often with tales of bad of experience ... | |
| strange pits | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: I have been casting for 4 years now, and started out using a centrifugal machine. Now I started ... A: Jason, the allexperts computer "middle man machine" requires me to answer you kind comment just like ... | |
| strange pits | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: I have been casting for 4 years now, and started out using a centrifugal machine. Now I started ... A: Jason, I am back. Thanks again for the image. My image did not show so try this link if it is not ... | |
| strange pits | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: I have been casting for 4 years now, and started out using a centrifugal machine. Now I started ... A: Jason, I cast in a small shop and am not an expert on this. However I have used both vacuum and ... | |
| reworking gold & platinum jewelry | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: We bought gold and platinum wedding bands which we later found out could not be sized. I have since ... A: Cayti, here is the answer. I am back and again, thanks for the photo. It is easy to see why a ... | |
| reworking gold & platinum jewelry | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: We bought gold and platinum wedding bands which we later found out could not be sized. I have since ... A: Cayti, this is not your answer. Is there any chance you have photo of the ring? Sometimes the ... | |
| diamond setting pave? | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: What is the current price range for setting .oo5 diamonds in a prong set that looks like pave? I ... A: Carolyn, the minimum we would charge is about $12 per stone. Some of this depends on the setting and ... | |
| my great grandad's ring | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: U.L could u please help me with what these mean thanks A: I am sorry for rejecting the question the first time. My connection was going in and out and when ... | |
| melting gold | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: can gold be poisenious when melting or can i get heavy metal piosioning from melting gold and gold ... A: Jamie, with all the concerns about bio hazards, heavy metals, what we eat..all of that, I am glad ... | |
| Resetting Wedding Ring | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: Currently set in white gold (originally brushed - looked beautiful, almost platinum like - very ... A: Follow-up--------------- Chevera, Thanks for getting back. Sometimes that is a problem if the ... | |
| Hallmark meaning | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: I bought a gold bracelet and on a cast part of the clasp is "14K ISREAL" and on the other side are ... A: Paul, yours is an easy one and that is good for me tonight! The answer is that the EG is most likely ... | |
| Resetting Wedding Ring | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: Currently set in white gold (originally brushed - looked beautiful, almost platinum like - very ... A: Cheverea, thanks so much for this question. I hope the simple ball point sketch is here for you to ... | |
| porosity on custom ring | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: My question is in regards to a custom engagement ring. I recently had the ring made, it is 14k white ... A: Wylie, glad you asked me and sorry for the problems. I will do the best I can with this one. ... | |
| broken necklace | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: I have a beaded necklace that broke. The wire came undone from the loop. It is a wire that was bent ... A: Heidi, thanks for the question. This one is easy and you should be able to find what you need at ... | |
| band style | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: husbands wedding band was gold with two grooves thought were white gold, have worn off.can be ... A: Ann. First, if the white grooves in the ring have lost the white color but the grooves are still ... | |
| Gold Plate Repair/Restoration | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: My wife has some earrings (about a year and a half old) that she's grown attached to, but the ... A: Lonnie, I suggest you first be sure the earrings are costume and not gold. Gold items should have a ... | |
| Soldering near enamel | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a pair of silver enamelled bird earrings. I would like to remove the clip backs and replace ... A: Georgina. Thanks for this question on soldering enameled jewelry. Whether or not post may be safely ... | |
| ring marking | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: I was given a ring with 750 1:19if TW on the inside band. I think the stones are diamonds. Do you ... A: Angie. Thanks for this question. Marks in rings are often confusing to folks not in the business. ... | |
| resetting a bezel ring | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: My question is about whether or not I can reset a ring. For Christmas I got a ring from my ... A: Lauren, thanks for this very neat question. Why neat? Well, first of all you have a center stone ... | |
| Repair of foil back on rhinestones | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: I read your response on replacing foil back rhinestones. My question is, why is it so hard to ... A: Minerva,thanks for this quite interesting question. I am by no means an expert with rhinestones. In ... | |
| Gold Ring Markings | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: I inherited my grandfather's signet ring, it is a plain gold ring with small engravings on the ... A: Stuart, I have many Internet friends in the UK, thought mostly photography related. We hope to visit ... | |
| gold real or not | 1/6/2008 |
| Q: my husband just bought me a tennis bracelet it's stamped 14k he still thinks it's a fake i tried the ... A: You present an iteresting situation. Unfortunately, neither of these “tests” for gold is ... | |
| ring hallmark | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: thanks A: Sarah, the only mark I can identify is the 10k mark. This is the quality mark, telling the karat of ... | |
| metal identification, jewelry adhesives | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: I'm coming at this from a completely different angle than most, so while I'll attempt to include ... A: Nathan, I am still waiting for some reply from my antiquities collector/seller friend. I agree that ... | |
| lack of gold marks | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a bracelet on Ebay. This is from China and was listed by the seller as ... A: Wendy, thanks for the question. No wonder you are wondering about the bracelet! Generally, items ... | |
| scratches | 1/1/2008 |
| Q: Any tips on how to remove very light scratches from a Rhodium plated white gold wrist watch bezel? A: David, a good chemically treated polishing cloth might improve the looks of the bezel. Cloths such ... | |
| 14 K White Gold Peridot and Diamond Earrings | 12/31/2007 |
| Q: I just purchased a 14K White Gold Peridot and Diamond earrings. The metal is stamped 14K but there ... A: Michelle, this is a "not to worry" situation. You see, by law gold items which are marked with a ... | |
| engraving info | 12/31/2007 |
| Q: I HAVE THIS RING AND WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TELL ME WHAT THE ENGRAVING INSIDE IT MEANS. IT IS ... A: Chential, thanks for this question. First, I want to wish you a fine new year and wonderful 2008. ... | |
| diamond ring resize | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: I recently bought a diamond band. It is currently a 7 and we need it to be a 6.25. The jeweler I ... A: Glenn. Thanks for the question. A ring size is approximately 2.5mm or 1/10 inch. This means ... | |
| darker spot on white gold band | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: I bought an engagement ring for my fiancee close to a year ago, with the band made of white gold. ... A: Tyler. Thanks for this question. This one may be difficult to answer with a pin point solution. ... | |
| jewerly marking | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: My friend purchased a diamond (silver/w/ 3 diamonds) ring and the markings inside state 14kt zp - ... A: Monica, the letters "zp" mean nothing to me as far as the quality of the metal or the ring is ... | |
| replacing a stone in a ring setting | 12/25/2007 |
| Q: I have an old sapphire ring. I purchased a beautiful new stone and would like to take out the old ... A: Carolyn, I was doing Christmas today and working late on the eve. Sorry to keep you waiting a day ... | |
| jewelry schools | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: I read an answer you gave to another about learning to solder. How does one find a jewelry school? ... A: Jody, please know this is not the total answer. I will do that tomorrow evening when I get home from ... | |
| wedding band | 12/22/2007 |
| Q: Good Morning, I inherited a box of jewelry and one of the rings id stamped with 14K BOND. Can you ... A: Beth, without the band in my hands this is a difficult one to answer. I have to "suppose" a few ... | |
| is it dipped or Solid | 12/22/2007 |
| Q: I have just purchased a 3 tone gold 9CT bolt link bracelet (it looks extremely similar to this one ... A: Mahni, this question is interesting and one I cannot answer definitively. You see, multiple tone ... | |
| old coral necklace | 12/20/2007 |
| Q: A old coral necklace belonging to my Lithuanian grandmother seems to be giving me a rash around my ... A: Angela. This is the first question I have received about old coral. I will try to help but am not ... | |
| resizing | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: Thomas, I read your responses to another resizing question and looked to see if there were answers ... A: Anthony. This is an interesting question and one I suspect jewelry customers besides you have ... | |
| cleaning old ring | 12/18/2007 |
| Q: Found great-grandmother's ring,1930's or earlier, thought it was silver, after polishing the ring & ... A: Sam, I thank you for this question. Now, another question arises: What is this yellowish metal? I ... | |
| Securing Silver Jump Rings | 12/18/2007 |
| Q: I purchased sterling silver jump rings for my granddaughter to use to make a necklace for her mom ... A: Claire, without soldering the rings which I do imagine is out of the question for this project, the ... | |
| Damaged Sapphire | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: I just had a mounting fixed on a small gold ring with a Ceylon Saphhire. The blue was a through ... A: Eimear. I appreciate this question. I cannot say with certainty what happened if anything to your ... | |
| Gold discoloration | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: I had purchased a gold coloured costume jewellery which had got tarnished. So I cleaned it with ... A: Ashley, the odds of restoring the color to the costume jewelry is quite unlikely. You see, ... | |
| Ruby and Tarnex | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: My ruby ring is now somewhat cloudy and I believe it may be from not removing it while cleaning some ... A: Susan. You are not the first person who has rings with some discoloration from a similar ... | |
| taking paint off silver | 12/14/2007 |
| Q: Hope you can help. I bought a candelabra at a thrift store yesterday that I thought was cast iron ... A: Lucy, interesting thrift store find! Why in the world someone would paint it black I sure can't ... | |
| costum ring marking | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: I'm not sure if Im asking the appropriate question. I have a gold tone costum ring that mark ... A: Alicia. You caught me just before I head off to work. The magnifier you need is a jeweler's loupe. ... | |
| gemstone setting : | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: Thomas , I wanted to know if you would be able to help me with your knowledge; I have been trying ... A: followup…December 10, 2007-------------------------------------------------------------- First, ... | |
| gemstone setting : | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: Thomas , I wanted to know if you would be able to help me with your knowledge; I have been trying ... A: William, there is only a little instruction I can give you through the website here. Many pages and ... | |
| gemstone setting : | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: Thomas , I wanted to know if you would be able to help me with your knowledge; I have been trying ... A: William, the task can take quite a few different directions in how to plan the layout. I will ... | |
| markings on my ring | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: I have a ring which apears to be ruby and diamond. The encoding on the ring appears to read ruman or ... A: I am sorry but I don't have enough information to even know what the question really is. I don't do ... | |
| 14k | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: i have a gold herringbone necklace that is MANY years old and has been sitting in a jewelry box. i ... A: Stehphanie, If you have any doubts at all a jeweler can check the gold rather easily. Call first to ... | |
| 14k | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: i have a gold herringbone necklace that is MANY years old and has been sitting in a jewelry box. i ... A: Stephanie, this is not your full answer. I am hoping you can use the follow-up option to get back to ... | |
| Resizing an engraved ring. | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if a size 7 ring can be resized to a 5. The ring is a three stone/channel ... A: Unfortunately I cannot see the channel set stones in the picture. Some depends on how the stones ... | |
| cz and heat | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if it was possible for cz to turn red (not bright red, but a tint of reddish ... A: Sarah, I have not done any casting in place but do have some knowledge of the process. Their is a ... | |
| Brazing rose gold to a stainless steel band... | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: I have just finished making a stainless steel wedding band for myself. My future wife's band is to ... A: Ben. You must have creative ability and the skill to have done what you have so far. As for the ... | |
| Charm Bracelet Connectors | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: Is there some kind of a 'drop down' connector available to attach an Italian Charm to a dangle charm ... A: Barb, thanks for the question. I will try to help. What determines the connector needed is the ... | |
| Platinun Head Life Span | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: When inspecting my platinum wedding set today the salesperson indicated in the next year I should ... A: Jennifer, platinum generally wears better than gold, tending to burnish into eventually a flattish ... | |
| side view of pendant | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: Thomas-- I appreciate your thoughtful answer to my question about the pendant. I tried to send the ... A: Follow-up.------------------------------ Ann, I see the sketch got through. I will put the web link ... | |
| pendant | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: Thomas-- I will try to attach photos so you can see what I am discussing. If I am unsuccessful, ... A: Final Answer: Ann, you are an inventive person who wants to get it done! That is a good thing, ... | |
| Drilling holes into Turquoise | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I have a Turquoise pendant carved to look like a feather, with one hole on one end of it. I really ... A: Joanna, depending on the stone a jeweler can drill the hole for you. This is the safest way to go. ... | |
| dipping a ring | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: When I purchased my daughters college ring she was wearing yellow gold. She has decided she wants to ... A: Kathy, you have run right into the trend for everything to be white and not yellow. : ) Yellow is ... | |
| Enameling | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: I have colorit kit for enameling. I dont get shine after enameling is complete. Is there any ... A: Good day or evening to you, Bhupesh. Thanks for the question. To start, here is a link to a nice ... | |
| is my wrist watch gold? | 11/27/2007 |
| Q: I have a rather old Chaika lady's wrist watch. It has a number on base metal case 457985. It has a ... A: Mariann, I am not a watchmaker but can help a little. You see, I have little to work with without ... | |
| hallmarks on brooch | 11/26/2007 |
| Q: Re my previous question about a brooch I inherited from my mother: does the slightly curved mark ... A: Anne-Marie, thanks for getting back. The standard marks for precious metals in the USA are either ... | |
| quality of gold ring | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: I recently bought a gold ring on ebay and was wondering about the quality of the gold. It said it ... A: Patti, the marks in your ring are consistent with the legal markings for rings sold in the USA. The ... | |
| bracelet | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: i have a bracelet stamped GAG417 what is this is it real gold how many carats ect A: Ellen, the marks on your bracelet meet the federal law in the USA. The law requires that if the ... | |
| Oxy/MAPP setup? | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: I had a question about getting the right tools for your first bench. As many others on this site ... A: Mark, thanks for this quite interesting question. Yes, several factors determine what sort of torch ... | |
| clasp | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: my friend bought a cross pendnat from tj maxx a couple of years ago, it was stolen and I'm trying to ... A: Kelly, if suspended from the clasp/hook, the device was likely a large "spring ring", of sort used ... | |
| bench jeweler | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I am currently going to school to be a bench jeweler. I enjoy doing bench work, but prefer making ... A: Rachel, you ask if it is possible to work and do mostly design work. The answer is this: It all ... | |
| Safely Melting and Casting Silver and Palladium | 11/18/2007 |
| Q: I would like to (separately) melt some silver and palladium wire that I have, and to cast them into ... A: Matt, your plan of approach appears well thought out except for two major problem areas of which you ... | |
| Nickel allergy | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: I bought my fiancee a beautiful ring with a large center stone, small baguettes (sp) and other ... A: The metals assured not to contain nickel are Platinum, Palladium and Palladium White Gold. ... | |
| Broken Jade Bracelet | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: Thomas, my wife’s jade bracelet has broken at one of the joints connecting the end caps. The jeweler ... A: Al, unfortunately I have no way of locating the manufacturer and I also doubt they would provide an ... | |
| Soldering a jump ring to a ball (sterling silver) | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I'm trying to solder a jump ring to a small ball to hang for earrings. The balls are hollow, but ... A: Tanyia, good evening to you and here we go with an answer. I do hope the picture is there for you to ... | |
| Is it possible to change a ring from Gold to White Gold? | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: My wife's engagement ring is Gold and White Gold with a diamond. Is possible to change the whole ... A: Andrew. Thanks for the question.The general answer is a simple yes, with exceptions. Generally a ... | |
| possibility of sizing 92.5% sterling silver rings | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: I am having a difficult time getting a straight answer from jewellers as to the possibility of ... A: Jan, it all has to do with whether the ring has a plated "non tarnish" surface or not. If there is ... | |
| Small stones on Engagement Ring | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: I have my Grandmother's engagement ring. It's Deco style with a center Diamond, two Diamond chips on ... A: Rob, you are creative in getting me the photo. By the way, this is a clear and very revealing shot. ... | |
| ?Mecury damage to gold rings | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: Yesterday my daughter broke a mercury thermometer in her mouth when i was taking her temperature!! ... A: Maureen, some years ago folks would put mercury on silver dimes and sometimes on jewelry to have ... | |
| silver | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: I will like to know if there's any way you can tell is silver jewelry are real, is there some kind ... A: Jazz, I can't think of a decent test to try at home. Best take it to a jeweler to have the silver ... | |
| Marking | 11/11/2007 |
| Q: I do not know whether this is a trademark or make person mark. So I'm not intentionally asking you ... A: Dawn, I really appreciate your question. Apparently you read the stuff about what questions I really ... | |
| matking on new ring is it real? | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: my ring has a .25CT diamond and is stamped 18KT H.G.E. with a poicture of a diamond ANSWER: ... A: Natasha, I suspect the stone is not a diamond but the only way to know for certain is have a jeweler ... | |
| matking on new ring is it real? | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: my ring has a .25CT diamond and is stamped 18KT H.G.E. with a poicture of a diamond A: Natasha, there are several marks for the quality of metal in a piece of jewelry. You are likely ... | |
| Loose diamond in plat prongs | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: I have my engagement ring ( 18kt white gold with plat prongs) since last dec. and the ring was ... A: Well, I still like the nickname. : ) If you can, please do take a pic of the sides. This is not ... | |
| Gold plated Jewelry | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: Is there something I can use to coat my gold plated earwires and findings to prevent them from ... A: lje, the simple answer is no. Why? Any coating on earwires will wear away quickly. With other ... | |
| Loose diamond in plat prongs | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: I have my engagement ring ( 18kt white gold with plat prongs) since last dec. and the ring was ... A: Am I to be pummeled with grapes dropped from a tree if the answer is not suitable? LOL. What a neat ... | |
| ONYX | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: I have a "onyx" brooch/ pin and matching earrings. The onyx is framed and smooth (does not stick ... A: Theresa, I have seen both genuine onyx and plastic and glass stones in earrings and brooch like you ... | |
| gold ring | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: i have a gold ring it has 18k and 150 stampped on it can you tell me what it means or is it real ... A: Wayne, without seeing the ring in my hands it is not possible to tell you with confidence if the ... | |
| cracked silver | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: i got a silver ring about 3 months ago from a friend from england. it is an english wedding ring, ... A: Heidi, Thanks for the question. I suspect the ring had a defect in the manufacturing process, ... | |
| Amber | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: I have a LARGE Amber "Rock". I would like to have it cut, it has some clear, a lot of goldish ... A: Anita. Lapidary is the word used to describe stone cutting. I did lots of this years ago and ... | |
| gold karat stamp | 10/31/2007 |
| Q: We have the opportunity to purchase a used diamond ring. The receipt that comes with the ring, ... A: Diane, the lack of a karat mark is not unusual in a used ring if the ring has been resized ... | |
| Dark black plating | 10/29/2007 |
| Q: I have recently seen extremely dark black plated 22K gold bangles in the market. I dont know if they ... A: Vikram, I can think a few possibilities besides black rhodium. The first is an old substance used ... | |
| setting CZ | 10/28/2007 |
| Q: Can you tell me what a reasonable cost would be to have a CZ set in a 14K gold or platinum setting ... A: Lisa, even the best cut CZ will not be expensive at all. If you do not have the stone, I suggest one ... | |
| initials or marks on jewelry | 10/28/2007 |
| Q: is there anywhere i can go to see exactly what the mark looks like just to make sure it is that of ... A: Maria, unfortunately finding a manufacturer's trademark is very, very difficult. I along with most ... | |
| ring markings | 10/27/2007 |
| Q: My son found a ring outside when he was playing. Only markings this ring has is RJ 8. Any ideas what ... A: Mim, the only way to know if this is an expensive ring is to have a jeweler check it. A jeweler ... | |
| bezel setting faceted stones | 10/27/2007 |
| Q: I searched the answers and i fear someone has bothered you with this already, but i couldn't find ... A: Annie, you really need some illustrations to show what I will be talking about. I am using a ... | |
| my engagment ring | 10/23/2007 |
| Q: the inside of my ring says 14K on one side and IKS or IK9 on th other-what could it mean? A: Bekah, as you likely know, I do not try to identify the marks of jewelry makers. What I believe the ... | |
| Jewelry Repair Schools | 10/22/2007 |
| Q: I am nearing retirement (RN) and have had a life-long interest in jewelry. I like "fixing" things ... A: Follow-up-------If you already received the first answer, the info at the bottom of this will ... | |
| broken crown | 10/21/2007 |
| Q: My wife's ring prong broke and I need to get it fixed. I read your answer from another question ... A: Kevin, we are in a mess getting undone from a family wedding..I can't answer you question at the ... | |
| hallmarks | 10/21/2007 |
| Q: m kind regards vicki monks ANSWER: Vicki, the 925 is the recognized marking for ... A: Vicki, I looked through three trade publications for hallmarks or for gwr meaning a specific maker. ... | |
| hallmarks | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: m kind regards vicki monks A: Vicki, the 925 is the recognized marking for sterling silver. As for the gwr and the 3 gold bars in ... | |
| Choice of metals to re-set diamond | 10/18/2007 |
| Q: I have a question that I'm not sure you can answer but I'll try anyway! I am re-setting my original ... A: Follow up-----------to MaryLou, an apology for the typos and a touch of added info. Marylou, I ... | |
| 18K High Palladium formula | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: My jewelry created my engagement ring and wedding band out of 18K High Palladium. He told me that ... A: Susan, I just checked in and am on my way to work. I will answer your timely question this evening. ... | |
| Grandmothers old ring. | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: I have an old ring of my grandmothers with a black and white photo of her on it. I've worn it since ... A: Moray, thanks for this touching question. First of all, I am a worker in metals and not plastics. ... | |
| My Engagement Ring | 10/16/2007 |
| Q: Thomas, I have an engagement given to me by my fiancee & would like to am understand what the ... A: Rhidi, thanks so very much for the fine rating. Since we do this totally as volunteer work, for our ... | |
| Gold stamp question? | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a gold colored chain. It is marked an a fancy lobster claw style clasp, (better than lobster ... A: Amy Jo, thanks for this question. The only "Goldrush" with which I am familiar sells mostly gold ... | |
| Resizing marks | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: I recently had my new 18K rose gold wedding band resized from a 6 1/2 to a 6. When I got the ring ... A: Kristina, this is not your answer. I just got home from a local football game and got this question. ... | |
| markings on jewellery | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: wow, i learnt a lot with the past questions that ive read so far and they were really helpful !! =) ... A: Susan, thanks very much for your kind note. However, I must respond to it or the allexperts machine ... | |
| Resetting my ring with pave | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: I am so glad I found you! Maybe you can help me. I am having my engagement diamond reset. The ... A: ___________________________________________________ Stephanie here is the final part of the answer. ... | |
| markings on jewellery | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: wow, i learnt a lot with the past questions that ive read so far and they were really helpful !! =) ... A: Susan, I truly apologize for being a day late with your answer. I found it in the pending files on ... | |
| Resetting my ring with pave | 10/5/2007 |
| Q: I am so glad I found you! Maybe you can help me. I am having my engagement diamond reset. The ... A: Stephanie, I will check prices on manmade and irradiated diamonds at work on Monday. If I can find ... | |
| wedding ring set turned coppery looking | 10/3/2007 |
| Q: Last night I got out of the same hot tub I use about once a week wearing my wedding set, as usual, ... A: Nickie. Thanks for this timely question. The answer is one every person who owns jewelry needs to ... | |
| Gold dip | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: .several times a year, I get a little catalog that sells a jar of a dipping solutions for gold ... A: Donna, I went through the vendors catalogs and did some asking. Some years ago there was a product ... | |
| makers mark | 10/1/2007 |
| Q: My wife has recently acquired some jewelry from her mother that belonged to my wife's grandmother. ... A: From Thomas to Thomas, I have spent many fruitless hours trying to run down manufactures' ... | |
| omega necklace | 9/30/2007 |
| Q: Somehow my yellow gold omega necklace got a small crimp in it. It is not very noticable when you ... A: Shelley. Thanks for getting in touch. Omega necklaces are difficult to repair, that is the short of ... | |
| geme setting | 9/28/2007 |
| Q: Thomas, I recently purchased several mystic topaz gems and originally planned to have someone else ... A: Laura, the first thing you will need is a millimeter gauge, the sliding kind with a jaw to fit on ... | |
| Jewelry repair | 9/27/2007 |
| Q: I repair jewelry for the American Ca Society Discovery Shop, we get all kinds of jewelry in all ... A: Sue, very glad to help even in a small way. I have to follow up to clear the board of pending ... | |
| Restoring antique patina on gold | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: I recently had an antique ring resized at a local jeweler's, unfortunately, they decided to "do me ... A: Follow-up...well, I was so happy to see images not available on allexperts. Then, I went back to the ... | |
| acid test for gold | 9/25/2007 |
| Q: I tested a vintage bracelet that was sold to me at auction as 14K gold. I have used the stone and ... A: follow -up to Leah. There are three primary concerns for gold overlays, the first being gold plate ... | |
| New jewelry from old? | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: We have a very small "collection" of various diamonds and jewelry that we would like reset etc. to ... A: Dave, To find a qualified jeweler means leg work and asking around. First, does the jeweler have a ... | |
| Jewelry repair | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: I repair jewelry for the American Ca Society Discovery Shop, we get all kinds of jewelry in all ... A: First of all, let me thank you for working at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. You see, ... | |
| markings on a ring??? | 9/23/2007 |
| Q: I have an engagement ring (maybe diamond and gold) given to me about 20 yrs ago and I would like to ... A: Linda. A bright and happy day wished for you. First, about an appraisal: You want an appraisal ... | |
| Platinum Ring Resize | 9/22/2007 |
| Q: We just took my wife's platinum engagement ring in to be resized. When we dropped it off they ... A: Patrick, I suspect you are quite anxious about the engagement ring. I will present what I can and ... | |
| Vintage Ring? | 9/20/2007 |
| Q: I have a ring that I bought at one of those curiosity/thrift shops that specializes in novelty ... A: Martina, CZ stones were first on the market to the public in the early 1970's. I remember selling ... | |
| old gold rings | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: grandpa was a jeweler/watchmaker for many years. he died and we have some rings left from the ... A: Andy, the answer all comes down to what the stones are and what the worth of the stones might be. ... | |
| white Gold | 9/17/2007 |
| Q: 417 is this really 10K? A: Thomas. The legal markings for gold in the USA include either a karat stamp, such as 10k, or a ... | |
| 14k? | 9/16/2007 |
| Q: Yesterday I bought the ring for $1 at garage sale. It is marked inside of the band 14K, on the ... A: Janina, my first thought is that the ring is indeed 14k. You see, the letters STS are not ... | |
| is it 14K gold? | 9/15/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a ring at garage sale for $ 1. It is marked inside 14K and on oposite side (inside as ... A: Janina, if the mark is honest, then you have a 14k gold ring, for $1. : ) The STS means nothing ... | |
| black gunk | 9/14/2007 |
| Q: A google search looking for info on cleaning old jewelry led me to some of your answered questions. ... A: Heidi, I am really glad it worked. I thought it might. I have to respond to this follow-up from you ... | |
| Karat Stamp Requirements | 9/14/2007 |
| Q: I've seen some of your answers on this topic, but I'm still somewhat confused. My husband and I ... A: Jillian, this is a fine question. Too many folks are confused about jewelry marking requirements and ... | |
| black gunk | 9/13/2007 |
| Q: A google search looking for info on cleaning old jewelry led me to some of your answered questions. ... A: Heidi, thanks for contacting me. Costume jewelry is not my specialty but I have seen enough of it ... | |
| Damaged bracelet | 9/12/2007 |
| Q: I hope you might be able to shed some light on something strange that happened recently to a ... A: Sue, I must say thanks for your kind comments. And, I must reply or the "allexperts machine" thinks ... | |
| Damaged bracelet | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: I hope you might be able to shed some light on something strange that happened recently to a ... A: Sue, this question is almost perplexing. First of all, I doubt the jewelers got mercury on the ... | |
| gold ring | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: I have received a ring that has 14K & a letter W turned on it's side with the w facing away from the ... A: Sandra. Thanks for the question. Essentially, the 14k with the "E" or sideways "W" next to it ... | |
| gold plating | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: I am hoping for some pearls of wisdom in the gold plating realm. I am a budding jeweler and can't ... A: Virginia, thanks for this question. This is an interesting question and one of the few I receive ... | |
| 18k stamp on platinum ring | 9/8/2007 |
| Q: We bought a platinum engagement ring and had to have it resized from a 6 to a 5 1/2. The ring ... A: Ella, this is a strange one at first glance. First, let me ask you, does the ring have any yellow ... | |
| Care for a dual metal ring | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: I have a ring which is 14 kt gold and has a silver pave setting on top of a butterfly w/ little ... A: KIm. This sort of tarnish can happen over time from exposure to the environment and things that get ... | |
| cracked pearl | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: I have a ring which appears to be a large tahitian pearl set in sterling silver. My grandpa bought ... A: Janie, what came off the pearl was the nacre layer. Nacre is the stuff oysters use to make a pearl. ... | |
| allergic reaction to watch and wedding rings | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: I just read the question and your answer to the woman who was having an allergic reaction to her ... A: Lorna, I do wish I could provide an easy answer to this question. I suspect many women are affected ... | |
| resizing | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: I got a white gold ring that needs to be resized. What should I be looking in a shop when having ... A: Kevin, this is difficult to answer. Why difficult? Difficult simply because I find it hard to judge ... | |
| onyx and diamonds | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible to mount a single circular diamond in a piece of Black Onyx. I have a 14k gold ring ... A: Albert, indeed it is possible to mount a diamond in the stone. The problem is with what and how. ... | |
| Selling silver | 9/3/2007 |
| Q: I have a collection of silver pattern wire and solder inherited from from a silver jewelry hobbiest. ... A: As of this morning, the spot price on the metals market was about $12 US. Judging from that price ... | |
| Selling silver | 9/3/2007 |
| Q: I have a collection of silver pattern wire and solder inherited from from a silver jewelry hobbiest. ... A: Marilyn, please keep in mind that this reply is not your final answer. I need to check current ... | |
| rings | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: My daughter decided to clean our jewlery on the stove with mr clean the problem is she left it on ... A: Dee, not knowing what is in Mr.Clean I am not sure if there is any chemical damage or not. The black ... | |
| preventing gold plating from wearing off | 8/29/2007 |
| Q: I am a jewelry-making instructor for a craft store chain. Recently, I purchased their new Metal ... A: Misti, I saw the Metal Madness chains Michaels sells..is this the same item? Too bad about the ... | |
| indentations or small pits on my sapphire | 8/28/2007 |
| Q: I recently purchased a large sapphire ring and there are very small pits about the size of a pen ... A: Leann, epoxy will work if of the clear sort. One brand stands out but is not easily found. Crafts ... | |
| Brass rings | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: I recently bought alot of rings that say they are brass on the inside and they have these places on ... A: Jenna, it sounds like you have "salesman" samples or perhaps unfinished cast brass jewelry. The "tag ... | |
| discolored gold | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: I sprayed jewerly cleaner on my diamond and gold rings/earrings and diluted it with water in a cup ... A: Malika, this happens to lots of folks and believe me, I do hear about it from concerned ladies. You ... | |
| Engravings | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: i was just wondering whether it was possible to get rid of engravings. i have a 9ct gold bracelet ... A: Stephanie, since the bracelet is 9kt, I can assume fairly safely it is of British manufacture. That ... | |
| Prong and Illusion Settings | 8/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1.12 carat round diamond in a Tiffany 4-prong head mounted on a 9-stone eternity band. As ... A: Follow-up August 24, 2007--------------------------------- Erica, here is the body of your real ... | |
| is it white gold | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: I am puzzled about a ring I just purchased. The band is marked 10K. After that mark there is a ... A: Betty, when it sparkles, I will look for you. : ) No concern here with your ring,Betty. This is ... | |
| hand made custom ring | 8/17/2007 |
| Q: Thomas, I had diamonds reset into a custom made ring, white gold. When I picked it up I noticed ... A: Follow-up to answer: Jennifer, just to let you know where I am coming from, I am a third or even ... | |
| silver pendant | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: I have an old silver locket that opens holding on each side a small photos- the piece itself is ... A: Lisa, if the metal on the locket is thin, the general approach is to “burnish” or “dap” the dent ... | |
| 18K Palladium yellowing?! | 8/14/2007 |
| Q: I read your article about dealing w/while gold that turns yellow. I recently had a custom ring made ... A: MP. Ahh.. you present a very timely question and one with more than one answer. From our ... | |
| iodine stains on gold | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: how does one remove Iodine stains from gold jewelry, my wife was applying tincture iodine 7% to an ... A: Follow-Up...Joe, there is one "at home" method you might try. I am not sure if it will work, ... | |
| brown spots on white gold | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: I recently had rhodium plating re-applied to my engagement ring and wedding band. The engagement ... A: Sharon, it is not normal for a properly done rhodium plate to be spotty. I am not sure of the ... | |
| cost remounting stone | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: I had a custom ring made in Las Vegas for about $700. 14kt gold, 12mm x 9mm green topaz, little ... A: follow up------------------August 6,07 Gary, I have some info for you here. Perhaps some will help. ... | |
| Testing Hematite to determine "genuine or fake?" | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: A geology professor at Occidental College in California said that an easy test for hematite is as ... A: Jayne, other minerals may leave a red to reddish streak on porcelain surfaces. The key to using ... | |
| Can rhodium plating crack from impact? | 8/4/2007 |
| Q: My finance had a custom ring made for me. After much back and forth, lost stones (b/c of faulty ... A: Jennifer, I doubt that the rhodium plate cracked. Rhodium is applied to white gold simply to make ... | |
| ring | 8/2/2007 |
| Q: I have a white gold wedding band with a native carving on it, is it possible to buff off the carving ... A: Randall, if the carving is not too deep, it may be buffed off. This will begin with a sanding ... | |
| Convert screw back earrings to pierced? | 7/30/2007 |
| Q: Thomas, Can antique screw back earrings be converted for pierced ears? The earrings are 18K, about ... A: Pauline, first of all to convert the earrings to post is a fine idea if the set will not be worn as ... | |
| gold | 7/30/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering because I tried using a acid test someone sold me that once rubbed on this stone and ... A: Randall, gold from the earth is generally of higher karat in nugget form than jewelry gold. The acid ... | |
| Info on learning the trade | 7/28/2007 |
| Q: I live in St. Louis Missouri, & would greatly appreciate any advice or insight on how to become a ... A: Mikkaela, Thank you very much for this question. You are correct that the bench jeweler trade is ... | |
| re-sizeing 18ct white gold diamond ring | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: I was trailing through the internet trying to find an answer to my question and i came across this ... A: Rachel, thanks very much for this question. Unfortunately, I am across the Atlantic from you and do ... | |
| Resizing my platinum ring | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: My fiance and I found and bought my dream engagement ring. The only problem? It's a size 7, and my ... A: Kelly, Thanks for the link. This second one worked. Lovely ring and beautiful bride, by the way. ... | |
| Resizing my platinum ring | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: My fiance and I found and bought my dream engagement ring. The only problem? It's a size 7, and my ... A: Kelly, I am back as promised. Lets see what I have to say. Sorry, the link to Shutterfly did not ... | |
| Resizing my platinum ring | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: My fiance and I found and bought my dream engagement ring. The only problem? It's a size 7, and my ... A: Kelly, this is not your answer. That I will do tomorrow evening. You see, I have just petted the ... | |
| Real vs. Fake Hematite | 7/25/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in knowing if there is a way to tell genuine hematite from fake? I have been ... A: Beth, the identification of mounted stones may be difficult, the exception being those which are ... | |
| ring resizing | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a white gold ring 9ct it has three Cz gems, its a size O and i was wondering if its possible ... A: Jade, the work can be done but the quality of the work depends on the jeweler. Some do very fine ... | |
| very worn shank | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a beautiful antique engagement ring that fits perfectly. Unfortunately the shank is very ... A: Vicki, my wife is Vickie... To your question, yes is the simple answer. The how is different. To ... | |
| gold dust | 7/23/2007 |
| Q: I have a jar(like a babyfood jar) full of 14 karat gold dust, can I and if so make it in to a ... A: Jessie, I have not tried to sell gold dust except to refiners. Then, we have several ounces of dust ... | |
| Gold plated Gold??? | 7/22/2007 |
| Q: I have an absolutely amazing antique lava cameo - truly the finest carving I've ever seen - very ... A: Shan, well done high relief cameos are something I do appreciate and only rarely see fine one. Once ... | |
| Oops! Put gold in silver cleaner | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: I mistakenly placed my gold rings in a silver cleaner. They are all 10k yellow gold or higher with ... A: First of all, you have not ruined your jewelry, only given it an undesired surface deposit. Kay, we ... | |
| Soldering | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: I am just a 1 year old baby in world of jewelery making. I am working on cufflink and dying to know ... A: Followup July 23,07_______________________________________ Dwi, you can use the method I mentioned ... | |
| Gold rubbing off on platinum ring | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: I wear a platinum engagement ring on my ring finger and I recently starting wearing an old 22K gold ... A: Jasmine, lovely name by the way, thanks for this question. As you know 22kt gold is quite soft and ... | |
| Soldering | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: I am just a 1 year old baby in world of jewelery making. I am working on cufflink and dying to know ... A: I always appreciate questions from people doing jewelry work. We can all learn something. I will ... | |
| 80 yr old ring | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: I have a wedding band that was my grandma's. I know it's at least 80 yrs.old. I was told that the ... A: whether white gold or platinum, I would cherish that wedding band. It sounds like you have a true ... | |
| yellowing of white gold engagement band | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: My engagement ring has a 14K White gold band. It's only about 7 months old, but compared to my ... A: I send this to clear the board so you might get two slightly different versions of the answer. The ... | |
| yellowing of white gold engagement band | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: My engagement ring has a 14K White gold band. It's only about 7 months old, but compared to my ... A: Here is the answer. Dear Bonnie, Thanks for the kind note. Now, I am here at the keypad typing ... | |
| Changing Posts | 7/17/2007 |
| Q: I purchased a set of silver earrings before discovering the posts were too large gauge for my ears. ... A: Cindy, here is my answer to you. This is a good question and you have a few options to consider. ... | |
| removing gold plate | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: I just read an answer about removing plate from some pieces 12/7/07 in it you mention if you have ... A: Clayton, the removal method depends on the thickness of the plate and if other metals were preplated ... | |
| gold jewelry mark | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: I found a ring at a local thrift store. It has an unusual mark on the inside of the band. On one ... A: Nansy, I gave up trying to identify markings other than the "quality mark" showing the sort of metal ... | |
| platinum and palladium | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: I read your answer to the platinum vs. palladium question and it was very helpful. In follow-up, my ... A: Bob, this is a very relevant question considering the intro of palladium and the popularity of white ... | |
| PALLADIUM VS. PLATINUM RINGS | 7/7/2007 |
| Q: What is the pros and cons of palladium compare to platinum engagement ring? ANSWER: Maryjane, ... A: Follow-up……………………………….July 7,2007 Whom should you believe on the color of platinum and palladium? ... | |
| PALLADIUM VS. PLATINUM RINGS | 7/7/2007 |
| Q: What is the pros and cons of palladium compare to platinum engagement ring? ANSWER: Maryjane, ... A: follow up...................... Maryjane, thanks for the follow-up. Both metals are hypoallergenic, ... | |
| PALLADIUM VS. PLATINUM RINGS | 7/6/2007 |
| Q: What is the pros and cons of palladium compare to platinum engagement ring? A: Maryjane, palladium was considered the “wonder child” of the industry a few years ago as ... | |
| gold chain clasps | 7/6/2007 |
| Q: What do you consider to be the best type and sturdiest of the different type of clasps on gold ... A: This is the first question I have received directly related to clasps for chains and this is an ... | |
| Diamond ring setting | 7/4/2007 |
| Q: About 5 years ago I had a new white gold setting made for my wedding ring. It was previously yellow ... A: Note, I sent this answer again if you get it twice, to correct a typo. I said yellow and should have ... | |
| resizing down | 7/4/2007 |
| Q: How much can you resize down an engraved/etched (on the outside) ring? A: This question is one with no definite answer. First of all, I assume you mean how far down can the ... | |
| ES Gold stamp | 7/3/2007 |
| Q: What does it mean when gold is stamped with an ES A: the ES is none of the marks for gold that I know of. This is not a legal mark in the USA or other ... | |
| Melting gold | 7/1/2007 |
| Q: Several weeks ago I had a ring made overseas, I had my old gold jewellery melted down, I had a ... A: Jenny, I am back with your real answer. This is an interesting question, if for one reason ... | |
| jewellery stamped | |