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Jewelry Making/Questions Answered by Expert Peter Coombs
| Subject | Date Asked |
| .925 silver | 2/1/2012 |
| Q: I have read many of your other answers and find them interesting. I have 3 questions for you. 1. I ... A: It could have simply been through not enough heat. If a crucible becomes too coated with borax, heat ... | |
| .926 silver | 1/29/2012 |
| Q: I have read many of your other answers and find them interesting. I have 3 questions for you. 1. I ... A: Greetings, Yes you can melt if, and it wouldn't be necessary to cut it up first. The elctro plate ... | |
| From Gemstone to Jewelry ? | 12/17/2011 |
| Q: Recently I was cleaning out the attic of relative and I came across an oval emerald Gemstone. ... A: OK, if it is in fact 69ct then it should be about 40~45mm+ across ie almost 2 inches. This is really ... | |
| Replacing enamel paint on Sterling Silver | 12/14/2011 |
| Q: I purchased a sterling silver Pandora Charm that has tiny pink ribbons on it. It is a breast cancer ... A: Greetings, You should be able to remove it with a scorper, or scalpel - using it with care. I would ... | |
| creating a new casting for a bracelet | 10/16/2011 |
| Q: I have two men styled wrist gold bracelets, the first one has links similar to a neck chain and has ... A: Greetings, Using some local vernacular, that sounds like a load of bollocks to me. Maybe, get a ... | |
| Jewelry Making | 10/13/2011 |
| Q: My e-ring is 18K palladium and my wedding band is 14K white gold. Please advise if these combination ... A: Hey Nicole, Never ever heard of this problem, but the only issue as far as I know would be wearing ... | |
| Belt Buckle Ring | 8/27/2011 |
| Q: I have a gold belt buckle ring with inscriptions on the inside. It looks like the markings are a ... A: Howdy, From your description, it's 18Kt and was assayed at the Birmingham Assay Office. The lower ... | |
| soldering silverplate silverware | 8/21/2011 |
| Q: I have been making jewelry from silver plate silverware. I have been experimenting with soldering ... A: Greetings, There is no reason why your pieces wont solder together. You have a number of options. ... | |
| Aluminium Adjustable rings | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: It's me again :) The workman I am employing to cast my rings says he can't make an adjustable ... A: I think there would be two options. Either you work with the aluminium and find what thickness is ... | |
| Three Finger Ring | 6/5/2011 |
| Q: How do I make a one-size-fits-all three finger ring? Does it really matter if the ring fits ... A: Greetings, I wouldn't have thought that it would be too important for them to fit perfectly as they ... | |
| source of chandelier earring findings in 14K (or higher) | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: I have been trying to find a good source of 14k chandelier earring findings online, such as the ones ... A: Greetings, I'm not in the US so don't know your trading terms, but I would have thought that if you ... | |
| silver soldering with micro torch | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: i have prepared my silver properly, but cannot get my solder to flow. I am using a micro torch for ... A: Greetings Ami, Using a micro torch is really similar to a bigger propane torch, however with the ... | |
| Welding Jewelry | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: This I'm afraid is a very basicI am creating junk jewellery, it doesn't need to be super long ... A: Greetings, I think I'd try to use to sort of tabs as part of the shank or detail that can be bent ... | |
| Casting Aluminum | 4/18/2011 |
| Q: Is it possible to cast aluminum using lost wax method? A: Greetings, I'm not too sure that this is possible, mainly because aluminium is difficult to melt and ... | |
| Melting down Gold | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: I would love to know if it is possible to melt down a piece of jewelry in order to make a new piece. ... A: Greetings, In theory this is possible and quite simple...in fact people have been doing it for ... | |
| Handmade Jewelry and Lead Exposure | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: I want to make jewelry (necklaces, rings, earrings, etc.) from pieces of old ceramic/plates/tiles ... A: Greetings, I'd say the risk is really minimal. Lead ingress is usually from ingesting food - hot ... | |
| does the have markings | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: my loose diamond is beautiful.but does a diamond have markings?when i turn it face down it appears ... A: I dont really understand your question. If your diamond is laser engraved, then it's unlikely you'd ... | |
| BRUSH ON GOLD PLATE ON ORGANICS | 2/25/2011 |
| Q: CAN YOU TELL ME OR IS THERE A VIDEO OR ON LINE MANUAL AVAILABLE ON HOW TO APPLY GOLD PLATING TO ... A: I've explained this before, but as far as I know, the is no such thing. You'd have to paint the ... | |
| Broken Wedding Band | 1/25/2011 |
| Q: My wedding band broke yesterday (a solid break on one side) and I was curious if you knew anywhere ... A: I've been away as my Grandmother passed away...in her 103rd year. Anyhow, this sounds quite ... | |
| Necklace | 1/18/2011 |
| Q: I sent my necklace down to you on Monday 10th Jan by registered express post. I was just wondering ... A: My apologies for the delay....but it has been a veritable madhouse here. Days became weeks and I ... | |
| Tea Set | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: We have a sterling silver tea set that was handed down in the family and brothers house burnt. Can ... A: Greetings, If it is in fact silver then it should be possible to polish it or have it polished by a ... | |
| Soldering sterling silver | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: I have recently started trying my hand at filigree jewelry. One of the things that I am having ... A: Greetings, Every time you heat your silver you normalise it. The only way I know to avoid the ... | |
| acetylene gas | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: I learned using acetylene gas and am looking to have my own space in the garage at home. I found a ... A: Apologies for the delay. Simply put, get the smallest tanks. You may decide that you don't wish to ... | |
| Choosing an anvil | 12/25/2010 |
| Q: I have made beaded jewelry for a couple of years now, but am looking to explore metals-- things like ... A: Greetings , Sounds to me as if you don't need an anvil. I'd be thinking more along the line of ... | |
| Necklace Repair | 12/20/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if you know of anyone who will repair a necklace that is base metal with small laser ... A: Sounds like it would probably need to be lead soldered and then re-plated. To be honest, I dont know ... | |
| snap tight | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a matched pair of pink sapphires, trillion cut 4.5mm can I use either the 4mm or 5mm setting ... A: Greetings, I'm not exactly sure what you're asking. I'm assuming that you're talking about a bezel ... | |
| adding stones to engagement ring | 11/29/2010 |
| Q: My engagement ring is a past present future ring. I have lost a lot of weight and was told by Kings ... A: I have no idea what a past present future ring is....but The ring - as it is set with stones - will ... | |
| my gold ring | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: ive looked all over the internet and cant find anythink of the marking of a 15.626 ring my mum as ... A: I cant answer this question for a couple of reasons. Firstly I have no idea of what the number mean ... | |
| where to go? | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: I have a mold for a copy write pendant--would like to have made for costume jewelry-100 or so-who do ... A: Greetings, Depending upon the type of mould, you need to find someone who doea lost-wax casting or ... | |
| melting sterling silver | 3/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a picture frame project I am doing. I have a pattern that will be etched into the wood ... A: Greetings, Simple answer in No you cant melt it into the space....melting point is around 1000C ... | |
| Silver snifters | 3/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a pair of silver (brandy?) snifters. There is a stam on the bottom that says "Wm Rogers & ... A: Greetings, I am not personally familiar with this company, but they seem to be quite illustrious. ... | |
| Low-tech silver casting and moldmaking | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to make a silver pendant, but I am working in a third world country so many supplies ... A: Will, my apoogies for the delay. I find it hard to believe that borax is hard to come by. You can ... | |
| sterling plated vs. silver plated | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: In searching for an answer to the difference between these two platings I could only find sterling ... A: Greetings, As far as I know it isnt possible to sterling plate, however silver plate is what you ... | |
| Melting silver | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: I have read all of your previous answers regarding silver and have a bit of a different one for you. ... A: GREETINGS, It sounds as if you may have a lack of heat as well as oxidation. It is possible to boil ... | |
| Unknown Jewelry Marks | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: I have an ID bracelet that's fairly old. It has a metal mark of "514" stamped on it (much like ... A: Greetings, If it was an assay mark then you would have 12Kt gold....don't think so. It may be some ... | |
| ring | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD GET A MOISINITE 3 STONE RING DIPPED I KNOW ITS A FIRE DIAMOND ITS GOLD ... A: Greetings, Yes you could get your ring electro plated. To be white you could have Nickel, Silver or ... | |
| joining s/s wire | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to make earring using 14g s/s wire. I want to join the ends. Can I use some sort of ... A: Greetings, I am unaware of what the different gauges are....I - like most Europe, UK and Australia ... | |
| Silver symbols/markings | 2/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a bracelet, sterling silver 925, under the 925 is a diamond/kite shape indented, what does ... A: You've got me stumped. Yes 925 means sterling silver, but the kite usually refers to platinum.... ... | |
| Muslim design | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: How can I connect with a Muslim adviser on the appropriate use, in jewelry, of symbols and icons of ... A: My advice is to contact your local Muslim adviser. It would be best to go straight to the top as I ... | |
| Bead Necklaces Break | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: My sister makes me bead and gem necklaces using 20 strand twisted wire. Most times when they are ... A: Greetings, This sounds most peculiar ad I've been scratching my head for a few days over this one. ... | |
| charm bracelet "R" with crown above | 2/10/2008 |
| Q: I inherited my great grandmother's charm bracelet which is 14k with hearts all around it. It has ... A: I am unaware of Rolex ever making jewellery and unfortunately it's impossible to say who what where ... | |
| beaded flatware and wine glasses | 2/9/2008 |
| Q: I am new at this and would like to know what kind of glue to use to get wire to stick to the ... A: Greetings, Glue is always problematic with both glass and metal. This is because its surface is so ... | |
| silver | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: I have alot of sterling silver spoons, butter plates etc can these items be melted to form a bar and ... A: The stamps sound like those for the London Assy Office....the lions face actually standing for ... | |
| silver | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: I have alot of sterling silver spoons, butter plates etc can these items be melted to form a bar and ... A: In the truest sense of the word the only thing that should be stamped sterling is english sterling ... | |
| silver | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: I have alot of sterling silver spoons, butter plates etc can these items be melted to form a bar and ... A: Greetings, Yes you can melt them down to make bars, but they will be sterling silver - if you are ... | |
| enameling | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: I am doing enameling on silver (92.5 silver + 7.5 copper). but the enamel is chipping of in the ... A: Greetings, I don't envy you - enameling on 925 is a real head ache. The easiest way to avoid this ... | |
| sterling silver | 1/30/2008 |
| Q: I was just wondering what the different terminologies mean in regards to sterling silver in sheets. ... A: I would be considering getting a few pieces 0.8mm, 1.0mm and 1.2mm. These are the most common bench ... | |
| Loose stones/Center stone | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: I have diamond earrings that I would like to add to the center stone of my princess cut engagement ... A: Greetings Rachel, My apologies for my slow response as I have been at an all consuming Jewellery ... | |
| Casting a medallion | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I'd like to cast a medallion out of 1oz copper, 1 oz gold, 1 oz tin, 1 oz ultra fine industrial ... A: Greetings Scott, My apologies for my slow response as I have been at an all consuming Jewellery ... | |
| making pendants | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: ,,,,dear peter,,,i have a kiln for ceramic..and some silver ...out of what material can i make a ... A: Greetings Grace, My apologies for my slow response as I have been at an all consuming Jewellery ... | |
| resizing a silver ring with art clay's silver clay | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a silver ring and I need it sized up a few size and I heard that silver clay may work if I ... A: Greetings Irene, My apologies for my slow response as I have been at an all consuming Jewellery ... | |
| crucibles | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I have about one pound of gold and 4 pounds of silver, all of which is scrap. Can I use a ceramic ... A: Yes, it's a white powder that will melt with heat. supermarket, chemist wherever you can get it... ... | |
| diamond earrings (stud) | 1/21/2008 |
| Q: Do diamond earrings have to be certified diamonds, if it is only 1 carat. And if they aren't is it ... A: Greetings, My apologies for my slow response as I have been at an all consuming Jewellery ... | |
| Identifying maker of ring | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: I am hoping you can help me figure out who the maker of my ring was. It is silver & the hallmark ... A: Greetings, Its really hard to say, but that sounds like the mark for Dublin........however this ... | |
| Re: alloying silver with propane and oxygen | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: We are just new to metalsmithing and are seeking information on alloying silver. We have weighed up ... A: Greetings, Everything you are doing sounds correct, however I've always put all the granules ... | |
| 925 and Diamonds..... | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: Would you happen to know if diamonds where common in the 925 stamped bracelet..........if so it may ... A: Greetings, If a magnet sticks then you don't have precious metal...however if its a flexible piece ... | |
| silver ear wires leave marks | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: I have made some earrings using a couple of different commercially available sterling silver ear ... A: Greetings, It sounds as if your skin acid is reacting with the copper component in the silver. its ... | |
| Dipping into molten silver... | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: Is it possible to dip a stone into recently molten silver... without having to stone explode? And if ... A: Greetings, I doubt that you would be able to control well enough the molten metal to achieve your ... | |
| crucibles | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: I have about one pound of gold and 4 pounds of silver, all of which is scrap. Can I use a ceramic ... A: If you are simply planning on melting and pouring the metals, then a ceramic crucible would be the ... | |
| "Carve 925" | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: I've purchased a Solid Sterling Silver "925" Carve bracelet. At least that's what the packaging ... A: Greetings, To be honest I've not heard of 925 Carve. As far as I know, carve means carve.....but ... | |
| 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: I think that you would be able to get these supplies from a beading shop or a jewellery / stone ... | |
| 925 stamp | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: When did they start using the 925 stamp on silver items? I'm seeing an "ancient roman artifact" with ... A: Greetings, Britain regulated in conformity the work of Silversmiths from the late 12th century. From ... | |
| assembling a puzzle ring | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: To Whom It May Concern: I have two gorgeous cancer the crab puzzle rings handed down to me from my ... A: Greetings, and Ouch, I feel for you. You might try one of these sites ... | |
| SIlver clay | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: I've been reading about silver clay and am wondering if this might be a suitable substance. I'm ... A: I havent used the metal clay but have watched some footage of it being worked and would suggest that ... | |
| cleaning sterling silver | 12/29/2007 |
| Q: I own a retail shop and I sell mostly silver jewellery, plain and with stones. Do you have any ... A: Greetings and sorry for the delay.....I needed to get away. The black spots could be many things. ... | |
| scrap silver | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: For years i have scrapped what i believe to be silver points from different electrical connections. ... A: Apologies for the slow response, I had to get away after the madness leading up to Xmas. As you ... | |
| soldering | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: i have been taking jewelry making classes for almost two years. i been trying to silver head pins ... A: Sorry for teh delay, iut's been crazy busy here in the lead up to Xmas.......... The only way to ... | |
| Jewelry Trademark | 12/20/2007 |
| Q: I have a Tanzanite and Diamond Necklace that has the trademark D.O.F. stamped on the piece. Can you ... A: Sorry for teh delay, iut's been crazy busy here in the lead up to Xmas.......... I have answered ... | |
| Sterling Silver Cross | 12/20/2007 |
| Q: I purchased a sterling silver cross (stamped 925) from JC Penney's last year for Christmas. A year ... A: You need to grow up and realise that there is a big wide world out there outside of America.....and ... | |
| Pre-heating molds | 12/14/2007 |
| Q: I've been reading many of your previous responses and they've been invaluable and quite helpful -- ... A: Greetings, Sorry for the delay, I've been contemplating your question. I'm not convinced that your ... | |
| silver marking | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: I have a gold that marked 925 CL. I know 925 means sterling silver but o you have any idea what CL ... A: In the UK, pieces not marked with the lion need to be described as whitel metal even if it is the ... | |
| Silverware jewelry | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: What is the best kind of metal of silverware should you use when making rings? My husband heated up ... A: Greetings,'' You will be able to re-polish stainless, the colouring is only on the surface. You'd ... | |
| dark spot in sterling silver | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: I had few question regarding the alloy for silver sterling. Sometimes shiny surface sterling silver ... A: My Apologies, I thought I'd answered this question last week. I'm guessing that what you are ... | |
| mark identification | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: i have a necklace with a mark that looks like a capital P over a capital D with 2 leafy vine looking ... A: Greetings, I apologise for the delay in response, I've been on the road and forgot to automate the ... | |
| grandma's ring made new. | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: Hey there, I was wondering, I have inherited 3 generations of wedding ring sets,from my ... A: Greetings, Yes it would be possible to melt them all down together to make a new ring. The problem ... | |
| Removing flux from cast metal | 11/23/2007 |
| Q: I'm about to undertake my first casting project after a series of successful simpler projects, and ... A: Greetings, I'm wondering what the simpler projects were and whether they were casting or other ... | |
| Liquid gold jewerly coating | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I couldn't find the answer to thisHello..several times a year, I get a little catalog that sells a ... A: Greetings, I'm assuming that you are in the US. In Australia the most common dipping solution - ... | |
| Vintage Knives & pens | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: I know this isn't exactly jewelry, but any idea how to make refillable pens out of vintage hollow ... A: Greetings, I'm guessing thta thye've worked out how to make a cap to fit the refill....and then ... | |
| 14k soldering problem | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: i am a jeweler by trade and a silversmith by lack of $ for gold ;) I have recently had some 14k ... A: Greetings, I am unsure of a few of your prodicts, however, I would suggest that you use silver ... | |
| Melting Metal | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: I was just reading some previous questions that were listed regarding problems with melting metal. I ... A: Howdy, I have a variety of torches. I would look out for a jewellery supply house in your vicinity ... | |
| Melting gold | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: Peter, I tried melting 2.5 oz of 24K gold in a clay (white) crucible. I used a Mapp gas torch from ... A: Greetings, There are a couple of basic things that you need to address. Firstly, I dont know what a ... | |
| forming a ring | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: Hey, Lately i've been trying to cast silver i managed to melt it but it bundles up into a ball and ... A: Greetings, Sorr for the delay, I've been traveling a bit lately. It sounds like your molten metal is ... | |
| correct tools/bottlecap earrings | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: I would like to drill a (earring wire size) hole in a metal bottle cap (in the middle of the caps ... A: Greetings, I would be setting up a mount using wood, so that it fits inside the lid and the drilled ... | |
| working with horn | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: Heya Peter! I recently ordered and received a large water buffalo horn. I'm looking to make some ... A: Hey Steve, Working wit horn is quite simple. I would try a studio design jeweller, or even someone ... | |
| CZ stamping | 9/9/2007 |
| Q: I have an engagment ring that is Cubic Zirconia. We couldn't afford real diamonds when we got ... A: Greetings, Yes the stamp can be removed easily by filing it away and then re-polishing the band ... | |
| markings on a ring | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: I have a diamond engagement ring that is marked 18K and AJR on the inside. Any clue to who AJR is? A: Greetings, As you only have those marking then its impossible to guess even. If it was marked with ... | |
| Broken Wedding Ring | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: My wife bought me this ring for our wedding about three months ago; I have been wearing the ring ... A: Greetings, The reason that there is a clean break is that it has split through the joint. This ... | |
| resizing | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: I have an engagement ring that needs to be resized. Its made with white gold. The ring is too big ... A: Greetings, A good jeweller will be able to repair or resize your ring without you being able to ... | |
| melting silver | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: my father over the past 2 years has bought me approximately: 1X 3 oz. figaro chain 1x 4 oz. curb ... A: Greetings, Yes you cold melt down all your silver and make one chain. You would likely get a return ... | |
| SS Leave supplies | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: From one silversmith to another? I am having a hard time finding decent SS Leaves except from the ... A: Howdy, I've been doing a bit of a search for a few day and haven't really found any of my suppliers ... | |
| soldering | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: I have a small business and one part of it is retailing rhinestone & crystal jewelry. Occasionally ... A: Greetings, I'm assuming that you are in America.... In Australia you would be wanting to pay them ... | |
| grandmothers ring | 8/25/2007 |
| Q: I have recently inherited my grandmothers ring. It has an anchor, 22, crown, small lower case r or ... A: Greetings, The symbols mean Anchor = Birmingham Assay Office Anchor on it's side = Gold or Platinum ... | |
| diamonds & SS | 8/24/2007 |
| Q: Do jewelry makers put real diamonds in sterling silver settings? I found a sterling silver ring and ... A: The answer to this is yes, no, maybe. Yes, diamonds are put in sterling. No, not all fiery white ... | |
| flat wire | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: I have been looking everywhere for flat wire to use for stringing component bracelets instead of the ... A: Greetings, I'm assuming that you are looking for sterling silver wire? My suggestion would be to ... | |
| 14k white gold PAT-E ring | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: I have an older 14k white gold diamond wedding ring and on the inside of the band, it is stamped ... A: Greetings, I have dealt with this subject many times. Unfortunately there is no definitive ... | |
| oxidized silver | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: Hi, I am looking at ways to give copper & Silver beads/wire an antiqued look. Does any one of you ... A: You need to get some Potassium Sulphide other known as Liver of Sulphur. This will blacked silver ... | |
| White Gold Jewelry into Yellow Gold | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: I received a ring from my grandma's estate, which is white gold. However, I do not wear white gold, ... A: Yes, you can get it plated. The outcome will depend upon the quality of the ring and how worn it is. ... | |
| Re-using found gold earring | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: ) I recently found a 14k hoop earring smooshed on the road while walking & I would like to melt it ... A: Yes, it would be possible to transform the hoop into a ring and the method that you describe should ... | |
| Wire Wrapped Pendant | 8/14/2007 |
| Q: I recently purchased a mother of pearl pendant. It is square with the main hole in one corner ... A: Greetings, This can be achieved easily using a good clear glue. In fact most swarovski is attached ... | |
| patina on a silver chain | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a few feet of silver chain at a bead store and would like to patina it with liver of ... A: Greetings, It may be that your chain is not silver or alternatively has a coating. I would try ... | |
| melting steling | 8/7/2007 |
| Q: Peter, What is the safest most economical way of melting sterling silver. approx 1000 grams 2 How ... A: Greetings, The safest and easiest way to achieve this is in a furnace with a crucible.... To make ... | |
| rings on stretchy cord | 8/7/2007 |
| Q: I have been making flower rings on fishing line but one customer wants me to string it on stretchy ... A: Greetings, Your jewellery sounds fun but it is very different from what I do. I would be trying a ... | |
| Could you make a ring with a snake on it with the number 9 | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: Dear Mr coombs I have a lot of old gold Jewelry I would like to have it melted down and make a ... A: It would be possible to create what you ask, and dependent upon how much gold you have, then it may ... | |
| Melting diamond jewelry | 8/2/2007 |
| Q: I have heard that diamond jewelry can be melted, without removing the diamonds since they both have ... A: Greetings, well yes it is possible however you will end up with a nugget which will contain the ... | |
| gold ring | 8/1/2007 |
| Q: I have an old gold ring that has on the inside the following: SH a crown 22 an anchor h What do ... A: Greetings, The marks on your ring refer to the maker and where it was assayed. SH would be the ... | |
| COP marking on gold ring | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: Peter, Came across a gold-colored ring that is marked "COP" followed by a copyright symbol, then ... A: Greetings Joe, I have answered many similar answers in the past. Unfortunately there are no hard ... | |
| Determining if a tray is silver or silver plate | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a tray given to me as a gift. I was wondering if there is a way to determine if the tray is ... A: Greetings, If the tray is the size you suggest then the material would be around $2000 before ... | |
| Markings on Rings | 7/23/2007 |
| Q: I have an gold diamond ring, but there does not seem to be any markings or stamps on it. Could you ... A: Greetings, There is no law that a ring needs to be stamped with any markings at all. It is usually ... | |
| color stone jewelry | 7/23/2007 |
| Q: how do i recycle color stone jewelry....plain as well as with diamonds. can i melt them...if yes ... A: Ok, I understand, but the problem is that the stones have a very high melting point, so you do need ... | |
| glass vial pendants | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: I'm making a necklace with my wisdom tooth and would like to find a glass vial pendant that will fit ... A: Greetings, This is a difficult one to answer as I dont really iuse such things. I would suggest you ... | |
| Solder and silverware | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: I'm an artisan who creates beaded jewelry and I have recently been tackling beading silverware, ... A: Greetings, The solder and clay that you refer to requires heat of around 800C, which obviously is ... | |
| color stone jewelry | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: how do i recycle color stone jewelry....plain as well as with diamonds. can i melt them...if yes ... A: Greetings, First you need to remove the stones, which is quite easy using a flat graver or setting ... | |
| Silver ring settings | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: I have spent numerous hours on the internet trying to find a website that sells sterling silver 925? ... A: Greetings, Generally once you get to that ort of size, you would make the setting yourself. Not ... | |
| blacker silver oxidation | 6/21/2007 |
| Q: I'm oxidizing sterling silver for the first time. I used a Jax product with so so result and I'm ... A: My apologies for the delay. As far as I know, there really isn't an easy way to make sterling silver ... | |
| Silver Finish | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: I have recently started casting jewelry in sterling silver. I will soon begin the process of ... A: The most important thing to do with finishing any piece of jewellery is that the form and lines are ... | |
| silverware pens | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: i've been wanting to make silverware pens but can't find the supplies/sources for the pen tips or ... A: Greetings, I used to make hand made pens and was able to purchase montblanc replacement nib sets ... | |
| casting silver ring | 6/11/2007 |
| Q: I am going to get married but my partner doesn't want to have golden rings. Therefore we decided to ... A: The best silver alloy for this is sterling silver 925 parts fine silver 75 parts pure copper. You ... | |
| Custom Design | 6/7/2007 |
| Q: I need someone to make a pendant consisting of the following: 2 intertwined dragons one with a ... A: The stones for September are: Sapphire - Modern Agate - Mystical Moonstone -Ayurvedic and the ... | |
| Do you have assay offices in USA | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: I've recently moved to Florida from England and need to know where I can get the jewellery I make ... A: Greetings, I am in Australia and as far as I know assay marks and makers marks can be applied by ... | |
| molding silver around an object | 5/20/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering what would be the best way to mold silver around something. I have an ammonite that ... A: Greetings, I would read my previous responses which will explain the processes required. Quickly, ... | |
| 18k with palladium 10% stamp | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: What stamp should I put on 18K white gold ring with Palladium 10%? ANSWER: Greetings, The stamp ... A: Strictly speaking it can only say that it is 18K in any form you choose. However, you can put ... | |
| melting Sterling silver | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: I've bought round S/S wire for jewellery making. But I also want to make some head pins with this ... A: You can probably get a gas torch and nozzle from Bunnings, although the range probably isn't the ... | |
| "18K" white gold ring without trademark | 5/5/2007 |
| Q: After visiting a jeweler to find a wedding band, and doing some internet research, I've learned that ... A: Greetings, By your spelling of jeweller, I assume that you are in America. Traditionally jewellery ... | |
| melting Sterling silver | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: I've bought round S/S wire for jewellery making. But I also want to make some head pins with this ... A: Greetings, This is incredible easy to achieve. If you want balls which are stand alone, then the ... | |
| maker's mark? | 4/28/2007 |
| Q: the mark is difficult to see, but it's a small shamrock,with a small star beside it and the letter ... A: I have no knowledge of the Shamrock as a Hallmark. The main Assay Office in Ireland is Dublin and ... | |
| soldering 14k gold | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: to join ends of flat wire 14k gold for a ring what is the best technique? A: Greetings, ensure that both ends are clean and flat. Spring them against each other and then cut ... | |
| 10kt white gold mens bracelet | 4/19/2007 |
| Q: I received a 10kt white gold bracelet from a friend of mine, which she won in an auction. It is ... A: Greetings, I apologise for the delay.........but I have answered this question already. Don't know ... | |
| just for a little extra money | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: Everyone seems to have questions about serious jewelry- fine stones and gold. I just want to make ... A: Greeting and my apologies for the slow response. I answered this question some time ago and it has ... | |
| sterling silver making | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: i'd like to know where i can find a place to make the sterling silver jewelry for me in san ... A: Greetings, My apologies for my slow response - I've just been finishing a major ceremonial piece. ... | |
| making earrings | 4/4/2007 |
| Q: I want to know if it is possible to make earrings out of laminated paper, and if so, how do you do ... A: Greetings, My apologies for my slow response - I've just been finishing a major ceremonial piece. ... | |
| polishing silver | 4/4/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to polish my sterling pieces by tumbling with steel shot. The pieces I am tumbling ... A: Greetings, My apologies for my slow response - I've just been finishing a major ceremonial piece. ... | |
| oxidising Sterling Silver | 4/3/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering how I can artificially oxidise Sterling Silver? I have read about 'liver of ... A: Greetings, Liver of Sulphur is otherwise Potassium Sulphide - you used to be able to buy it at the ... | |
| making a ring | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: My wedding ring broke into 4 pieces, I also have my dad's old wedding ring. Can have them melted ... A: Greetings, for your wedding ring to have broken into 4 pieces it must have been quite brittle, or ... | |
| best technique for finishing silver | 3/26/2007 |
| Q: i have been working silver and gold for for quite a while now but still have not come up with a good ... A: Greetings, Sterling Silver will always tarnish after some time, however there are a few ways to ... | |
| Silverware | 3/21/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in turning vintage silverware (silver plated mostly - some stainless) into rings and ... A: Greetings, I apologise for the slow response, having just got married a couple of weeks ago I've ... | |
| vermeil coating,sterling jewelry | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: . I am trying to remove the vermeil coating on a sterling siver bead necklace,I am a great detail ... A: Greetings, I apologise for the slow response, having just got married a couple of weeks ago I've ... | |
| ring marking | 3/10/2007 |
| Q: i found this engagement ring that has a symbol and a 7 engraved on it what does this mean? A: Greetings, It's really difficult to say what this means without knowing what the symbol is. It's ... | |
| Wire Work | 2/24/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to make myself a watch band using malachite stones. These stones have no holes in them. ... A: I think the easiest way would be to make a 4 stand cage which would have the 4 strands open and then ... | |
| gold plating | 2/2/2007 |
| Q: I'm interested in gold plating natural objects like leaves and using them as jewelry. I've been ... A: Greetings, and I apologise sincerely for my slow response as my All Expert e-mail have been getting ... | |
| Wedding band, making smaller | 1/31/2007 |
| Q: I have been losing weight and my wedding band is slipping off of my finger. I have used masking ... A: Greetings, and I apologies sincerely for my slow response as my All Expert e-mail have been getting ... | |
| making impresions with silver | 1/27/2007 |
| Q: I have purchased a sterling silver charm with my daughters index finger imprint. I saw how the woman ... A: Greetings, and I apologise sincerely for my slow response as my All Expert e-mail have been getting ... | |
| Pave setting very weak | 1/26/2007 |
| Q: I have a ring that I absolutely adore, it is a pave setting with 2mm champagne diamonds. Went to the ... A: Greetings, and I apologise sincerely for my slow response as my All Expert e-mail have been getting ... | |
| re-sizing stainless steel ring | 1/18/2007 |
| Q: I just bought my fiance's wedding band and found out that it's a half size too big. Can stainless ... A: Greetings, I only work with precious metal, however I see no reason why stainless cant be re-sized. ... | |
| starting my own business in custom jewelry | 1/18/2007 |
| Q: where is the best place for learning the trade. A: The short answer is that anywhere that allows a good ammount of bench time, so that you can attain ... | |
| what type of necklace is this? | 1/12/2007 |
| Q: I can't remember what you call the necklace that is basically a ling chain and has a hoop in ... A: I apologise for my slow response. The type of necklace is a Charm Necklace, similar to a charm ... | |
| Torch | 1/6/2007 |
| Q: I am just starting out with this new so called hobby, as I had found the jewelry channel on the TV. ... A: I apologies for my slow response........its been a mad part of the year. Firstly congrats and good ... | |
| Misshapen ring | 12/29/2006 |
| Q: My husband bought me an antique "replica" ring for X-mas from Ebay. Some aspects of the ring are ... A: I apologise for the late response. It is really hard to answer this question with out seeing the ... | |
| Irish jewelery | 12/25/2006 |
| Q: Trade Mark on back: ( L9 ) + (fish diagram in square + (J in a eight sided rectangle. Any ... A: Greetings, Its a really difficult one to answer. Currently there is no register of maker's marks, ... | |
| Jewelry Repair | 12/18/2006 |
| Q: ,,,merry xmas to you also,,,,,One follow up question. How long of a transition period would work?? ... A: I would be wanting to take the time to do an intensive jewellery/gemstone course, which may take ... | |
| Jewelry Repair | 12/15/2006 |
| Q: I am 26 years old and I have never worked with jewelry a day in my life. I currently work as a ... A: Greetings, It could be a gold mine and could also be fraught with danger. My main concern would be ... | |
| liquid solder | 12/12/2006 |
| Q: I need to repair some link silver necklaces. Is there a liquid solder that you would recommend to ... A: I apologise for my late response. I have seen some paste solders which apparently work very well. I ... | |
| pendent | 12/11/2006 |
| Q: I have what i believe is a sterling silver locket that you put a picture in, on the inside is an H ... A: I apologise for my slow response. Unfortunately its almost impossible these days to determine who ... | |
| locket and chain | 12/9/2006 |
| Q: I bought a locket and chain that I think is plated silver. It says 800 Ster PPC. Could you tell ... A: In the groupings of Karat depiction numbers 800 means nothing as far as I know, however in the old ... | |
| silver casting | 12/5/2006 |
| Q: I want to mill a cavity into a piece of aluminum plate, and use this as a mold for casting silver. I ... A: Greetings, I would not be using Aluminium as it melts at around 400C, whereas the silver will be ... | |
| bracelets | 12/5/2006 |
| Q: my wrist is very small so whenever I buy bracelets there always too big. Do you know any way to make ... A: I'm wondering if you could cut them, drill them, and stitch them with elastic........ As each ... | |
| Platinum tiffany setting - diamond is loose | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: My fiance bought me a diamond solitaire ring with a 4 prong tiffany setting about a month ago. ... A: Greetings Sue-Anne, Congratulations on the engagement. The short answer is, no there is nothing you ... | |
| jewelry making - flatware | 11/28/2006 |
| Q: He stated that when he cuts off the blades (to make chain pulls, etc.), when he tries to drill out ... A: Greetings, The material of the handle is like bakelite with a solid hardened steel tang. I would ... | |
| torch | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: when you are soldering two spoon handles together for example what kind of torch do you use. or do ... A: Greetings, I would use a standard propane torch, ensuring the pieces are well fluxed and heat at ... | |
| silverware jewelery | 11/22/2006 |
| Q: I've dabbled a bit with bending silverware handles over a ring mandrel and making simple keychains-I ... A: Greetings, I assume that you are using old nickel flatware to create you piece, which can be ... | |
| melting and casting silver | 11/22/2006 |
| Q: I would like to melt silver bars and cast them in round 50.cal balls used in muzzle loading. The ... A: Greetings, I see no reason why your steel mould wouldn't work, whereas the aluminium one would have ... | |
| follow-up question re: melting old gold | 11/22/2006 |
| Q: I use paste flux so I was confused by your suggestion to another persons question regarding borax. ... A: Borax is one of the active ingredients in many paste fluxes, which are primarily for soldering, not ... | |
| follow-up question re: melting old gold | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: I have been reading past answers to some questions asked of you regarding melting gold. You didn't ... A: My apologies. I assumed as you were already melting silver then you would be using borax as the ... | |
| melting down old gold | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: I am a jewelry maker and I make handmade silver jewelry of my own design. I want to experiment with ... A: Greetings, Its all exactly the same, except you may find the gold melts easier. One point is to not ... | |
| Torches -- which is best? | 11/17/2006 |
| Q: I am a fledgling jewelry maker, and in order to feed my addiction more than once a week in my class, ... A: Greetings, I think the best thing is to keep things simple. I have a torch set up which utilises a ... | |
| Silver oxide | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: Can you melt silver oxide to become a solide piece of silver and if you can how would you go about ... A: Greetings, I have no idea what silver oxide is. You either have silver, or the chemical that will ... | |
| Casting Gold | 11/8/2006 |
| Q: I have recently received about 6 oz of refined gold, My question to you is how do I melt it and cast ... A: I apologise for my delay in response - I have been mounting a big exhibition here. To melt your ... | |
| Turning silverware to jewelry | 10/23/2006 |
| Q: I read you response to heating and bending of silverware to make jewelry, anything special I should ... A: A hacksaw is a bit harsh. You could get a Piercing Saw from a jewellery supply house. There are a ... | |
| Jewelry trademarks and symbols | 10/9/2006 |
| Q: The ring appears to be modern like it was made in the last 15 years or so. The only things on the ... A: Greetings, As it is a newer ring, then my gues is that is was made by one of the large producers in ... | |
| Training? | 10/7/2006 |
| Q: .where did u train and do u have any suggestons as to what schools to go? Online schools are they ... A: I trained under a German Master in Adelaide Australia. This was in 1982. I had a fabulous education ... | |
| Custom Jewelry | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: I am interested in getting a custom piece of jewelry made but this time would like to purchase my ... A: Greetings, I have many questions in which to answer yours. Stone wholesalers are plentiful ... | |
| silverware jewelry | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: I want to make a bracelet out of my grandmothers old spoons. What is the best way to bend the ... A: You need to anneal the spoons first. So you heat them up until they are cherry red and then allow to ... | |
| Jewelry making | 9/23/2006 |
| Q: ! I have a problem in choosing a design for my jewelries I want know more designs I can do w/ my ... A: This is an interseting design question. My advice would be to look at things that you like in ... | |
| Melting Silver at Hom | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: I have some silver I found at an old silver mine. I want to melt it down and make a chunk for my ... A: Your question really depend upon how much silver you intend to melt. If its a small quantity then ... | |
| sterling silver vs silver plated | 9/1/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to start my own homebased jewelry business. In regards to quality, what is the ... A: The difference between the two is that one is solid silver and the other is plated with silver - ... | |
| CZ repair possible | 8/31/2006 |
| Q: I have a 3 carat channel set CZ eternity band set in gold. It had to be cut off during a ... A: CZ are man made stones rather than naturally occuring. If youre ring contained diamond, zircon, ... | |
| melting silver for casting | 8/5/2006 |
| Q: as a beginning metalsmith I would like to try casting. I bought the delft clay casting kit from a ... A: I ahve not heard of the delft carving kit, but can assure you that cuttlefish is quite an easy ... | |
| Soldering metals | 8/3/2006 |
| Q: I am just starting to learn soldering. I tried to solder a ring I have that I believe/d to be ... A: Its quite commonplace for silver to go blasck when it is being soldered.. You say that the ring was ... | |
| gold bracelet | 7/2/2006 |
| Q: I have a gold bangle bracelet. I guess plated. Is it possible to have it redipped in gold, and if ... A: This sounds quite straight forward and most good jewellers should be able to organise this for you. ... | |
| markings | 6/17/2006 |
| Q: i have a bracelet i believe is gold marked..... 24k g.l what does that mean A: Greetings, If this is the marking on the bracelet, then they are claiming that it is 24 Karat, Fine ... | |
Jewelry Making
Answers by Expert:
Peter Coombs
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I have over 20 years experience in all forms of handmade jewellery, flatware and holloware in precious metals involoving forging, fabrication and finishing. Also works in aluminium for spectacles and trophies etc
Experience
Many Past/Present clients including: Elton John/Spectacles, la Eyeworks/Spectacles & Jewellery, Lord Mayor of the City of Adelaide/Lord Mayoral Medallion, and many others
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