ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

E-BENCH is a FREE monthly newsletter for Retail Jewelry Store Owners, Shop Managers, Bench Jewelers and anyone else that is interested. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to anyone that you think may benefit from it, provided you forward all of it without modification and not just portions of it.  This document may NOT be distributed for profit.  E-BENCH is a copyrighted newsletter and all rights are reserved!

E-BENCH is sent to you each month FREE of charge because of the generous support of our SPONSORS.  Please support them with your purchases.

Learn all About Handling
Colored Stones from
Gemstone Cutter Wayne Emery

JADE

There are two distinct minerals referred to as jade.  “Precious” jade, or jadeite comes in a wide range of colors including green, bluish green, greenish blue, orange to red to brown, lavender, shades of cream to yellow and a flat white called “chicken bone”.  Mixed colors are common.

Nephrite, a separate mineral, usually occurs in whitish gray to shades of green, but the greens are more muted and less pure.  Often, it is seen in a “spinach” color.  It is available widely at very low prices.

While nephrite is widespread in its occurrence and exists by the millions of tons in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington all the way north to Alaska, jadeite is much rarer.  The primary source of the much more prized jadeite is Burma.  While much of this material is processed in China, there are no sources of fine jadeite in China, contrary to popular belief.

Although the colors of jadeite are often much better than the usual drab colors of nephrite, and the values thus much higher, for purposes of our discussion the material can be handled in the same way.  Both nephrite jade and jadeite are at the very top of the toughness scale.  While neither is as hard as diamond, or anywhere near it, they are much tougher than diamond.  Their ability to resist chipping or breaking by percussive blows is unmatched in the mineral kingdom which is good news for bench workers!

Jades are best protected from torch heat whenever possible and are generally unharmed by immersion in the ultrasonic or the steamer, but, again, the steamer should always be used with care if at all.

Pickling solutions present no problems for the jades.

You can contact Wayne Emery at wayne_emery@msn.com

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"The world stands aside to let anyone pass
who knows where he is going."
David Staff Jordan

Tips for Jewelers Taking In Jewelry
at the Repair Counter.

  Proper Take-In Procedures Help Everyone!

When taking in a broken chain for repair, first measure and record to the nearest eighth of an inch the total length of all pieces of the chain.  If the length is only 10 or 12 inches, you know—and should tell the customer— that a piece of chain is missing.

Next, measure (again to the nearest eighth of an inch) and record the length from the chain’s clasp to the break.  If the customer brings the chain in again, this record shows if the chain’s broken in a new or in the repaired spot.

NEVER accept a chain from a customer wrapped in a tissue and place it into an envelope without unwrapping, measuring, and inspecting it thoroughly in view of the customer.

Before placing in the job envelope, place chains in small zip-lock bag with the catch sticking out of the top.  This will keep the chain from tangling.  When removing, hold chain by clasp and lift out of the bag.  Do not the open bag and dump it out. 

Quote Worth Re-Quoting

"Truth is a torch that shines through the fog
without dispelling it. Always be true to your work,
your word, and your friends,
and you will never live a day without peace."

Bench Jewelers Passion Award
Design Competition

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The fourth annual Bench Jewelers Passion Award Design Competition will be held in conjunction with the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA.  The competition is open to all professional Bench Jewelry Artist and Designers actively involved in the design and production of jewelry.  The Passion Award Jewelry Design Contest consists of two divisions, one for finished jewelry and one for CAD renderings.

For details, contest rules, and to enter the competition log onto: www.BWSimon.com/DesignContest

For information on the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo log onto:
www.BenchConference.com

All jewelry submitted for the Finished Jewelry Division must be original, and designed and made by the jeweler entering the contest.  No trade shops or other jewelers can work on the piece of jewelry.  The Finished Jewelry Division categories are: Men’s Jewelry, Ladies Rings, Ladies Jewelry other than rings, Laser Fabricated Jewelry, and a category for jewelry that was designed by a Design Team.

All renderings in the CAD Rendering Division must be original and created by the jeweler entering the contest using 3D computer software.  The jewelry rendered must be able to be made by a jeweler using reasonable skills.  The CAD Renderings Division categories are: Men’s Jewelry, Ladies Rings, and Ladies Jewelry other than rings.

Jewelers may enter both divisions and may enter one piece per category in up to three categories in each Division.  Photographs of the finished jewelry or CAD renderings must be submitted over the Internet with a completed entry form.  Entry fees must be paid with a credit card at time of entry.  To submit entries log onto:
www.BWSimon.com/DesignContest

1st and 2nd place will be awarded in each category.  All Passion Award winners will receive a Trophy, Cash Award, and Publicized in trade publications.  Winners will be announced on Friday April 25, 2008 during the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo.  Jewelers entering the contest are encouraged to attend; however, attendance at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo is not necessary to enter the contest or to win an award.  In addition, a Jewelers Choice Award will be presented on Sunday April 27, 2008.  Jewelers attending the Bench Jewelers Conference and Expo will select the Jewelers Choice recipient from among the Passion Award winners.

Deadline for submissions is March 15, 2008. 
Contest Chairman: Mark Grosser
For details, contest rules, and to enter the competition log onto:www.BWSimon.com/DesignContest

Workshop Safety Tips from Charles Lewton-Brian

FUMES, VAPORS and MIST

FUMES
Fumes are small particles of a material, often from metals that have been melted.  These may be very tiny and can be breathed into the lungs.  Metal fume fever is a real hazard with molten metals.  It has numerous names, the nastiest of which is the Smothers.  Metal fume fever can be caused by zinc, copper, magnesium, aluminum, copper, antimony, cadmium, iron, or silver.  The particles are so small (0.01-0/5 microns) that they stay in the air a long time.  Because they are so tiny they go deeper into your lungs and can then dissolve more easily within your body. 

I have known a number of people to experience metal fume fever, from zinc while casting or reticulating brass and once from copper, because they did not use adequate ventilation.  Casting brass is a particular culprit, often because ventilation is frequently a hood type above a casting machine and the fumes are then drawn past the workers face on their way out.  So, do not cast brass unless you can help it, use very good ventilation when melting or reticulating metals, and if you must do it then use the correct respirator.

VAPORS
You get vapors when you turn a liquid into a gas, for example water evaporates to make water vapor.  The vapors jewelers worry about most are from solvents, acids, and simmering solutions.  Remember that things can vaporize at room temperature - even frozen sheets will dry on the line in the cold.  Mercury vaporizes at room temperature.

MIST
Mists are small droplets of chemicals in liquid form.  If one quenches into a pickle pot for instance a mist is formed.  It has been shown that in factory situations people exposed to mists of sulfuric acid develop pitted enamel in their teeth.  Mists are more toxic than vapors because they deliver a more concentrated solution to spots in the lungs and elsewhere.

http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/safety.htm