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<=> <=> <=> <=> E-BENCH <=> <=> <=> <=>
The E-Mail Newsletter for Bench Jewelers
October 2007
Volume 8 Issue 10 circulation
over 5,000
2008 Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo
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<=> <=> ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER <=> <=>
E-BENCH is a FREE monthly
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Jewelers and anyone
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<=> <=> <=> TIPS FOR JEWELERS <=> <=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Who Do
Repairs
From Alan Revere
The snazziest system
I have seen to find your
chuck key is mounting one of those retractable
spring gadgets that hold a ring of keys on your
belt (sometimes known as a Keyback or key
caddy), under your bench top. Instead of keys,
attach your chuck key. Now it is always
exactly where you left it.
This tip is from 101 Bench Tips
for Jewelers
written by Alan Revere and published by
MJSA/AJM
Press.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
If opportunity does not knock,
build a door.
Milton Berle
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
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Southeastern Findings has been
a leader in the
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<=> <=> <=> COLORED STONES <=> <=> <=>
Learn all About Handling
Colored Stones
from Gemstone Cutter
AQUAMARINE
Aquamarine is the blue to greenish-blue variety
of the mineral beryl. It can range from a very
pale blue to fairly intense blue or greenish
blue. Aquamarine is almost always heat
treated, sometimes at the mine site, but
usually after cutting, to drive off the
greenish or yellowish component, leaving a more
pure, and popular, blue hue. This has been
done for so long now that younger buyers often
do not associate the natural greenish-blue
color with aquamarine! However, the unheated
material is always sought after by cutters as
it is highly regarded by gem connoisseurs
and
fine jewelers.
aquamarine, and it is also found in many
locations around the world, including North
material, a rather intense pure blue similar to
after its Brazilian location), has long
disappeared from the marketplace, and the
finest source of high grade aquamarine today
is
Maria Afrique, and the very limited
supply has
doubled in price in the past few months.
Three to ten carat top Brazilian goods range
from $100 to $600 per carat, depending on
intensity of color, while fine cut
Afrique ranges easily to $1000 per carat. No
price differential is seen between heat-treated
and natural gems. Aquamarine, along with
tourmaline and spinel, has become one of the
fastest appreciating gems in terms of cost.
The hardness of aquamarine is usually reported
as 7.5 to 8, but some gems have been
tested and
shown to be less than 7, so some caution is
advised. Aquamarine is not especially brittle,
but heat should be avoided. The stone itself
is not particularly heat sensitive, but it
may
contain invisible liquid-filled inclusions
which, when heated, turn to gas as they expand,
and can shatter a stone. If heated much hotter
than 450 degrees Centigrade, aquamarine is
likely to turn chalky white or colorless. The
ultrasonic is safe if you use caution not to
plunge the stone from room temperature to
boiling. Pickle presents no problems, but the
stone should be allowed to cool first.
The Russians have been successful in creating
synthetic aquamarine. As the price for darker
natural aquamarine continues to skyrocket, we
can expect to see more of this material in
the
marketplace, although the price of the
synthetic keeps it in the luxury synthetic
class. I see prices from $30 per carat for
poorly cut, big-bellied material with windows
to $80 per carat for properly cut,
brilliant
goods in 3-7 carat sizes. The synthetic is
generally very clean and therefore heat
resistant to 700 degrees Centigrade or so, but
you will purify the color at around 500
degrees. So, avoid direct torch, but otherwise
treat it the same as natural.
You can contact
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
I do the very best I know how –
the very best I
can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the
end.
Abraham Lincoln
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
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<=> <=> Tips &
Tricks from
Placing a section of a bamboo skewer in your
flex-shaft can make an excellent wood lap
polishing point. File the protruding end to a
point, and use your favorite rouge. The bamboo
skewers are approximately 3/32 inch in
diameter, which makes them easy to use in a
quick-change handpiece.
Filing the protruding end to a point helps it
to reach into tight places.
Increase the size of your polishing wheels from
the standard 4 inch wheel to a 6 inch
wheel.
This will cut polishing time by over 1/3.
Changing to a 6 inch wheel from an old wheel
worn down to 2 1/2 inch or 3 inch will cut
polishing time to less than 1/2. This is due
to the surface area of the wheels. Although
spinning at the same speed, more surface area
moves over the jewelry in the same amount of
time thereby polishing faster.
Always work just below the center of the buff
wheel while polishing. Never raise the jewelry
above a horizontal line even with the motor
spindle, or lower it too far below. Both of
these situations will cause the wheel to grab
the item from your hand.
Work should be pressed firmly against the
wheels while polishing, so that you feel the
cutting action. However, never press so hard
that the motor slows down. Excessive pressure
will not give a better polish or polish
faster.
A firm even pressure throughout the operation
is preferred.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
Make it your ambition to lead a
quiet life, to
mind your own business and to work with your
hands, so that your daily life may win the
respect of outsiders and so that you will not
be dependent on anybody.
1 Thessalonians 4: 11 – 12
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
For over 60 years,
jewelry supplier, has provided quality
products, unsurpassed selection and legendary
service to help professional jewelers succeed.
* Gems & Findings division
offers finished
jewelry, findings and gemstones
* Display & Packaging
division offers
innovative display and packaging
* Tools division offers
equipment and supplies
Call us at 1-800-545-6566 or
visit us at
http://www.riogrande.com
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<=> <=> AT THE PLATINUM BENCH <=> <=>
Tips That Make Working with
Platinum or
Working at the Bench in General
Easier
from Jurgen J. Maerz CMBJ,
Director of Technical Education
for Platinum Guild International
http://www.pgi-platinum-tech.com
It is difficult to explain
surface textures to
a customer who is not familiar with the
terminology of the trade. Prepare a texture
strip by taking a strip of metal and apply
different textures in 10mm sections along the
strip. You will be able
to show the surfaces
to clients and prevent misunderstandings.
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<=> <=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=> <=> <=>
The Ganoksin Project
www.ganoksin.com
The Gem and Jewelry Pre-Eminent
Online
Resources. Open to the public
Free of Charge.
A substantial library of
articles,
publications, reports, and technical data on
gem and jewelry related topics; as well as a
sizable collection of art and jewelry
galleries, for both the casual visitor and the
professional, also host the popular Orchid
online forums for jewelers.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
The people who get on in this
world are the
people who look for the circumstances they
want, and if they can not find them, make them.
George Bernard Shaw
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<=> <=> TAKE-IN NOT TAKEN <=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Taking In
Jewelry at the
Repair Counter.
Proper Take-In Procedures Help Everyone!
Many ring mandrels measure ring
sizes
differently than the ring sizers used to
measure the customers finger, resulting in an
improperly sized ring.
One method to avoid this
problem is to purchase
several sets of plastic ring sizers. Take
apart the sets of sizers and organize them by
finger size in a plastic compartment box with a
snap close lid. Then
measure the customers*
finger with these sizers and place the correct
ring sizer in the job envelope with the ring to
be sized. Then the
bench jeweler will have no
questions as to the size to make the ring.
When finished, return the ring
sizer to the
tray for future use.
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Technical assistance on all
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
You can not build a reputation
on what you are
going to do.
Henry Ford
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<=> <=> WORKSHOP SAFETY FOR JEWELERS <=> <=>
Workshop Safety Tips From
To escape unnecessary work,
look for examples
of people who have solved the same kinds of
safety problems you have to solve, and see if
you can adapt some of their ideas and
approaches for your own small shop. Look for
models around you.
You want to aim for a well laid
out, orderly
workshop, electrically and fire safe, with low
dust and few solvent procedures; excellent
local ventilation at the appropriate work
stations; the use of work clothing cleaned
frequently, lots of personal safety equipment
(earmuffs,
safety glasses etc.), different
heights to work at over the work day and a
conscious attitude about workshop safety.
Choose procedures that do not
involve exposure
to risks. Set things
up so that you can not
hurt yourself. Mark
Twain said *If you do not
lie you do not have to remember anything*. We
could crudely paraphrase that to *If you do not
have an unsafe workshop you have less to worry
about*. Make safety a
habit and then it will
not seem like work.
For more information on
Workshop safety from
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/safety.htm
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=> <=>
As I grow older, I pay less
attention to what
people say. I just watch
what they do.
Andrew Carnegie
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http://www.JewelryDealersNetwork.com
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Buy/Sell Channels, Plus Much
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