29/05/2026
Remakery WIP
Sometimes things get a bit unusual...and mildy stressful! 😬
This job has been an interesting one. One of the challenges with working with existing jewellery for remakes is that you don't always know what you're working with. One of the reasons I have an FAQ section on my website.
The gold bangles had unusual stampings and were originally very golden in colour. I was told they were fine gold, and when I acid tested them they came in as above 18 and below 22ct...but when I went to melt them, the flame threw off an unusual flouro green colour...and the metal just seemed, well, a bit odd.
Eesh, I thought..oh no, seems like maybe they were plated over a base metal...sometimes this does happen.
I recently had a job where the silver pendant to be melted was actually silver plated over brass...happened with a 'gold' chain too once....and someone gave me a rhinestone thinking it was a diamond.
This ingot ended up very coppery in colour (which would account for the pretty green flame).
Luckily, there were a couple of bangles leftover, so my customer went and had them tested.
Turns out they're 21ct...and I think the alloy was made using copper only, no fine silver...which is why this ring is turning out quite pink!
So all turned out ok in the end...which is a bit of a relief.
☺️🌱
