Hi there --I bought a Malachite ring over the internet and it doesn't look particularly shiny. I find that rubbing it on my skin, makes it look shiny for about 5 hours from the natural oils, but I've heard that this may impact the appearance of the stone by making the bands disappear over...

I am looking for someone to make me a sterling pipe tamper. If you are intrestet please comtack me via email. Robert -- "God not only plays dice. He also sometimes throws the dice where they cannot be seen." Stephen Hawking

Hi All. Well,it's summer. vacation time. This time around, I'm off for a few days with my family, in the boonies of alaska watching bears do their thing fishing for salmon, and such. That means that for the upcoming week, I won't have internet access, so won't be able to moderate the...

I've got a 12" long tapered tool made of steel that is marked in ring sizes from A to Z, that my dad used for stretching rings. Any idea what it might be called in the jewelry trade in the UK? It looks as if it might have been made to fit/slot into some holder. It will be either UK or European...

Who can tell me what the best sites are if your looking for inspiration on handcrafted jewelry? Thanks! Ukkie --------------= Posted using GrabIt =---------------- ------= Binary Usenet downloading made easy =--------- -= Get GrabIt for free from http://www.shemes.com/ =-

I think I am doing well on my crimping. The question I have is this: When I crimp the closing bead to put the clasp on, I leave enough stringing wire to go through 2-3 beads. I have learned from some that I am supposed to nip the wire so that it doesn't show. However, I have purchased jewelry...

It's a long story, but I want to create a choker like this: http://c-76-19-175-241.hsd1.ma.comcast.net/CandyCorn.jpg using real candy corn. My original thought was to make wire studs or loops that would be heated up and melt their way into the bases of the candies. That's not working well,...

Lets say I buy a diamond ring for say 10k, and had it insured for replacement value. Let's say the ring was lost/stolen almost immediatly after I bought it. My insurance company is able to get a suitable replacement, yet they only pay 3k for it. I don't understand how this price gap occurs. How...

Folks, I'm planning a new piece based on a silver abalone shell casting that will be an earring. What I plan is not actually an earring, but rather an ear ornament. The idea is for the earlobe to fit in the space on the back of a Donkey's ear abalone shell and for the shell to ride up over the...

Hello all, My wife has a pearl that she purchased as a souvenir in Hawaii. It's currently mounted on an old gold dolphin that I did for her using two part epoxy. The epoxy was a Jewelers Epoxy type 330. My wife would like me to move the pearl to a newer gold dolphin version that I've done...

I have a 14 kp white gold men's diamond wedding band with the markings "artcrest" and 14kp on the inside of the band. It was purchased in 1983. I am trying to get info on the manufacturer and what alloys where used and if it was plated. I have searched but can find no mention of who made artcrest...

True story from a few decades years ago: a diamond/gold dealer buys a stone for $5 at a roadside shop. It contains diamond/gold, so he sells it for millions. Does anyone know the name of the guy or some other detail? Was it in Arizona? __________________________________________________ Do You...

To all: I am new at the gem stone hobby, but can someone tell me if it is better to polish a rough gemstone first, then facet cut, or vice versa? Thanks. BBL

Hi there, looking for some help. I am wondering if anyone knows of a good way to fix Swarovski crystals in wood. I have a wooden jewellery box that I would like to put pink initials with Swarovski crystals on the top. At the moment it is a high shine lacquer finish. Any help would be great. I don't...

I am having a problem with the molten solder "wicking" up the links of snake chain when I try solder clasps and other end fittings to the chain. This happens with both gold and silver chain. I use paste solder in my work. Can you help? Also, a great thank you to Peter Rowe for moderating this...

After much helpfull advice and reading other posts I've been using a copper/silver alloy for casting small items recently. To keep the cost down I use abot 90% copper (scrap electrical wire) and 10% pure silver (a bar of bullion bought from ebay). I am trying to keep a non-toxic work enviroment ...

Hello, I've managed to create quite a few cast waxes of leaves and maple seed pods that are just as thin as the actual botanical specimen. So far, unfortunately, I've been able to do nothing more than admire my work as the commercial lost wax foundries I've been working with can't make gold or...

Can anyone recommend a good lost wax caster (to sterling silver) in the UK who will be willing to work with a beginner who has carved some waxes but isn't sure what process to follow now? I'd like to go to a company where they keep the moulds so I can reorder small amounts when I need...

I have a cup (the famous Ruby Cup of Schmidling Hall) http://schmidling.com/gems.htm that needs some help. It is a silver plated, brass wine cup into which I have set 8 rubies. The very bottom inside is getting grungy and bare brass is showing through. A crust of some sort of brown oxide forms...

I am looking for a reputable internet site to buy gold chain by the inch. For myself, not wholesale. Does anyone have any recommendations Thanks Liz