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The terms repousse and chasing are often confused and not without good reason since the two techniques are often worked together. One might as well think of ‘slipping and sliding’ to realize how difficult to establish a clear definition particular to each process. In general we might think of repousse as primarily a relief and chasing as more often an intaglio (2-D or linear) technique.... (2001) Complete Story
Etching uses chemical corrosion rather than mechanical force to selectively remove metal. Simply put, the idea is to cloak parts of an object with an acid-proof paint then submerge the piece in acid. The caustic liquid eats away at exposed areas to create a relief. When the proper depth is reached the piece is withdrawn, rinsed and cleaned to reveal a pattern of raised and lowered sections. The process can be used for delicate linear drawings, for bold reliefs, for letters, and as a preliminary step for enameling, niello, or inlay.... (2001) Complete Story
When precious metal is heated to temperatures approaching its melting point there is a short span during which the outer layer or skin begins to melt while the interior remains solid. Or, to say the same thing technically, the interior remains in the solidus zone while the surface regions enter the liquidus range. The effects are to create an uneven reticulated surface and to allow pieces to join by welding. Every goldsmith discovers fusing, usually by accident and usually as a mistake, when pieces being soldered are overheated.... (2001) Complete Story
The pleasure and challenge of including gems in a jewelry object (beyond the intrinsic beauty of the gem, of course) is to resolve the various factors that come into play. A well designed setting must achieve several goals simultaneously – it must secure the stone, enhance both the gem and the metal object, it must stand up to wear while protecting the stone, and it should harmonize with the aesthetics of the piece. One of the first decisions about incorporating a stone is to determine whether it is to be the focal point of a design or a component in service to some other more dominant aspect. Clear thinking on this fundamental question will assist in the many decisions that must follow, including proportion, style, texture, color, location and size..... (2001) Complete Story
In practice an experienced eye will usually be able to determine by color and luster whether a piece is made of silver, a base white metal such as nickel silver, or a precious white alloy such as white gold or platinum. If this can be determined by eye, it's usual to proceed directly to the qualitative test.... (2001) Complete Story
