[Jewelry making - Article 00530] - [Orchid] Mokume rings materials issue

[James Binnion]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

    Hi folks I know this is a somewhat narrow area of interest but I
    just had it brought to my attention again today so I thought I would
    climb up on my soapbox. 

    I had a young couple bring in a pair of mokume rings made by another
    goldsmith today for me to look at. They were a gold and shakudo (an
    alloy of copper and gold typically 4-6% gold) combination. I had to
    tell them that shakudo is a very poor choice for a wedding ring or
    for any ring that gets full time wear because it will corrode away
    in very short order (1-5 years depending on the individuals body
    chemistry and the environment it is exposed to). Another mokume
    artist was kind enough to clue me into this years ago before I had
    too many shakudo combination rings of my own out there and I
    immediately stopped marketing them. I have since had a chance to
    look at a couple of my shakudo combination rings that have come back
    for sizing or other service. It is amazing how fast the shakudo is
    etched away by the action of skin chemistry and environment. My
    personal decision on what to do about this is to buy back or
    exchange any shakudo ring I produced that a client wishes to return. 

    Mokume is gaining in popularity and I am seeing lots more people
    making mokume wedding rings, many with copper, shakudo or shibuichi
    elements none of which are stable enough for long term day to day
    wear in a ring. Given the divorce rate you could make a joke about
    the ring self destructing about the same time the marriage does,
    however the vast majority of people do not enter into a marriage
    with the idea that it will not last.  I understand the attraction of
    the color and historical significance that these metals provide but
    silver, gold and platinum or stainless steel are much better choices
    for laminates in a ring that is intended to be the symbol of a life
    time union. I feel that it is important for us as the makers of
    these symbolic rings to take into consideration how they are going
    to wear and how well they will stand up to the rigors of day to day
    wear along with the aesthetic issues of the design. 

    I realize that there are going to always be clients who don't care
    how durable the metals or stones are that they desire in their
    rings, they want what they want. And as long as we disclose to them
    what the issues are then it is their choice and they will have to
    deal with the consequences of that choice. However I feel that we
    must make them aware of the issues or it reflects badly not just on
    the individual goldsmith but on the trade as a whole. It is exactly
    the same as disclosing treated stones or fracture filled diamonds. 

    I take great pride in my mokume rings and I am sure that others who
    make mokume rings feel the same way about their work. If that other
    artist had not been kind enough to clue me in to the corrosion issue
    I would have blithely continued to produce rings with shakudo in the
    laminate. 

    I don't want the term mokume ring to become synonymous with
    something that falls apart in a short period of time. So please,
    think about the materials you use in your work. 

End of rant,
Jim

Jim Binnion

James Binnion Metal Arts
Phone (360) 756-6550
Toll Free (877) 408 7287
Fax (360) 756-2160
http://www.mokume-gane.com
jbin AT mokume-gane.com
Member of the Better Business Bureau

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________