[Jewelry making - Article 01395] - [Orchid] Making matching wedding bands

[Andy Gonzales]

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Greetings Everyone,

    I have been asked to make wedding bands for a young couple in the
    area. They want the rings to be two-toned (silver & gold). I am very
    new to jewelry and have never done two-toned rings before! 

    They want two matching bands without any stones that are pretty much
    typical looking. If you can imagine the profile of the rings... they
    want a hammered texture in the center with a depression on both
    sides of that, which would be the gold tone and on the outside of
    that, two raised rings caping both ends off. I hope I made that
    clear enough to understand. 

    I tried to convince them to have the gold colored part recessed
    below the surface of the profile so that it could be plated yellow
    and not where off. 

    There is a cost issue so we won't be making them out of white
    gold... Silver is fine but silver is so soft and can tarnish
    (Argentium is a possibility), I wasn't sure it would hold up well
    enough for wedding bands. Am I wrong? 

    The couple also suggested the possibility of stainless. I have a
    Sherline metal lathe that I could attempt to turn the rings on and
    then plate the recessed areas with gold. By the way, the females
    ring will just be a smaller more 'petite' version of the males ring. 

    I'm asking for opinions and suggestions. What would you do if a
    customer wanted silver "colored" rings but couldn't afford white
    gold... and also how would you accomplish the 'two-tone'
    aspect..through plating? I do know plating wears off and that's why
    I suggested the plated 'band' be recessed so it doesn't or very
    rarely comes into contact with any surface. 

    I don't really like the idea of making them stainless because of the
    inability to re-size... and also.. who wants stainless wedding bands
    to symbolize marriage? 

    I much appreciate any suggestions. I have to have these done by the
    first week in September.!! 

Thanks guys!!!
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