[Jewelry making - Article 00016] - Re: [Orchid] Soldering with diamonds in place

[Daniel R. Spirer]

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>     Am I missing something ? 

    Yes, you are. Diamonds do not need to reach melting point to be
    burned on the surface. I have seen this happen any number of times
    and done it a few times myself. Repolishing the surface will usually
    remove the burned area without too much weight loss. Diamonds can
    absolutely be damaged with a torch, as can ALL stones. The idea that
    red, white and blue stones are heat resistant has become an old
    wive's tale and is, quite literally like playing with fire in today's
    marketplace. Rubies in particular are so commonly filled with glass
    that any heating leads to changes in their appearance. So many
    treatments are on the market, many of them so new that no one even
    understands them, that the risk of heating any stone is just too
    great to take the chance. Sure if you have a couple of $10 sapphires
    in a little ring it's worth taking a chance rather than removing
    them, but that's about it. 

Daniel R. Spirer, G.G.
Daniel R. Spirer Jewelers, LLC
1780 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
www.spirerjewelers.com
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