Charm Jewellery Blog

SILVER JEWELLERY - FINISHING TOUCHES

Creating silver jewellery is a labour of love, but well worth the time expended to create a work of art.

The first step is to make a wax model using sheets and strips of wax which are carved in very fine detail to produce the design. In this case the finished items are old fashioned houses.

Step two is to produce a casting in silver. This is known as the “lost wax procedure” where the wax model is placed into a flask, and “invested”. Essentially this procedure involves pouring into the flask a solution similar to plaster of paris. This sets very quickly around the wax model.

Step 3 involves heating the flask up to a very high temperature in a kiln. This has the effect of burning away the wax, and leaving an empty space where the wax once was.

Step 4 is the final process where the casting takes place. Molten silver is poured into the flask to fill the space previosly occupied by the wax model.

Step 5 is when it gets exciting to see what has been created in silver. The flask which is still very hot is plunged into a bucket of cold water. Thermal shock causes the “investment” to shatter, leaving the silver casting.

This piece has to be filed smooth on the edges, and polished on the front and rear to produce what is eventually worn by someone with pride. The video shows the final smoothing, and polishing taking place

Duration : 0:0:33

Technorati Tags: craft, girl, hands, jewellery, rubbing, silver