QuestionQUESTION: Hi,
I'm a beginning medalsmith and am sending some gold in for refining. My Mom gave me some gold to send for her and one was a sz 6 14kt gold ring setting that fits me and would make a great replacement for a pearl ring I've had since childhood. On one the pearl is attached by a post and the other looks like it's a tension setting. I've been learning a lot about setting stones but haven't tried anything like a tension setting yet. Think I could do this, and if so where could I look to get some more info on tension settings in general. Any ideas on how to remove the pearl from the post would be great to. I took pics but can't figure how to attac them on my iPad...but could send them on a PC if you think they would help...old ring is thin from stretching. Thanx! Vicki
ANSWER: Vicki, generally pearls are cemented to posts and a soak in acetone will loosen the cement enough to remove the pearl. Otherwise, the ring may be heated to soften the cement and the pearl quickly checked by turning to see if it is loose and pulling away from the post. Heat can damage pearls but sometimes heat is the better method.
Vicki, this is not your full answer by any means. There is the question of the "tension setting" and I certainly need a photo to see just what you are working with. I will go now and wait for you to get back with a photo. Fair enough? Try more than one angle. Thanks!
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
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Pearl Rings 2
Pearl Rings 1
QUESTION: Thanx Thomas...here are the pics...If they don't give you the detail you need let me know and I'll try it a different way.
ANSWER: On the ring 1, can see the setting ok. On the second shot, unfortunately I have no idea what is holding in the pearl. If you could get a shot maybe coming from an the angle from the "upper right corner" of the photo #2 straight to the pearl it might show me what I need to see.
I know holding the ring in position is not easy. Maybe you could tape the bottom of it to a flat surface to hold it. BTW, your photos are nice and clear and that part is well done. Just getting the angle is the problem this time to show me where metal is touching the pearl.
Try again, please. Vicki, we will get it figured out soon enough. God Bless. Thomas.
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QUESTION: Hi Thomas,
We left for a family vacation before I had a chance to see your reply, and I've been overwhelmed with family things...sick Dad, sick dog, trip to Poland to see my Dad's birthplace before he gets to bad...etc. We are leaving for Poland in a couple days and I'm trying to catch up with things before we leave. I realized when I was taking the photos that the 2nd ring probably isn't a tension setting at all...it's just shaped similarly too the setting for my old pearl ring...and it's in good shape, and fits me so I still think it will probably work for me.
With you advice I feel confident that I can remove the pearl safely and I'm thinking that the best way to reset it would be to solder a post on the 2nd setting and attach it that way. I'm not all that confident in my gold soldering skills, so I suspect that when I get the time to do this that I should run my plan by you and make sure that it seems and looks sound to you. Does that make sense to you? I really appreciate your help and advice, and suggestions of how to get better photos so you can see more clearly what I'm talking about. Thank you so much for your help! I'll try to send you a follow up to my question when we are back and I'm ready to give it a try. In the meantime I hope your having a great summer!
AnswerVicki,
You do have your hands full. Yes, to mount the pearl on a post is the best way. This does mean soldering a peg to the setting and I do ask you to please get back with me when the time comes. Once you get that done, the rest is easy.
For now, you also are wished a fine summer and a wonderful trip to Poland for all. May God bless you with safety, a wonderful time and renewed spirits for your father. Please do write when you are ready to proceed further with the pearl ring.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
