QuestionHey there
The word repair in the subject box is in quotes because this would involve more than a simple repair. It's more like redesigning.
I have an old ring - a cheap pewter ring - that has a great deal of sentimental value to me. However, over the years, due to the soft material it is made of, it has deformed a bit. One of the three stones that came with it has fallen out. And it also no longer fits - it's too small for me now.
I would like to make the ring both wearable again (resized, reshaped, etc.)and also stronger (maybe a thick plating, or... I really don't know how one might make a pewter ring more solid). Plus I would like to replace the cheap (glass I assume) stones with some semiprecious stones.
Keeping in mind that I am very much NOT a rich man:), what advice/suggestions can you give me?
Thank you in advance
Ernie
AnswerErnie, you have read the situation correctly. This would be more than a simple repair. I have not seen the ring. Even so, having worked pewter I do have a feel for the limitations of this metal and working characteristics. Old pewter was a lead based metal but more modern pewter contains more tin and other metals, doing a fine job of getting the look and character of old pewter. Lead is obviously out for table ware and for jewelry. I suspect your ring is of the modern pewter. (Modern does not mean recent. The first I worked with was in the late 1970's and this did not contain lead.)
Ernie, I am not a rich man, either. With the economy like it is today business is slowed in luxury industries like jewelry. For those who deal only in very high end items and work with the rich and famous, the recession is likely not felt. For the rest of us..believe me we feel it. I say all of this to let you know a repair of your ring will likely mean a remake. The metal will be inexpensive but the labor could be higher than wanted.
Honestly, there is little to do to make pewter more substantial by itself. If built over a silver ring, for instance, the strength would be greatly increased but labor would not be inexpensive since an innovative method of attachment of the pewter to the silver would have to be devised and employed. A heavy plated surface will not do a thing to provide strength since even a heavy plate is truly very, very thin.
So, what to do? I believe the answer is to have a new ring cast. The basic ring will need to be made in wax and then all cast in the lost wax method. Cost will depend on whether a suitable model is available for easy molding or if it must be done by scratch. The jeweler must know to cast the metal with the mold flask at a fairly low temperature, room temp is ok. A flask (the mold container and plaster mold) should not be anywhere near the melting temperature of the pewter metal.
If a fairly simple hand formed ring, a jeweler may be able to duplicate it relatively easily, with certain considerations which are humdingers. Considerations? I am willing to believe if I went around the city where I work, I would be lucky to find one other professional jeweler who has worked with pewter. This is a basic metal but not one a normal bench jeweler will have on the experience list and not one for which a jeweler will have metal in stock. They will also not have the special pewter solders and solder flux in stock to work on your ring.
I suggest you call around and hear the surprised sound at the other end of the phone and wonder about working on pewter. Some jewelers may be willing to take a look at your ring. I certainly would look and try to be fair with ideas of what can and should be done. Some jewelers will flat out say no. If they say no, so be it. You want someone who knows something about pewter and that is the rub.
One possibility is to try a local arts council or even rock and gem club. See if they offer classes in jewelry work or if they have members who work in pewter. You are more likely to find someone in a crafts capacity doing pewter work. This is not a bad thing. If they are practiced with the metal, they will do a better job than any pro jeweler who has not worked the metal in the first place. You see, pewter takes a feel for the metal, both in forming and in soldering neatly and safely for the form created. If a craftsperson is found in this way, the cost will likely be ok for us folks who are not rich.
Ernie, sorry this is all I can offer. Feel free to use the follow-up to get back with me if you want.
God Bless and Peace. Thomas.
