Hi
I have just finished 3 opal rings for young ladies, sisters. Two
shanks were flat backed and one was comfort fit.
Made the bands to check the size flat backed were fine comfort fit
too big. I thought what is going on they are all the same size, on the
mandrel.
Got and email from David Geller and all was explained. I know wide
rings should be half a size larger. But as I had not made comfort fit
to order did not realise they should be half a size smaller. I mostly
make my designs and if they fit good.
Learn something new every day on Orchid and it’s contacts.
The opals were black opal doublets and the opal was excellent, but
the “potch” (backing) was as usual very unevenly cut.
These opals were from the 1990’s, I don’t understand why some
doublets have good backs (like buff top cabs) and some are all over
the place. And of different thicknesses even though the stones were
basically the same size and the opal the same thickness.
To solve this problem I use .8mm square wire for the stone seat. I
make the bezel and make the seat. Put opal face down on bench and
slide bezel over stone. Place wire seat into bezel and gently
burnish it to fit the back of the stone. Check top of stone is level
then solder seat into bezel. Should mention these were flat topped
doublets.
Problem solved.
These opals are beautiful, can see why the diamond cartels don’t
like black opals. Each is unique and very beautiful. IMHO much more
interesting than a colourless diamond even if flawless. Diamonds
come third on my personal ranking sapphires, black opals, diamonds,
rubies then emeralds.
Richard