Gold for emameling

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi All,

I have gotten the go ahead to make this transparent cobalt blue
enamel on gold cross. The cross has raised borders and a pattern
that rises up through the center of the enameled area. I plan on
casting the cross. I called Hoover and Strong and they said they
have no gold alloy that they recommend for enameling. I do recall
a couple of you saying that David Fell has an alloy for this, is
that correct? Any other suggestions on a suitable alloy?

Thanks
Mark P

2

I called Hoover and Strong and they said they
have no gold alloy that they recommend for enameling. I do recall
a couple of you saying that David Fell has an alloy for this, is
that correct? Any other suggestions on a suitable alloy?

Mark P,

I do enameling almost everyday and I use the standard casting
alloys that Hoover supplies. I enamel on 10k, 14k, and 18k. It
is not so much the alloy as it is a bad castings that cause most
of the problems.

Porosity is the major problem. The small air pockets under the
enamel force air bubbles up into the enamel making it difficult
to do. The air bubbles causing chipping and holes in the enamel.
Ideally the best material to enamel on would be milled sheet or
die struck items which have a dense grain structure due to the
compression of the metal during stamping.

Much of the jewelry items I enamel are die struck or milled
sheet that has been hand engraved to create the recess for the
enamel the depth of the recess should not be more that 1 mm deep.
It seem the deeper the recess the more problems of having the
enamel chip out during the cooling process. I have a line of
cast rings about 30 Masonic rings and 5 Hawaiians ring that I do
that, all contain enamel on them.

Good luck

Edward J. Friedman
The Buehn Company
The Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, In sunny S.F. Ca.

3

For…enamelling on alloy… I use to plat the transparent
white enamel on silver alloy (92.5Ag),it’s all work.But on gold
electroplating,it’s not complete.So with other gold alloy i gues
it can coat,if your gold alloy have a melting point higher than
enamel melting temperature.

				Nakarin Thongla
		Material Science & Gemological Technology
				Burapha University
				    Thailand