Opal triplet ring repair

I have a customer with a much beloved older ring that has an opal
doublet or triplet in it. The quartz has mostly separated from the
opal. I can’t see the bottom of the stone so I don’t know if its a
triplet but I don’t guess it matters. Do y’all know of any way to
maybe fill that gap using a vacuum debubblizer? Or?

Try Opticon and a vacuum. Just a crack pot idea. Whatda ya got to
loose?

Have fun and make lots of jewelry.
Jo Haemer
www.timothywgreen.com

I have a customer with a much beloved older ring that has an opal
doublet or triplet in it. The quartz has mostly separated from the
opal. I can't see the bottom of the stone so I don't know if its a
triplet but I don't guess it matters. Do y'all know of any way to
maybe fill that gap using a vacuum debubblizer? Or? 

Try watch crystal adhesive. There are many formulations. Seiko S314
is probably what you need. It is used for sapphire crystals.

Leonid Surpin

I have been a opal cutter and have repaired doublets and triplets.
First is the triplet out of the piece, it is hard to repair if
mounted. Rio Grande sells a resin kit that is by far the best for
repairing or even making assembled stones or inlay. It is called
Colores,

http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/51

You can get the resin and the thin hardener and after mixing it up
drop stone in with the mixed resin in a small cup that has at least
90% open and only enough to cover stone, put it in a vacuum chamber
and pull you vacuum. It will bubble up to a boil like state as it
pulls all air out, let it do this for a couple of seconds, slowly
release like you would if you were doing investment. Let it sit for a
few minutes, resin takes a bit to cure. It should have filled in open
areas as long as it is not filled with crude. Take it out with
tweezers and wipe down, let it sit for a day. This also works on some
emeralds that have been put in cleaner by mistake.

Hope this helps.

norman -

run, i say ‘run’ as far as possible away from any work on a ring with
an opal triplet setting! by definition a ‘triplet’ is 3 layers of
material: a base of any material from sandstone to lapis; opal slice;
quartz dome glued to opal slice. the inoperative word in that
description is “glued”. the glue is up there exposed to ultraviolet
light from average wearing and moisture intrusion, even in a good
bezel. i have triplets from my partner stashed away and the quartz
domes on some are separating. since you sort of asked for advice,
here’s mine (i work with a lot of opals - cutting, carving,
polishing and setting): if you have not had a ton of experience in
working with triplet opals, you may not be comfortable with any
procedure, save yourself the stress. it might be better to lose a
potential customer by telling her “you know, this ring is obviously
important to you and i’m not sure i want to run the risk of its
repair (but i’ll ask around for another jeweler online if you want).”

good luck -
ive
people, think more now, regret less later.