I have a silver ring that needs repair. The center stone was
amethyst surrounded by marcasite…The amethyst was set in a tube but
there doesn’t appear to be anyway left to hold it in. The ring has
been around to others for repair and ends up back with this client.
as I was cleaning the tube a piece of what appears to be dry glue
falls out. Still shaped in a nice neat circle. How can I build a
setting or what? without removing all these tiny marcasite . Or is
this why this ring has never been repaired? Thanks in advance! Lisa
How can I build a setting or what? without removing all these tiny marcasite . Or is this why this ring has never been repaired? Thanks in advance! Lisa
Lisa, some of the inexpensive, sterling/marcasite jewelry I’ve seen
have all of the stones glued in, including the marcasite. You may be
able to salvage this ring by soaking out the marcasites in your
ultrasonic, repairing the bezel so the amethyst can be properly set,
re-gluing the marcasites and probably re-antiquing the ring. Just be
sure you charge enough for the job, usually it will cost more to
repair it than to replace it, but I have customers who have been
willing to do this.
If I am incorrect about the gluing of marcasites, would someone
please enlighten me? Good luck! Sharon
Lisa, based on your description, perhaps you can add a ‘sleeve’ of
metal in the old setting and then bezel set the Amethyst in it. The
’sleeve’ could be laser welded in place without damaging the
marcasites (if this item is worth all this trouble.)
David Barzilay, Lord of the Rings
You can’t fix it in any fashion without taking out the marcasites.
Please remember only the colors of the American flag can take heat:
Red, white & blue (diamond ruby & sapphire. Faceted at that.
There is a product available from tool supply houses that dissolves
epoxy. Its called ATTACK.
Soak the ring, remove all stones & marcasites, repair, polish and
reglue the stones.
David Geller