I don’t like arguing with professionals in public - I might make
a public idiot of myself! But my stupid computer says Richard
Hamilton’s address isn’t valid, (checked, and rechecked!) so I
have to go public after all.
G’day Richard; I read you reply about ring sizing. I am only
an amateur, but my jeweller/instructor told me always to look for
the original join, which, he said would be near, but not on the
hallmark. He showed me under a bright light and with a powerful
magnifier how one could generally see the place, unless the ring
had been originally made from tubing. He said that I should make
the first cut on the join, and for upsizing do as you suggested
with the ring mandrel. My mentor reckoned that there should be as
few joins in a ring as possible. Obviously for down sizing one
has to make the appropriate calculation, or match with the ring
sizer, making the second cut appropriately. I have cut on the
join ever since. Incidentally, the ring sizer set I bought 25
years ago and which I still use are plastic (couldn’t afford a
professional metal set, eh!) and they are alphabetical, where M,
N, and O are average women’s sizes, though I notice 'the Orchids’
usually mention numbers. Your comments please? Cheers,
/\
/ / John Burgess,
/ /
/ //\ @John_Burgess2
/ / \ \
/ (___)
(_________)
A really good and quick way to find an old solder joint on
repair ring , is to take a hot flame and quickly stroke the shank
without fire coat. It will turn black immediately and the solder
will become visible.Now you cut and size as you mentioned ,
without creating more soldering joints as one has to. Never size
with easy or medium solder, as the seam will polish out and
become visible. A U.S. size is 2.2mm .
Hope that was helpful,
Have a platinum day
PLATINUM GUILD INTERNATIONAL USA
Jurgen J. Maerz, Mgr of Tech. Education
Hello John
Sorry I can’t help you with Richards address but I’ve got some
info in front of me regarding Letter and Number ring sizes.
The typical American mandrel is numbered 1 (12.344 mm dia.)
through 13 (22.225 mm dia.). The British mandrel is lettered A
(12.065 mm dia.) through Z 1/2 (22.106). European mandrel’s are
numbered 38 (12.096 mm dia.) through 69 (21.963 mm dia.). Size M
is just under 6 1/2 American and O is just under 7 1/2 American.
Regarding existing solders in a ring shank, you are quite right.
I also advised Bob about sizing his ring sizing and neglected to
mention it.
If I think there are existing solders in a shank, that I can’t
be sure of after an initial visual inspection, I’ll heat the
shank without flux until it discolors. The solders will oxidize
differently and be quite visible. Thanks for bringing that up.
Dick Caverly
rcaverly@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/rcaverly/home.htm
Another way to find soldered joints in a ring shank is to heat
it with a torch without using a fire coat. The joints stand out
like a sore thumb before the fire scale is bad enough to be
difficult to remove.
Sharon
European mandrel’s are numbered 38 (12.096 mm dia.) through 69
(21.963 mm dia.).
Hi Dick, These European numbers are the circumference of the
inner rim of the ring, given in mm. This makes calculation for
sizing easy. To size a ring up from 56 (standard lady’s ring
size) to 63, you just have to insert 7 mm. >From the Old World,
Markus