Hi Everyone A question: could cast-in-place stones (man-made ruby,
for example) be fired set into PMC? Thank you
Sally Pataky
Sungem Design
List of stones that can be fired in place at Silver PMC temperatures
at PMC3 firing schedules. All stones on this list have also been
tested for 1650 at 10 minutes without damage. [list compiled by
Deric Metzger 2003, dericm@DericMetzgerDesigns.net]
~ Alexandrite:
Cates Eye,
Standard.
~ Andalucite
~ Chrome diopside
~ Epidote
~ Garnet:
Almandine,
Champagne,
Color change,
Demantoid,**
Grossular,
Hessionite,
Standard,
Tsavorite,
**=Demantiod Garnet is fairly unpredictable thus far and the
outcome cannot always be determined. However rare the horsetail
inclusion in a fine specimen may be, the results of gems
tested with this unique clarity characteristic have all thus
far been irreparably damaged by the sintering process. Usually
the inclusion will expand, and cause massive feathering. In
general the color will change dramatically for a warm vibrant
orange brown color. Usually Demantoid's most visible color
reflected back to the eye is near the same color the stone. It
is undetermined as of yet if the refractive index is lost, or
merely masked by the color change.
~ Moldavite*
*=Moldavite is basically comprised of natural glass. Please take
care in its usage, and treat it with the same care as Dichroic
glass with PMC. After it is set in place, wiggle it around in its
seat to assure it has enough room when the PMC shrinks around it so
it doesn’t explode. Some samples may melt if the structure was to
hastily formed.
~ Moonstone
~ Peridot
~ Ruby:
Cats eye,
Color Change,
Standard,
Star.
~ Sapphire:
Cats eye,
Color change,
Standard
Star.
~ Spinel:
Cats Eye,
Color Change,
Standard,
Star.
~ Tanzanite:
Blue,
Green,
Red,
Violet Blue.
~ Zircon:
Blue,
Honey,
Orange,
White.
List of stones that can be fired in place at Gold PMC temperatures at
1830 for two hours.
~ Alexandrite:
Standard.
~ Sapphire:
Color Change,
Standard.
~ Ruby:
Color Change,
Standard.
~ Garnet:
Pyrope,
Rhodalite,
Tsavorite.
~ Zircon:
Blue,**
White.
*=some stones may experience a noticeable loss in hue and appear
more diamond like then before.
List of stones that can be torch fired in place at PMC3 torching
recommendations of one minute cherry red color after binder has
burned away. Using techniques described in earlier sections
~ Alexandrite:
Cates Eye,
Standard.
~ Chrome diopside
~ Created Moissanite
~ Diamond:
Standard, Untreated.
~ Garnet:
Almandine,
Champagne,
Color change,
Grossular,
Hessionite,
Standard,
Tsavorite,
~ Peridot
~ Ruby:
Cats eye,
Color Change,
Standard,
Star.
~ Sapphire:
Cats eye,
Color change,
Standard
Star.
~ Spinel:
Cats Eye,
Color Change,
Standard,
Star.
~ Tanzanite:
Violet Blue.
~ Zircon:
Blue,
White.
All the stones listed above in any category have withstood several
trips through the kiln, with the exception of Created Moissanite,
Diamonds, Moldavite, and Tanzanite.*
*= some tanzanite specimens may withstand 4 trips through the kiln.
Testing showed varying results.
Updates will become available when new stone varietys can be
reccomended without fail. Certain failures have been ommited from
this refrence for the time being seeing as how there are so many of
them. use this as a basic guide. For further please
contact the author.