Hi Hi everybody. A customer gave me a mabe pearl pendant that needs
soldering. The pearl is glued to an 18k yellow gold bezel. How do i
get the pearl out safely. PS I don’t know what glue was used. Its
yellowish though I’m not sure if thats from age.
Roxanne
How do i get the pearl out safely. PS I don't know what glue was used. Its yellowish though I'm not sure if thats from age.
sounds like epoxy. What you need to do is get the metal/post hot,
without heating the pearl. Very tiny flame going paralell to the
jewelry, not pointed at the pearl at all, but slightly hitting the
metal as it passes. When the post and metal get hot enough, the glue
softens enough you can work it free. Don’t just let it get hot enough
to fall off, or the pearl will get hot too. You cannot use solvents
like attack, as they will disassemble the mabe pearl.
Much easier and safer is refer the job to someone with a laser or
pulse arc welder, unless the pearl is far enough away from what needs
soldering to allow you to heat sink the pearl to protect it. Mabe’s
being assembled with glue, are always risky to remove.
Peter