Recycling gold

A big part of what a goldsmith can do it reuse metals. It is not always as simple as just heating up old or unsed gold and rolling it or hammering it out. It can be insanely time consuming and may not be cost effective. It can take hours to get old jewelery turned into working stock which adds to the costs.

Cracking, flaking as well as other quality issues like pocks can cause issues in a remodel. Lower carat golds and white gold are particularly tricky as the content gold is low or has additional materials to give colour that are menacing. SIlver can be just as challenging as the copper in the alloy oxidises in the heating process.

Great care has to be taken in what is being melted down (cadmium and lead cause illness) and in alloying up or down to make sure the porportions are correct for assay and desired colours. Solder has to be cut out where possible. Adding fresh fine gold helps with a melt. And still there can be issues.

Did you know there is purple, pink, lavendar., green and brown golds? This is a down to the metals that are in the mix.

Here is a 2 wedding bands being melted together to be come a new item of jewellery with sentimental gold.

Ready ot use