Manufacturers of diestruck karat gold findings have used cold forging as a process to produce ring shanks and complex shapes for many generations. The process can best be described as forming a finding by using extreme force or pressure to drive annealed raw material into a shaped cavity in a steel block. The material then takes the shape of the cavity. Findings such as shanks, tops, trims and charms are ideal products to be made with this method. This paper will present an overview of the process by following the manufacturing steps of a ring shank from initial toolmaking and design to final rounding and finishing.

Author: Fred Klotz