Peak production, proficiency and profit are all issues for which successful bench jeweler generalists are constantly striving. The ability to weld on an article of jewelry near a heat-sensitive gemstone without damaging it, to fabricate and assemble jewelry without having to position and torch-solder components one at a time, to weld a rivet without freezing the hinge, and to repair a clasp tongue without annealing it are operations that give the bench jeweler generalist immense proficiencies. Using tack-, fusion- and pulse-arc welding methods, these and other operations at the bench are made possible because of the instantaneous nature of the temporary, working and permanent welds capable of being produced. This paper covers emerging methods, techniques and applications used for successful tack-, fusion- and pulse-arc-welding for jewelers who design, repair, reconstruct and/or manufacture jewelry. Demonstrations used to describe specific welding procedures are completed using karat gold and platinum jewelry examples provided by select bench experts and the author.

Author: Mark B. Mann