Cooksongold | Royal Jewelry Blog

Features The new Apple A14 Bionic processor is powered by the telephone and supports a neural engine of next generation. The mobile has a capacity Touch Screen with a capacity of 5.4 inches and a resolution of 2340×1080 pixels. The screen monitor also supports the Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, the maximum lustre (typical) 625 nits; the maximum luminosity (HDR) is 1200 nits, the contrast ratio (typical) is 2000 000: 1; haptic touch; many languages and characters are displayed simultaneously. The IP68 smartphone has a maximum depth of 6 metres to 30 minutes under IEC 60529. The rear camera has a double 12 mp camera system with 2x optical zoom-out, up to 5x digital zoom and advanced bokeh and professional control in portrait mode. It also has a TrueDepth camera to be used in shops, in applications and on the internet. A built-in lithium-ion battery + MagSafe for the wireless charging of 15W10 or Qi for up to 7.5W10 is supplied to the Smartphone. The handset is running on...

I became a polishing fiend when I started creating my own jewellery, there was something about taking a dirty piece of silver and buffing it to the point I could see my own crazed reflection that had me in awe! So today I am going to share how I polish a pair of my simple hexagon studs! You will need: Polishing Compound – Luxi Blue Universal Polishing Compound (997 429) Pendant Motor – Dremel 3000 Rotary Drill Kit and Flexshaft (997 6201) Eveflex Rubber Burr – Extra Fine (970 180) Emery Paper Grade 500 (973 070) Emery Paper Grade 1200 (973 090) Emery Paper Grade 2000 (973 110) Leather Pendant Wheel (999 ACQ) Polish Cloth (997 423) Renaissance Wax Polish (998 118R) Step One: The Sanding I always begin with sanding down my pieces, this part is quite methodical as I go from grade 500 then 1200 and lastly 2000.  When sanding, I always like to sand in the same direction to get rid of any fine scratches. Step Two: The Polishing This is just the first polish I give to my ...

Build out your workbench step by step… In this series of blogs for beginner jewellers, we’ve been helping you piece together the tools you need to be fully equipped to become a professional. From basic workbench essentials to filing tools and polishing techniques. We hope you find this latest instalment useful – it’s all about how to cut metal sheets for jewellery making and metal cutting tips for using a jeweller’s saw frame to get the best results. Cutting sheet metal: The basics Cutting sheet metal is an essential part of working with precious metal and is a skill that you will come across quite early on in your career as a jewellery maker. Although metal shears can cut through metal effectively, getting to grips with a jeweller’s saw means that you will have the skill of cutting out intricate shapes from your sheet metal . As a beginner, it’s good to know that your saw blades will break – it happens to the most experienced of jewellers. Mastering the technique can...

Saw piercing is likely to be one of the first major tasks you attempt as a jeweller.  It is the first step in the transformation of a simple sheet of metal into something entirely different and holds endless possibilities.  Although most of us are familiar with the concept of sawing wood, many find metal a little temperamental at first, which is why we have put together this guide. Our aim is to help you with both tools and technique, which will, (in addition to some patience and practise), start you off on the correct path to successful sawing every time. Sawing Saw frames: A jewellers saw frame is similar in style to a small fretsaw and is made of springy steel which holds the blade in position under tension. Blades are held in place by wing-nut clamps at either end of the saw which are tightened by hand. The size of the saw is dictated by the depth from the blade to the back of the frame and they range in size from 3 inch to 6 inch. A 3 inch frame is a good general purp...

One of the oldest methods of jewellery making around, lost wax casting dates back to the 3 rd century BC. Having been lost and rediscovered many times throughout history, the lost wax casting process is still used today for casting metal alloys. Keep on reading to find out what the lost wax process is and how you can use it for jewellery making. What is lost wax casting? Lost wax casting, also known as cire perdure , is an ancient process where metal alloys are made into a design from a wax mould. Throughout the years, the lost wax casting process hasn’t just been used for jewellery, it was also used to make sculptures and ornaments. Also, one of the main advantages to lost wax casting is the fact that you can replicate the same model as many times as you’d like. The most common metals used for this process are silver, gold, brass and bronze – so there are lots of opportunities for your jewellery making projects! What is the lost wax casting process for jewellery? Step-by-step Int...

Rolling mills are a quick and easy way to transform the metal you’re using in your jewellery making. Whether you have a small, large or medium sized rolling mill for precious metal projects, we’ll talk you through the facts to help you get  to grips with rolling sheet metal. Read our guide below before using a rolling mill to ensure you are getting the most out of your jewellery making projects. With our handy guide and YouTube video, you’ll discover tips and techniques on how to use a rolling mill machine to create beautiful jewellery, perfect for your latest precious metal projects. How To Use A Rolling Mill – A Visual Guide If using a rolling mill is something you’re new to, don’t worry. We’ve collated all of our tips on the rolling mill process and the best way to use it in our video. Find out how to use a rolling mill in our visual guide below. Using A Rolling Mill – The Basics Rolling mills are one of the more common jeweller’s tools seen in small and medium sized wo...

If you’re used to traditional metalsmithing, then adapting to something like wax carving can feel like a challenge at first. With metalsmithing you often add decorative elements to a foundational piece, whether it’s adding a stone or a decorative gallery strip. But when it comes to wax carving jewellery, the exact opposite applies. You start with a piece of wax and slowly take away from it to reveal your design. So, getting a feel for wax carving can take a considerable amount of time and practice, but the effects are far different from anything you can achieve with more traditional metalsmithing techniques. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to carve wax for jewellery making, helping you get to know the wax sculpting tools you’ll need and the steps to take to perfect your wax carving technique.  Click on the image below to learn more about wax carving. Getting started with wax sculpting tools Wax tube or blocks Wax ring stick Scalpel Wax blades for your pie...

Stone setting is a way of securely attaching stones into a piece of jewellery. You can use various techniques to incorporate stones into your designs including: Claw, Gypsy, Bezel, Illusion, Pave, Channel, Tension and Grain. Which of the stone setting techniques are suitable for your project? Well, the stone’s shape and hardness will dictate this. So it’s worth getting to know which types of stone settings will work with the gemstones you would like to work with. Here are some of the most commonly used stone settings to help you get to grips with what they are and how to use them in your projects. Types of stone settings Claw Settings : A small amount of metal is used to make up claw settings, allowing light to pass through the stone as well as easy access to the stone for cleaning. Claw settings are made up of prongs, which are used when bent over the stone to secure in place. Gypsy Settings : Used by the surrounding metal to set a stone, gypsy settings make the stone you are set...

Filing metal is an essential technique in jewellery making. Although simple in concept, following proven practices combined with the right filing techniques and  the right jewellery making files , ensures the job becomes a breeze. Filing metal: The basics What is a metal file used for? Filing is used in jewellery making to remove excess metal, even out surfaces, smooth or to shape, form and texture pieces. Are there specific files for certain tasks? There are several methods of filing metal and the actual  files  come in a variety of shapes, grades/cuts and sizes. The shape of the file you choose will depend on the job you are completing. For example  flat files  are used for straight edges or convex curves such as the outer edge of a disc, and  curved files  are used on concave curves such as the inside of rings. What does the “cut” of a file mean? The cut of each metal file type describes the arrangement of teeth and therefore the amount of m...

Have you ever wanted to make your own silver wire jewellery but hit a bit of a wall with the annealing process? Have a read of our go-to annealing guide and find out where to start. What is annealing? Annealing is the process of heating a metal to a specific temperature before it’s worked on. Through this process of annealing, the precious meal is softened and made pliable. This will allow you to shape the metal into the jewellery piece you want. You might need to repeat the annealing process in case your metal work hardens. What is work hardening? Work hardening occurs when the metal is repeatedly bent and shaped, putting stress on the metal and causing it to become more difficult to work with. The repeated stress on the metal can cause it to snap because the molecules can no longer absorb that amount of pressure. The effects of work hardening can be reversed through the process of annealing. This annealing treatment will soften the metal, making it easy to work with once again. ...

Step away from the Kilner jars and put down that beetroot! Tempting though it is, we are not about to explore the fascinating subject of preserves and chutneys! No, in jewellery terms pickling refers to the process of removing oxidised surfaces and flux from metal after soldering. What is pickling solution made from? It is an acid compound usually made using a specialised pickling powder or liquid pickle solution. So if you use heat and metal, it is essential that you set up a pickle pot. How to make pickle for jewellery making purposes Pickle is available in powder or liquid form and normally needs to be diluted with water. Most safety pickles have a base of sulphuric acid but nitric acid can also be used. It is also possible to use some household products such as white vinegar; you just need to work out what will work best for you. All of these metal pickling options work in a similar way with varying degrees ferocity depending on the ratio of water to acid, but it is worth cons...

Vitreous (glass) enamel is the application of finely ground glass onto metal, which is bonded by heat, and has been used for over a thousand years in jewellery and metal working. You can achieve many different effects through extensive techniques, from intricate painting, to the use of gold leaf or to graphic stencilling.  Usually multiple layers of enamel are applied with different rounds of firing to achieve the desired results. Health and Safety Keep the work area free from food or drink to avoid contamination and accidents Enamel is a powder so use in a well ventilated area and use a respirator mask designed for dust Wear heat-protective gloves taking items in and out of the kiln   Wear protective goggles to protect eyes from shards of fired enamel which may ‘ping’ off a piece, and use welders goggles if firing for long periods of time or vocationally Use water when sanding or stoning enamel to prevent inhalation of airborne glass particles Pieces coming out of ...