|
|
Handmade sterling silver & 9ct gold signet rings engraved with masonic symbol past masters ring masters tools lodge numbers etc.
Copyright © 1993 - 2011Delorean Jewellery
Telephone 0208 0909340
Mobile : .0754 1387405
Mobile : .0754 1387405
Family crest's & virtual seal engraving, inside or outside ring engraving
Die stamped signet rings, the best quality money can buy
There's a lot of advice on the internet regarding signet rings, most of which states that die stamped signet rings are the best, this I agree with.
However there are some who belittle all forms of castings as inferior, substandard, full of porosity and that they will not last long, or wear well.
Others try to convince you that because the stamped signet ring is formed under huge pressure, it is harder wearing, usually followed by comments
about forging making them even harder, intimating that castings are softer.
There's a lot of advice on the internet regarding signet rings, most of which states that die stamped signet rings are the best, this I agree with.
However there are some who belittle all forms of castings as inferior, substandard, full of porosity and that they will not last long, or wear well.
Others try to convince you that because the stamped signet ring is formed under huge pressure, it is harder wearing, usually followed by comments
about forging making them even harder, intimating that castings are softer.
Titanium wedding rings :: Laser family crest engraving :: Hand seal engraving
I have been making signet rings for appx 40 years :: I have sold them retail for appx 30 years
True the stamping is formed under emmense pressure from metal which has been rolled and hardend.
however during the rolling process the metal is often annealed, before stamping, the metal is annealed,
and before forging, and during the forging process the ring is annealed on numerous occasions, finally
should the ring require sizing, no surprise in the process of sizing the ring the metal will be annealed again.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Annealing is used to induce ductility, soften material, relieve
internal stresses, refine the structure by making it homogeneous, and improve cold working properties.
Ironically castings tend not to be annealed unless they have been sized smaller, often they are stretched to
make them bigger (bad practice but often done), so infact they tend to be harder than any die stamped ring.
however during the rolling process the metal is often annealed, before stamping, the metal is annealed,
and before forging, and during the forging process the ring is annealed on numerous occasions, finally
should the ring require sizing, no surprise in the process of sizing the ring the metal will be annealed again.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Annealing is used to induce ductility, soften material, relieve
internal stresses, refine the structure by making it homogeneous, and improve cold working properties.
Ironically castings tend not to be annealed unless they have been sized smaller, often they are stretched to
make them bigger (bad practice but often done), so infact they tend to be harder than any die stamped ring.
Porosity is the next thing retailers will quote , apparently castings are full of small air pockets
TRUE :: if you pour hot metal badly into a poorly made mould with an insuficient spue you will get porosity
TRUE :: cheap imported castings from India & China especially thin shanked rings will be very porous
However it is not true, that a ring made by lost wax casting, or delft clay casting will inevitably be porous.
personally I have made hundreds of heavyweight signet rings by delft clay or cuttlefish casting, and a few
have shown signs of porosity, but as a respected manufacturer and retailer, I would never try to pass these
off to a customer as perfect, in-fact any with more than a tiny sign of surface porosity go straight in the scrap
TRUE :: cheap imported castings from India & China especially thin shanked rings will be very porous
However it is not true, that a ring made by lost wax casting, or delft clay casting will inevitably be porous.
personally I have made hundreds of heavyweight signet rings by delft clay or cuttlefish casting, and a few
have shown signs of porosity, but as a respected manufacturer and retailer, I would never try to pass these
off to a customer as perfect, in-fact any with more than a tiny sign of surface porosity go straight in the scrap
Hand engraved seal's, crest's & coat of arms require the utmost skill, the best quality signet rings
a very intricate crest or coat of arms, is so specialised an engraving task it should only be undertaken by
the most experienced and skilled expert engraver, in turn you should only give such a cratsman the best
materials to work with. If your engraver encounters an air pocket in the metal, it will cause his engraving
tool to slip, the result can be catastrophic, but you undoubtedly will still get the bill, as it will not be their error
This in mind, if you are paying £250.00 to have a crest engraved, dont sent the engraver a £150.00 ring
A good hand engraver can tell instantly, if the ring you have provided is suitable or not, and most will agree
a quality casting is adequate for simple engraving tasks, an exceptional casting will accept a crest or seal
Laser engravers : these are not affected by impurities in the metal, so for a budget coat of arms are ideal !
the most experienced and skilled expert engraver, in turn you should only give such a cratsman the best
materials to work with. If your engraver encounters an air pocket in the metal, it will cause his engraving
tool to slip, the result can be catastrophic, but you undoubtedly will still get the bill, as it will not be their error
This in mind, if you are paying £250.00 to have a crest engraved, dont sent the engraver a £150.00 ring
A good hand engraver can tell instantly, if the ring you have provided is suitable or not, and most will agree
a quality casting is adequate for simple engraving tasks, an exceptional casting will accept a crest or seal
Laser engravers : these are not affected by impurities in the metal, so for a budget coat of arms are ideal !
Hard metal is better as it is harder wearing :: TOTALLY FALSE :: 18ct gold is softer than 9ct gold
18ct gold is very soft, but exceptionally hard wearing ; all 9ct gold is hard, and is at its best after annealing