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E-BENCH <=> <=>
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The E-Mail Newsletter
for Bench Jewelers
April 2007
Volume 8 Issue 4
circulation over 4,700
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<=> <=> ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER <=>
<=>
E-BENCH is a FREE monthly newsletter for Retail
Jewelry Store Owners, Shop Managers, Bench
Jewelers and anyone else that is interested.
We encourage you to forward this newsletter to
anyone that you think may benefit
from it,
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without
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E-BENCH is a BENCH MEDIA Publication
BENCH MEDIA is a division of
B W Simon International
Bradney W Simon – Publisher
Daniel R. Spirer - Proofreader
daniel@spirerjewelers.com
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2007 Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo
THE BEST
EVER!
On April 26th through 29th hundreds of Bench
Jewelers from all over the country descended on
Jewelers Conference & Expo which was described
as the best ever by many of the
participants.
The Educational Conference provides seminars,
bench demonstrations, discussion groups, and
numerous networking opportunities for Bench
Jewelers. Most Bench Jewelers live in our
small boxes and this is a chance to get out,
socialize, meet new people, find out what is
happening in the industry, meet some wonderful
vendors, just an all round excellent
opportunity, said
The Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo is not
just another jewelry show or seminar. It is a
conference setting where jewelers share meals
together, spend time with each other in the
lounge, hallways and other area of the hotel,
in addition to a full schedule of educational
seminars and demonstrations. It is neat to
have a venue where we can get together and
learn new things and share with one another.
Just to get together with other people who
understand what we are talking about. It is
wonderful, said Heath Rackley of Greenville SC.
A wide range of seminar topics was offered
including stonesetting, fabrication, laser
welding, jewelry photography, repairs,
platinum, marketing, pricing, and many others
related to the Bench Jeweler. I have been very
impressed with the quality of the teaching and
the camaraderie of the jewelry artist. I
learned so much from the teachers. It is a
party, but you come home with your head full of
new information, said Patty Conlin of
MN.
In addition to the Educational Conference, the
2007 Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo included
a 2 day Suppliers Expo. The Conference & Expo
was extremely successful. It is very
educational, that is what brings most of the
jewelers to the conference. But it is also
very good for the vendors. We are quite happy
with the results here. It was a very
successful show for us, we had a good turn-out,
said Jay McCamis
of Rofin/Baasel.
We are proud to be a supporter of the Bench
Conference. It is nice to be able to be here
to meet with fellow bench jewelers to pick up
on the latest tips and the latest items being
sold. I highly encourage jewelers to come to
the Bench Conference, said Gene Callaway of
Southeastern Findings.
On Saturday evening a networking reception was
held and jewelers attending had the opportunity
to Come On Down and play the Price Is Right
game. Thousands of dollars worth of prizes
were donated by the suppliers and won by the
jewelers participating. The Bench Conference
is great. There were a lot of opportunities to
network and you get to see the latest in
technology, tips and tricks for working with
tools, said Mike Zagielski
of Foredom.
In addition to the exhibitors, there were many
demonstrations on the show floor and several of
the vendors provided seminars in the Exhibitors
Presentation Theater. All of the seminar
leaders from the educational conference stayed
throughout the weekend and mingled among the
jewelers answering their questions. I think
there was a good mix of exhibitors. It is
wonderful to be able to compare products side
by side and then be able to verify what the
sales people say with so many jewelers in the
room with experience in their shops with those
products, said
The Bench Conference this weekend in
was a huge success. All the jewelers and
exhibitors were very excited. It was a great
show, concluded
The 2008 Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo will
be held next April in
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<=>
<=> <=> TIPS FOR JEWELERS <=>
<=> <=>
Tips for Jewelers Who Do Repairs
From Alan Revere
To solder a post on an earring take the earring
in one hand and the flex-shaft, with a 1 mm
ball bur, in the other. Make sure your hands
are well braced then slowly and carefully lower
the spinning bur to the center of the back of
the setting, sideways. Do not apply force, or
the bur will skid out of control. Once you
have created an indention, turn and bur
straight into the metal.
To prepare the post, use a cup bur to shape the
end into a corresponding convex hemisphere.
Now flow some solder into the depression you
made on the back of the setting. Bring the
rounded end of the post into contact with the
depression. The post drops into perfect
position as the reheated solder flows, with a
small visible fillet of solder at the joint.
This procedure accomplishes two important
tasks; it locates the post on the earring, and
it provides a much stronger solder seam than a
simple butt joint.
This tip is from 101 Bench Tips for Jewelers
written by Alan Revere and published by
MJSA/AJM Press.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=>
<=>
Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20
or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.
The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind
young.
Henry Ford
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<=>
<=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=>
<=> <=>
The
Ganoksin Project
www.ganoksin.com
The Gem and Jewelry Pre-Eminent Online
Resources. Open to the public
Free of
Charge.
A substantial library of articles,
publications, reports, and technical
data on
gem and jewelry related topics; as
well as a
sizable collection of art and jewelry
galleries, for both the casual
visitor and the
professional, also host the popular
Orchid
online forums for jewelers.
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=>
<=> <=> COLORED STONES <=>
<=> <=>
Learn All About Handling Colored
Stones From
Gemstone Cutter
CHRYSOCOLLA
Chrysocolla is a copper silicate often found in
copper ore bodies. It is opaque and occurs in
different shades of green, blue and blue/green.
It is popular with designers in cabbed form and
can be strikingly beautiful. The hardness of
Chrysocolla is 2-4, but it often is silicified
in nature, making it as hard as 7 on the Mohs
scale. When the material is completely
silicified, and of an even blue/green hue it s
called gem silica and can command healthy
prices. It is sometimes mistaken for
turquoise, but is much more heat resistant and
not as porous as turquoise. The most commonly
seen cabochons are a mixture of blue and green
and often contain other copper minerals as
well, such as azurite and malachite.
Keep this material out of the pickle and away
from the torch! If you accidentally scratch
it, the surface can usually be easily re-
polished with a small amount of Zam on a clean
cotton buff using low speed.
You can contact
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=>
<=>
Do we need more time? Or do we need to be more
disciplined with the time we have?
Kerry Johnson
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<=>
<=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=>
<=> <=>
CLASP - A Convergence of Jewelers
http://www.claspconvergence.com
Clasp is an innovative
conference produced by
Media, Ganoksin (parent to
the Orchid Forums),
Manufacturing Jewelers and
Suppliers of
(MJSA) and The Society of North American
Goldsmiths (SNAG).
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<=> <=> 2007 Passion Award Winners <=>
<=>
The 2007 Passion Awards winners were announced
at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo held in
are the winners of the contest listed by
category. A panel of judges choose the winners
in each category and jewelers attending the
conference voted for the Jewelers Choice Award
from among the winners. Pictures of the
winning pieces can be viewed at:
http://www.bwsimon.com/DesignContest/
Jewelers Choice
Joel McFadden
CAD Rendering, Mens Jewelry
Sananda Perrin
Joshua Sanchez
Finalist
Tom McLaughlin
Michael Devlin
Brett Heald
CAD Rendering, Ladies Jewelry
Peter Gordon
Michael Ponthieux
Finalist
Kim Rushing
Joshua Sanchez
Dmitri Zverev
CAD Rendering, Ladies Ring
Dmitri Zverev
Mark Smith
Finalist
Tom McLaughlin
Michael Nashef
E. G. MILAD
Finished Jewelry, Mens Jewelry
Erkki Mursula
Margie Foster
Finalist
Michael Goralski
Kelly Johnson
Joel McFadden
Finished Jewelry, Ladies Jewelry
Suz Andreasen
Lisa Krikawa
Finalist
Scott Verson
Michael Goralski
Jackie Goetz
Finished Jewelry, Ladies Ring
Dawn Muscio
Joel McFadden
Finalist
Thomas F. Castor
Ross Arterberry
Erkki Mursula
Jewelry Design Team
Lisa Krikawa & John Krikawa
Lisa Krikawa, Claudia Valdenegro, & Heather Rouse
Finalist
Nadira Jagan-Brancier
& Alexander Brancier
Michael Ponthieux & Wanda Ponthieux
Llyn Strelau &
Erkki Mursula
Laser Welded Jewelry
Margie Foster
Deric Metzger
Finalist
Michael S. Nashef
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=>
<=>
Time is our most precious asset; we should
invest it wisely.
Michael Levy
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<=>
<=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=>
<=> <=>
United Precious
Metal Refining
United is a full service refiner for Gold,
Silver, Platinum, & Palladium. We specialize
in Refining for the jewelry Industry,
processing everything from sweeps to
karat
scrap.
Technical assistance on all phases of
manufacturing and jewelry casting is
only a
phone call away. Call us today at
1-800-999-3463 or visit us online at
http://www.unitedpmr.com/
United Precious
Metal Refining
Simply
the Best
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> AT THE PLATINUM BENCH <=>
<=>
Tips That Make Working With Platinum
or
Working at the Bench in General - Easier
from Jurgen J. Maerz CMBJ,
Director of Technical Education
for Platinum Guild International
http://www.pgi-platinum-tech.com
PLATINUM CASTING ALLOYS
For torch casting, the most commonly used
platinum casting alloy is platinum 900/iridium
100. This alloy, also referred to as 90/10
iridium, has good working characteristics,
casts well, can be welded, and does not
oxidize. It offers a bright white color
and has sufficient hardness at 120 Vickers
(HV). It was the universal platinum alloy in
the United States for many years.
In recent years, many casters have begun using
a platinum 950/iridium 50 alloy, known as 95/5
iridium, to comply with the 950 standard.
(Many countries, including the
require any item stamped platinum to be at
least 95 percent pure platinum.)
Unfortunately, this alloy is not a good choice
for casting. While it has great
characteristics for fabricating, including
rapid work-hardening, as cast it has a hardness
of only 80 HV-far too soft for jewelry (a
minimum hardness of 120 HV is recommended).
With wear, rings bend and scratch, and stones
may come loose.
One of the finest 950 platinum casting alloys
is platinum 950/cobalt 50, also known as 95/5
cobalt. This alloy has a very fine grain, high
liquidity, and the ability to fill intricate
detail. With a hardness of 135 HV and the
ability to cast well and take a good polish, it
is one of the most popular casting alloys in
950/cobalt 50 is also slightly ferro-magnetic,
making identification easy (you can simply use
a magnet to detect attraction).
This alloy does oxidize, however. Because of
this tendency, propane and other fuels do not
work well with it. Instead, torch melting
should be done with a hydrogen/ oxygen fuel
mix, which does not permit much oxidation.
This alloy is most successfully cast with
induction heating in a controlled
atmosphere.
Another alternative is platinum 950/copper/
cobalt, which is similar to the platinum/
cobalt alloy, except it is not magnetic.
However, it still needs to be cast with
hydrogen/ oxygen or by induction to prevent
oxidation.
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<=>
<=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=>
<=> <=>
Jewelry Dealers
World Trade Network
http://www.JewelryDealersNetwork.com
<=> Bench Jeweler Discussion
Channel <=>
Ask questions, share tips, and take part in the
ongoing discussions, or just read and
take in
all the advice from many excellent
jewelers
from around the world.
Membership includes: Topical Discussion
Channels, including
Bench Work, CAD-CAM, Stone Setting, and many
more.
You may buy, sell and trade on the
Buy/Sell Channels, Plus Much More.
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<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=>
<=>
If you see yourself as prosperous, you will be.
If you see yourself as continually destitute,
that is exactly what you will be.
Robert Collier
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<=> <=> TAKE-IN NOT TAKEN <=> <=>
Tips for jewelers taking in
jewelry at the
repair counter.
If a customer comes in to
pick-up their
jewelry, and leaves another item
for repair,
use a new envelope for the new
job. Do not
cross out the instructions on the
original
envelope and write in new
instructions next to
it. It does not allow you to record an
adequate description of the new
piece of
jewelry. Reusing an envelope eliminates the
record of the original repair for
your
permanent file. This also causes confusion in
the shop, possibly resulting in
the wrong
repairs being performed.
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=>
<=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=>
<=> <=>
Southeastern Findings
Southeastern Findings has been a leader in the
wholesale jewelry business for the
past 27
years servicing the Independent Jeweler. We
are Findings, Diamonds, Wedding
Bands, Jewelry
Boxes, Platinum, Batteries, Tools, and So Much
More.
Call us Today at 1-800-282-8285 or
visit us on
the World Wide Web at:
http://www.sefindings.com
Namano /
Southeastern Findings
Your Home for
Southern Hospitality
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=>
<=>
Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay
awake and you will have food to
spare.
Proverbs 20:13
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> WORKSHOP SAFETY
FOR JEWELERS <=> <=>
Workshop Safety Tips From
GAS HANDLING
Part 3
Flashback in the torch and
hoses can cause a
fire or explosion in the hoses, valves or even
cylinder.
Causes of flashback
include:
An accidentally damaged or
blocked tip may stop
the flow of gases & cause a reverse flow from
one line into the other, creating a dangerously
explosive condition.
Re-lighting after tip
replacement without
bleeding off all the gases in the torch hoses
and regulators could result in an explosion
causing damage to the regulator or burned
hoses.
Pressure drop or an emptied
tank may permit
oxygen to enter the fuel gas line, or fuel into
the oxygen line. A reverse flow permitting
mixing of gases is always dangerous.
Failure to bleed lines
through the torch and
neglecting to close the regulator (i.e. back
off pressure adjusting screw) when changing to
full tanks can cause the regulator to be filled
with an explosive mixture, which can be set off
by heat of recompression as the fresh tank of
oxygen is connected and the valve opened.
The flashback (reverse
flow) check valves
should be tested every six months. Talk to your
gas supplier about how to test your specific
version. The installation of proper flashback
check valves can eliminate almost all chance of
a flashback accident.
For more information on Workshop safety from
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/safety.htm
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=> <=> QUOTE WORTH RE-QUOTING <=>
<=>
You do not get paid for the hour. You get paid
for the value you bring to the hour.
Jim Rohn
((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
<=>
<=> <=> E-BENCH SPONSOR <=>
<=> <=>
For over 60 years,
jewelry supplier, has provided
quality
products, unsurpassed selection and
legendary
service to help professional jewelers
succeed.
* Gems & Findings division offers finished
jewelry, findings and gemstones
* Display & Packaging division offers
innovative display and packaging
* Tools division offers equipment and supplies
Call us at 1-800-545-6566 or visit us at
http://www.riogrande.com
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<=> <=> Thank You for
We are on the World Wide Web.
Visit us at: http://www.BWSimon.com
A complete archive of back issues of E-BENCH is
located there.
Visit often, as we will be making changes to
our site, adding additional useful
information
for bench jewelers.
<=>
<=> SUBSCRIPTION
INFORMATION <=> <=>
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Information provided in this document is
provided As Is without warranty of
any kind,
either expressed or implied. This publication
is designed to provide accurate and
authoritative information concerning
the
subject matter covered. It is provided with
the understanding that the author or
publisher
is not engaged in rendering legal,
accounting,
or other professional services. If legal
advice or other expert assistance is
required,
the services of a competent
professional person
should be sought.
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For editorial suggestions, comments, ideas
or requests, please send an E-Mail to
Copyrighted, 2007, BENCH MEDIA.
All rights reserved.
BENCH MEDIA
Spartanburg, SC
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864 - 680 – 4416
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