1. Manual processing technology
Filigree craftsmanship
Filigree craft refers to the craft of making thin gold objects with metal filaments through twisting, pinching, silk, and stacking.During production, firstly, metals such as gold or silver are drawn into wires of the required thickness, and then the drawn wires are twisted together (known as "twisting the flowers" in the industry). The craftsman uses tweezers to pinch the wires into various flower patterns according to the design of the drawing. The components of each shape are gathered together, sprinkled with welding powder, and then heated to form a certain overall shape.This overall shape is called a "black tire". After being cleaned with dilute acid, the black tire must undergo subsequent treatments such as silvering, firing, gold plating, or silver plating, before finally becoming a finished product.Filigree jewelry is delicate, exquisite, and rich in connotation, with excellent short-sighted effect.
2. Machining process
(1) Lost wax casting process
Lost wax casting is the most important production process in the jewelry industry today, and jewelry made by lost wax casting has become the mainstream product of jewelry today.The casting process is suitable for jewelry with distinct concave and convex shapes and can be used for mass production.
The process of lost wax casting involves the following steps: creating a metal model, pressing a rubber mold, creating a wax mold, planting wax trees, filling a plaster mold, and casting the object.
(2) Stamping process
Stamping process, also known as die stamping and embossing, is a manufacturing process for creating relief patterns.The process involves first molding a mold based on a master mold, and then creating an embossed pattern on the metal through pressure.Stamping process flow: imprinting patterns, forming (bending), and connecting the various components together (usually with solder).
The stamping process is suitable for jewelry with uneven bottom surfaces, such as small lock plates, or items with subtle undulations that are easily formed or assembled in two or more steps. In addition, extremely thin components and jewelry that require delicate detail patterns also require stamping processing.
(3) Machine chain processing technology
The chain processing technology refers to the method of processing chain jewelry with machinery.Common necklaces such as Venetian chain, bead chain, and riffled chain are all made by mechanical processing.
The main process flow of chain processing is: drawing - chain making - welding - surface treatment - assembly - cleaning.
The characteristics of the chain process are large batch processing, high efficiency, multiple styles, and good quality.The necklace jewelry in the current market has been almost occupied by the mechanism necklace.
3. Surface treatment process of precious metal jewelry
Precious metal jewelry undergoes surface treatment during the final stage of its production to achieve the desired artistic effect.There are many methods of surface treatment, mainly including chisel carving, gold plating, electroplating, milling, sandblasting, and so on.
(1) Electroplating process
Electroplating is a processing method for surface coating of precious metal jewelry, such as gold plating of silver jewelry and rhodium plating of platinum jewelry.The main process of jewelry electroplating processing method is: acid-base washing - degreasing and polishing - electroplating.The electroplating process can protect the surface color and brightness of precious metal jewelry, giving it a more beautiful appearance.
(2) Gold-clad technology
The gold-clad technique involves wrapping extremely thin gold foil, hammered into layers, around non-gold ornaments, then heating them and using tools to firmly press the gold foil onto the surface of the ornament, leaving no seams.The appearance of gold-plated jewelry is similar to that of gold jewelry.Gold-plated craftsmanship is also a common surface treatment method for jewelry.
(3) Chisel carving process
The chisel carving process is a technique of manually creating decorative patterns on the surface of precious metals with a chisel, resulting in patterns that can be deep or shallow, uneven, and with varying degrees of smoothness.
(4) Car flower (milling flower)
The process of carving shining horizontal and vertical stripes on the surface of the jewelry with a high-speed rotating diamond milling cutter and arranging them into patterns is called carving or milling.Due to the hardness of diamond milling cutters, the milling marks are smooth and shiny.The so-called flash ring or flash pendant is made by carving technology and is very popular among people.
(5) Sandblasting
Fine quartz sand is sprayed onto the exposed polished metal surface under high pressure, resulting in a hazy and soft surface finish.