In my videos I try to avoid repetition and I already had Mokume Gane as a topic. But the field of layered metals is so diverse that it can be picked up again without getting boring (at least I hope so).
With or without stones, etched or not, subtle in color or blackened with potassium sulphide - that's exactly how we work here in the goldsmith's: we experiment. This is not always empirical, but these are field tests, the results of which appear to be more or less successful individually. There is often no concrete picture in the head in advance, which is trying to achieve. That happens sometimes, but dense designs sometimes arise through trail and error. The secret is not to miss the point of best design. Because: There is always a better way, but you quickly make the work worse and waste your time. The goal in the workshop is to achieve this balance. But what always has to be right is the quality of the craftsmanship of the work carried out.
The special thing about the Mokume Gane rings that are being made today, and that's where they differ from the rings I've already made a video of: These are made of solid material, i.e. without inner rings. They are seamless, i.e. made from one piece and ... they are not forged but pressed. Then the rings are electrochemically etched. They consist of a silver bar and an old fork. So they are made of pure silver and a silver alloy. The color difference between the two metals is small and only becomes visible after heat treatment. However, since this wears off in everyday life through pressure polishing, I decide to etch the surfaces. Etching also has the advantage that the fork's hard 800 on top protects the soft fine silver. Then I added a few diamonds and at the very end let's see how much potassium sulfide can change our rings.
With this in mind: Thumbs up, subscribe to the channel, stay healthy and... curious!
I hope you enjoy the video
Bernd Alexander Mansholt