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Man Brings A Completely Smashed Wedding Ring, Asks Me To Remake It As Accurately As Possible
Some time ago I received a message from a man who had purposefully destroyed his wedding ring. He later regretted the act and wanted me to remake the ring using the original gold. I always welcome the chance to restore or remake such a personal item. There is something super fun about taking on a project like this. So I documented the process!
More info: moderngoldsmith.com | Instagram | Facebook
BEFORE: A badly mangled wedding ring!
A vice grip was used to inflict the damage.
The ring was broken into 2 pieces. My original plan was to just melt the ring down and roll it out, then bend it to a ring shape. This could have worked but I wanted to create something seamless and perfect— something that was nearly identical to the original. So, we determined that the best course of action was to remake the ring using the existing metal.
CAD TIME
The first step in recreating a destroyed ring is to try to figure out the exact dimensions of the original. In this case, the destroyed ring had plenty of areas where I could measure the exact width and thickness of the ring.
Once the measurements had been taken, the ring was redesigned. Typically this can be done with CAD or by carving a wax by hand. I prefer CAD due to the exactness you can achieve.
Wax Model
The wax ring model was 3-D printed in castable wax. These wax models can also be carved by hand with much success.
Spruing
The wax model is attached to a base, or “sprued up” as is casting terminology. A wax pen is used to melt the wax and fuse the sprue and the ring model together.
The wax ring model is enclosed inside of a flask
Investment Powder
Investment powder is weighed on a scale This measurement will be used to fill the flask which holds the ring.
Stir!
Water is added to the investment and stirred in. I always think about pancakes during this step.
Pour
Investment is poured into the flask. Within a few hours the investment has completely hardened.
Burnout
Once the investment has completely hardened, the rubber base is removed and the flask is put into the oven. What happens next is called the “burnout cycle.” During the burnout cycle the temperature inside the oven ramps up in increments. During this time the wax ring model completely melts and burns out of the flask. Any residual wax is emptied into the wax tray below the flask.
The original gold ring is placed inside of the crucible prior to melting
Gold Added
To ensure the new cast is clean and free of defect, “fresh” refined gold is added to the original destroyed ring. It’s always a good idea to add at least 50% refined gold when doing a new casting with existing metal.
Melting
A hot flame is applied to the gold sitting in the crucible. Once the gold melts to liquid form, it is then poured into the flask! Remember the wax model that used to be in the flask? Well that was burned out, leaving a cavity in the investment for the gold to flow into!
Molten gold fills the void left by the melted wax ring model
The Raw Casting
Molten gold is poured into the flask, perfectly fills the void and assumes the shape of the original wax ring model. A bit of excess gold is needed to fill the sprue portion. The rest forms a “button”. It’s always good to use a bit extra metal when casting to ensure the jewelry piece comes out as a complete cast.
Finishing
Using a jewelers saw, the “button” is removed from the raw cast.
An inside ring grinder is used to achieve a smooth inside surface.
A fine sanding disc is used on the outside to smooth the gold and bring the casting out of it’s rough state.
A hand tool is used to bring the ring to a semi-polish before it goes to the polishing machine.
Polishing
A lapidary is used to create nice crisp edges on the sides of the ring.
The inside ring finger creates a smooth and comfortable surface on the inside of the ring.
The final polishing wheel smooths out the entire piece and brings it to a high shine.
AFTER: The completed ring! Round and shiny
It’s always super fun to do a project like this, taking something destroyed and making it new again
In the end the man was super happy with the result and enjoyed showing his partner the brand new ring!
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What do you think ?
ZombieGirl5591 5 years ago
People who make stuff are so awesome....jewelry makers..carpenters..etc. etc...
Natters 5 years ago
You can too! Just get the right tools and you'll be awesome.
Load More Replies...
Modern Goldsmith (Post author) 5 years ago
Someone polished off the Cinnamon Toast Crunch? I really have no idea, nor did I ask!
Load More Replies...
Kathryn Baylis 5 years ago
In summer 2017, my husband was working on a carburetor and his wedding ring got caught, bent, and torn (he only had a bruise on his finger, thankfully). He got some of those rubber rings to wear in place of it. For Christmas 2017, I took his damaged wedding ring, and one of his spare rubber rings for sizing, to a jeweler to have it repaired. Our rings can't be melted down and recast, because they have engraving inside them---luckily the damage missed that section of the ring. I have to commend the jeweler for seamlessly fixing the damage, preserving the engraving, and getting the sizing just perfect. You can't even tell it had ever been damaged. I had kept the original ring box, so put his ring in it, wrapped it, and put it in his stocking. He was tickled to death to have his real wedding ring back! There are some jewelers out there who are just magicians. However, if he had done what this guy did, I wouldn't be telling that story and the divorce would've been final by now.
Csaba HegedΕ±s 5 years ago
So he first destroys it on purpose, then he is happy to show it to his partner? A new partner? What happened? We need answers! Great craftmanship by the way, I always enjoy watching how things are made!
Modern Goldsmith (Post author) 5 years ago
Thank you! He showed the ring to the same original partner.
Load More Replies...
Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago
This is interesting! Well written and photographed. More like this, please, BP.
Modern Goldsmith (Post author) 5 years ago
I'll try to post here again! Also feel free to follow me on social as well to see my latest projects.
Load More Replies...
Marty BlackEagle-Carl 5 years ago
great to see how a ring is made, or re-made. i have more respect for the ones on my hands.
i_ship_it 5 years ago
Wow that's so awesome. Now I really want to know how the guy reacted when he saw the new ring.
Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago
The text says he was "super happy with the result and enjoyed showing his partner the brand new ring"
Load More Replies...
somnomania 5 years ago
Thank you so much for posting this! I love seeing stuff like this with the step by step process, it's always so interesting.
Randomcthulu 5 years ago
My SO and I wear tungsten rings, they're still pretty, are damn near indestructible, and are only about $30-$50 to replace if lost/destroyed
Yaz Cam 5 years ago
How long does it take to turn something destroyed like that into new again?
Amazon QT 5 years ago
Iβve created a ring before similar to this, it canβt take upto 3-4 days.
Load More Replies...
Selahattin Olceroglu 5 years ago
These kinds of excellent workmanships require high sense of responsibility and respect to the requests of customers as well as loving the profession carried out.
Selahattin Olceroglu 5 years ago
These kinds of quality workmanships requires high sense of responsibility and respect against the requests of customers as well as loving the profession carried out..
Taz-Hood 5 years ago
Wow! I sincerely hope you were paid several times the cost of the original ring for your service! As far as I'm concerned, you are a hero. Thank you so much for documenting the process of creating original castings using the lost-wax method. I had no idea how much precision work was involved. I had a jeweller make a custom silver setting for my wife's tanzanite pendant about 20 years ago. Someday I would like to have the unique setting re-done for her in yellow gold. Is that something you could do? Again, thank you for this amazing article!
Sam Mitchell 5 years ago
Thank you for sharing. I'm awed when I watch any master craftsmen at the top of their game. I recently watched a video of a man making mozzarella with his son in New York. The passion you both have for what you do spills off the screen. I'm an atheist but I can't help but feel a spiritual awakening when I watch things like this.
Steve Cruz 5 years ago
That's a beautiful result! I liked the photo of the gold in the crucible waiting to be melted. It's now one of my screen saver panes.
okpkpkp 5 years ago
The ring from my second marriage was thrown off the bay side of the Golden Gate Bridge, I was so over it. It was very comfortable, having a rounded inside instead of sharp sides like cheaper rings. Man's 12 probably in a Great White's tummy somewhere. My fourth marriage has lasted the longest, 19.5 years thus far.
Amazon QT 5 years ago
Not an accident. He said he used Vice-Grips to destroy the ring.
Load More Replies...
Happiness is Hippo 5 years ago
Maybe they split up and then got back together, whatever happened it looks like it was a happy ending and it's amazing to see the process of repairing the ring.
Load More Replies... ZombieGirl5591 5 years ago
People who make stuff are so awesome....jewelry makers..carpenters..etc. etc...
Natters 5 years ago
You can too! Just get the right tools and you'll be awesome.
Load More Replies... Modern Goldsmith (Post author) 5 years ago
Someone polished off the Cinnamon Toast Crunch? I really have no idea, nor did I ask!
Load More Replies... Kathryn Baylis 5 years ago
In summer 2017, my husband was working on a carburetor and his wedding ring got caught, bent, and torn (he only had a bruise on his finger, thankfully). He got some of those rubber rings to wear in place of it. For Christmas 2017, I took his damaged wedding ring, and one of his spare rubber rings for sizing, to a jeweler to have it repaired. Our rings can't be melted down and recast, because they have engraving inside them---luckily the damage missed that section of the ring. I have to commend the jeweler for seamlessly fixing the damage, preserving the engraving, and getting the sizing just perfect. You can't even tell it had ever been damaged. I had kept the original ring box, so put his ring in it, wrapped it, and put it in his stocking. He was tickled to death to have his real wedding ring back! There are some jewelers out there who are just magicians. However, if he had done what this guy did, I wouldn't be telling that story and the divorce would've been final by now.
Csaba HegedΕ±s 5 years ago
So he first destroys it on purpose, then he is happy to show it to his partner? A new partner? What happened? We need answers! Great craftmanship by the way, I always enjoy watching how things are made!
Modern Goldsmith (Post author) 5 years ago
Thank you! He showed the ring to the same original partner.
Load More Replies... Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago
This is interesting! Well written and photographed. More like this, please, BP.
Modern Goldsmith (Post author) 5 years ago
I'll try to post here again! Also feel free to follow me on social as well to see my latest projects.
Load More Replies... Marty BlackEagle-Carl 5 years ago
great to see how a ring is made, or re-made. i have more respect for the ones on my hands.
i_ship_it 5 years ago
Wow that's so awesome. Now I really want to know how the guy reacted when he saw the new ring.
Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago
The text says he was "super happy with the result and enjoyed showing his partner the brand new ring"
Load More Replies... somnomania 5 years ago
Thank you so much for posting this! I love seeing stuff like this with the step by step process, it's always so interesting.
Randomcthulu 5 years ago
My SO and I wear tungsten rings, they're still pretty, are damn near indestructible, and are only about $30-$50 to replace if lost/destroyed
Yaz Cam 5 years ago
How long does it take to turn something destroyed like that into new again?
Amazon QT 5 years ago
Iβve created a ring before similar to this, it canβt take upto 3-4 days.
Load More Replies... Selahattin Olceroglu 5 years ago
These kinds of excellent workmanships require high sense of responsibility and respect to the requests of customers as well as loving the profession carried out.
Selahattin Olceroglu 5 years ago
These kinds of quality workmanships requires high sense of responsibility and respect against the requests of customers as well as loving the profession carried out..
Taz-Hood 5 years ago
Wow! I sincerely hope you were paid several times the cost of the original ring for your service! As far as I'm concerned, you are a hero. Thank you so much for documenting the process of creating original castings using the lost-wax method. I had no idea how much precision work was involved. I had a jeweller make a custom silver setting for my wife's tanzanite pendant about 20 years ago. Someday I would like to have the unique setting re-done for her in yellow gold. Is that something you could do? Again, thank you for this amazing article!
Sam Mitchell 5 years ago
Thank you for sharing. I'm awed when I watch any master craftsmen at the top of their game. I recently watched a video of a man making mozzarella with his son in New York. The passion you both have for what you do spills off the screen. I'm an atheist but I can't help but feel a spiritual awakening when I watch things like this.
Steve Cruz 5 years ago
That's a beautiful result! I liked the photo of the gold in the crucible waiting to be melted. It's now one of my screen saver panes.
okpkpkp 5 years ago
The ring from my second marriage was thrown off the bay side of the Golden Gate Bridge, I was so over it. It was very comfortable, having a rounded inside instead of sharp sides like cheaper rings. Man's 12 probably in a Great White's tummy somewhere. My fourth marriage has lasted the longest, 19.5 years thus far.
Amazon QT 5 years ago
Not an accident. He said he used Vice-Grips to destroy the ring.
Load More Replies... Happiness is Hippo 5 years ago
Maybe they split up and then got back together, whatever happened it looks like it was a happy ending and it's amazing to see the process of repairing the ring.
Load More Replies...
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