Laser 101

Laser Welding is the process in which light energy is used to weld metal together.  This process fuses the metal on a molecular level, creating a homogeneous weld.  What does that mean to you?  It means your repair no longer involves solder - an alloy made to flow at a lower temperature to 'braze' your jewelry back together.  It means when I'm done sizing your 18K white gold engagement ring, not only is there no color blending for me to worry about, but there's no solder joint - a naturally weak spot in the shank.

What else is so great about laser welding?  Where do I start...  Here's how an emerald ring with a broken prong tip would be repaired with a torch.

• Clean the ring in an ultrasonic cleaner for 30 minutes.
  
• Delicately remove the emerald from the existing prongs.  You see, emeralds (like many other stones) are heat sensitive.  If I were to repair the prong tip with direct torch heat I could fracture or change the color of the stone.
  
• Coat the ring in a powdered acid mix to reduce "fire scale" - a discoloring of the top molecular layers of metal.
• Solder a tiny piece of metal onto the existing prong, or replace the prong in entirety.
• Wait for the ring to cool, then let it soak in an acid bath.
• Blend the joint, clean and pre-polish the ring.
• Cut a new seat into the prong and re-set the emerald, very carefully as emeralds are very fragile.

A trained goldsmith should be able to complete this job in 45-60 minutes. One of the key benefits of laser welding is that it's virtually heatless.  The light power is so concentrated that you can weld metal touching a stone without ramification.  The laser can be focused down to .1mm for true pin-point application, and is so hot that it incinerates any dirt and debris in its path, eliminating the need to clean a piece before work.  Here's how the same repair is done with the laser welder.

• Match the prong thickness with a like-size piece of wire and tack weld the two pieces together.
• Using very fine filler wire, fill the void and blend the joint smooth.
• Polish the ring, let soak in the ultrasonic cleaner.

The same job in mere minutes.  The laser welder creates a safer, better quality repair, in less time allowing me to pass the savings onto you!

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