Question for Metalsmiths/Jewellers

[pyramid]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SOLID-9CT-GOLD-DIAMOND-ENCRUSTED-SAPPHIRE-RING_W0QQitemZ8929289759QQcategoryZ45373QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


There are some ads on ebay like this one, not my style and not what I would be buying. The question is does jewellery which has been locked in a safe for 25 years still have the same strengths as new jewellery? Does the metal not deteriorate with age?

 

[blodthecat]

The answer to that is NO.

Old jewellery only wears and thins because it is being worn.

but I think i would take the 'locked in a safe for 25years' with a pinch of salt!

They might just mean it's been down the back of a sofa for 25-years....that sounds more like it!

 

[pricescope]

Date: 4/30/2006 9:03:01 AM
Author: blodthecat
The answer to that is NO.

Old jewellery only wears and thins because it is being worn.

but I think i would take the ''locked in a safe for 25years'' with a pinch of salt!

They might just mean it''s been down the back of a sofa for 25-years....that sounds more like it!

Ditto, and actually "down the back of sofa" is fine too, unless it was "under that sofa''s leg"

 

[pyramid]

Thanks. I am wondering about this because I have read of work hardening and that when metal is older it is more difficult to anneal when being worked on by the benchman and is more brittle from age hardening through twisting or banging it, so wondered if this would happen with the alloys in the gold as it is only 9 carat gold if the rings were not being worn thus no age hardening through movement of the metal.

 

[pyramid]

http://www.timezone.com/library/archives/archives631703251272822958



This article talks about age hardening of copper alloys and also work hardening and how it makes the metal more brittle..

 

[riogems]

The polish is probably oxidized. Otherwise, it should be ok.

 

[pyramid]

Thanks RioGems.


Here is the bit from the article:

"
Deforming metals by pressure or impact causes them to harden, at differing rates dependent on the alloy. As it hardens, it becomes less deformable, and more brittle.
Most alloys containing copper will age-harden. This may be apparent over months to years. "


How would the age-harden become apparent would this just be to benchman working with repairs etc. or would the wearer of the jewellery notice anything?