mokume gane...and will a gold ring slowly "disappear"???

[kkeen15]

I just randomly discovered mokume gane! It''s beautiful and so unique, and I see that there are many different alloys used. Here are the ones I''ve seen so far:
sterling silver, yellow gold, copper, iron, white gold, shibuichi, shakudo, colored gold alloys, and platinum.

Can mokume gane inlay be done with tungsten or titanium in a similar way that the ring in the attached photo is inlayed in a platinum channel? I''ve seen titanium mokume gane inlay rings but with a less "delicate" channel.

Another question...I''ve never had a gold ring before. I have friends who have gold wedding rings from a few years ago, and they look like they are slowly disappearing! I mean, this is a man''s 5-6mm ring that now looks very thin and not as wide as it originally did. How long will a gold ring last? Is it good for wedding rings?

Thanks in advance!

 

[chialea]

I'm also really interested in mokume game (or rather, my SO is). one tip I got from a materials science friend of mine is to make sure to get a "sleeve" of all one metal on the inside of the ring to reduce allergic reactions. he claims that having different metals on your skin in close proximity with some sweat added in will give you more or less a cathode and annode, which is just not a helpful thing.

about the gold vs. platinum debate, I think the only thing I can say is that most of the jewelery in my family that has lasted under a lot of wear for about a century or more is platinum. (the older platinum watches are also in much better shape than the newer gold watches.) most of the gold stuff has worn quite a bit along the line, and doesn't get passed on as long, even with repair. I'm wearing my great-grandmother's engagement ring right now, and it's doing just fine, even with a very narrow band and some delicate work around the pave stones. people's bodily chemistry and how active they are with their hands probably has a good bit to do with this as well. in my eyes, it comes down to what you want to do with your ring -- in my family it's passed down the line, but some people are buried with their wedding jewelery. when I buy nice jewlery, it's not just for me.

 

[valeria101]

You got me here! I love these things

maybe I can answe a few Qs too...

Titanium or Tungsten? They could not be forged together with other metals, but the mokume band can be inlayed in either. I think there was at least one such ring with Ti and mokume on "Show me the ring". Something like THIS

How is mokume made? Some sites give details on the proces, much as PS teaches diamonds lore. For example: this LINK from the Society of American Silversmiths.

I think mokume gane is an unusual (but delightful) choice for jewelry, since the patterns are beter shown in larger surfaces than a ring has. Proof of the contrary is easy to find though. Collection weaponry is wher you are likely to find mokume at it's best

If I remember right, "Griffin" makes mokume gane and could write in more detail about these...


PS: Is this (LINK) wher the pic comes from?

 

[valeria101]

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On 5/30/2004 9:42:36 AM kkeen15 wrote:



I have friends who have gold wedding rings from a few years ago, and they look like they are slowly disappearing!

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True... actually, I had a little chat about this soe time ago with my jeweler. He proudly told me that his (18k YG) wedding band went down to half the original size in 30 years of marriage! He thought this is cool

 

[kkeen15]

Thanks guys, for replying so quickly!!! Its cool to know that others are also very interested in this technique. Ana, yes, the pic is from www.mokume-gane.com...meant to note that in my original post.

My engagement ring is platinum, and I was planning for a platinum wedding ring as well, until I discovered mokume. Now I'm really thinking about getting a mokume wedding ring! But if I got one with a platinum channel and different gold colors in the mokume, would the gold slowly disappear, like a typical gold ring? I, like chialea (sp) am also interested in being able to pass my jewelry on to my family.

Also, its very expensive! Between 1000 and 2000 for what I'm looking for. However, I found one site earlier today which had really reasonable prices, under 1000, but I can't find it again!! I had done a google search and now its not there anymore. It wasn't mokume.com, aslanzi...com (can't remember last word), or mokume-gane.com. If you know of other mokume vendors online, please post! Thanks a ton!!!

 

[Hest88]

I don't think the gold will disappear if enclosed within a plat channel if you're careful about making sure the surface has little contact with anything else AND if you're good about not exposing it to chlorine (so take it off before jumping in a pool or jacuzzi), bleach, or any other harsh chemicals. After all, gold doesn't disappear because it is evaporating in the air, but because it is being rubbed or eaten away. Royal gold jewelery and such things as gold doubloons and Inca gold have managed to last centuries.

 

[Lizardman2]

I just ordered a Mokume ring from Prospector's gold. I initaly found them on Ebay, and after talking to the designed David Emislie(spelling?) am very happy and excited to recieve my ring. I ordered a Silver/white gold combo with a white gold liner. I know the photo attached shows no liner-but mine is coming with one. I will send a pic of mine when it comes in any day now.