Not your usual Tiffany & Co. question...how do they make the suckers?

[KatSullivan]

First post for a long time lurker! I''ve been researching Tiffany & Co. and I don''t want to stir up the long running debate about cost efficiency. However, MY question is in regards to how Tiffany actually MAKES their settings (the knife edge solitaire for example).

I realize that Tiffany shanks are probably cast, but are the heads? I seem to remember someone saying that they work with platinum wire. Perhaps, an expert can chime in here? Also, how do they make their pave?

I''m just beginning to learn about die struck, lost wax casting, etc. Maybe someone can point me to a helpful thread with some definitions?

Any replies would be great! I''m going nuts trying to figure this out...I''m a biologist not an engineer...

 

[mrssalvo]

not sure about the tiffany setting but a SA told me the legacy was part die struck part handmade.

 

[KatSullivan]

That is what a sales associate told me also, in regards to part of the setting being handmade...I guess what I''m still left wondering which part? Also, that the heck is the difference between die cast and die struck? I think I''m even more confused now!