Repair is the most difficult and labor-intensive process of jewelry production. The course of repair and restoration of jewelry involves production and recreation of various elements of jewelry as well as mounting and finishing operations.
Services in which recreation of separate elements of a design or a pattern is required, are called restoration. Determination of a degree of difficulty of the jewelry arriving for repair, has to be carried out by the experienced restorer.
This gold and enamel cross was previously repaired with metal staples and lead solder. In the course of repair not all products can be subjected to soldering by hard solders. Over the years since it was repaired iron and lead solder deposited deterioration particles over the gold which made it dull and gray in color.
Our objective was to remove this patina, to join pieces together and to restore enamel, where it was missing.
Using mild solution of nitric acid and a brush, removed tarnish and dirt.
Several well placed rivets joined two pieces together.
It is impossible to subject decorative surfaces (gilding, enameling, blackening) to high temperature. So enameling was made possible by creating a low temperature enamel and firing was done before pieces were assembled.
