From our ocean side studio in Mahone Bay Nova Scotia we meticulously design and craft each piece of Alchemy gold jewelry completely by hand. From the initial sketch, to casting the gold and finishing, everything is made here. We are surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty in Nova Scotia, and with this respect for our environment we are dedicated to ethically sourced, 100% recycled gold.
How It's Made
The process begins with an original model carved from wax, or a found object, like a starfish. A liquid rubber is poured over the model to form a mold. Once the rubber sets, the model is removed, and pewter is cast into the cavity to make a metal copy of the original.
The metal copy is cleaned, and any additions or changes, such as adding a small fob for hanging a pendant, can be made at this time. Another mold is made from this metal copy by laying it between sheets of rubber and vulcanizing it with heat and pressure. When the mold is ready, it is separated into two halves, and the metal copy is removed.
The mold is then injected with hot wax, which forms a wax copy of the original. Many wax copies can be made. The wax copies are attached to a central column of wax to form a “tree.” These wax “trees” can have one to dozens of wax copies on them.
The wax “tree” is placed inside a steel flask. A plaster-like investment is mixed and placed in a vacuum chamber to draw out any air bubbles that might cause imperfections in the final castings.
The investment is poured into the flask, and the flask is also vacuumed to ensure no bubbles remain in the investment.
Once the investment has set and hardened, the steel flask is placed inside a kiln. Over many hours, the heat melts the wax out of the mold and hardens the investment. This is the “lost wax” part of the process. The investment now has a cavity in the exact shape of the “tree” and all the pieces that had been attached.
The metal flask stays in the kiln at 1000º F while the casting machine is heated and the gold melted in the crucible. When the gold reaches a temperature of 1760º F, the flask is removed from the kiln and placed into a vacuum chamber in the casting machine, underneath the crucible. The crucible is then emptied into the flask.
The investment is poured into the flask, and the flask is also vacuumed to ensure no bubbles remain in the investment.
Individual pieces are then cut from the “tree,” cleaned and polished, and assembled with 14k chains or earring posts to create the final, finished work of art. Each piece also receives the Alchemy touch-mark hand hammered in place as a mark of pride, authenticity and craftsmanship.
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