Handling and Maintenance of Gemological Microscopes
Studies show that 40% of jewelers are self-employed. They learned the tricks of their trade in technical and vocational schools through books or right there on the spot. Finding a well-skilled jeweler is a good deal for jewelry manufacturers considering that they have to get one with the right skills.
The same can be said to the crucial tool of jewelers in making the jewelry – the gemological microscope. A jeweler knows that in order for him to come up with the best jewelry, he must use the gemological microscope. The tool helps him manufacture and design the pieces of jewelry. By using it, he can set, cut and polish the gem stones, adjust and repair necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings and even appraise precious gems and metals.
Gemological microscopes specialize in jewelry making area for the very reason that the jeweler using it must have skill and precision and should also pay close attention to detail – not only to what he is doing but to how he is handling and caring for the microscope.
Some jewelers invest on their own gemological microscope. Using it, they follow the designs that were created by other designers. They also resort to the preference of their customers. They handle the gemological microscope with such care and use it to shape the metal, carve the wax or to make the model that is attached to the metal.
The jeweler peers through the eyepiece of the gemological microscope and solders together the metal that the piece of jewelry needs. He also mounts the gem or the diamond to give the jewelry its finishing luster. Sometimes, he opts for the laser technology that provides the engraving to give the jewelry a personal touch. By using the gemological microscope, the jeweler also reduces and enlarges ring sizes, resets stones and replaces the broken mountings and clasps.
Some jewelers do their work in their own station but that does not mean that there is no professionalism involved. As a matter of fact, in large jewelry making businesses, the jewelers handle and maintain their gemological microscopes depending on the jewelry-making task that they specialize on.
To elaborate, the model and the mold makers create the models and the tools for the produced jewelry. The assemblers fuse and solder the jewelry as well as its parts. They also set the stones. The engravers are responsible for the etching on the metal and the polishers do the finishing by adding luster to the product. All these are done with the use of the gemological microscope.
With the use of gemological microscopes, jewelers do the handiwork that is required form them and they produce the jewelry after analyzing, describing and certifying the characteristics and the quality of the stones used. Jewelers are also gemologists in the sense that they have to know the basics of gemology in order for them to know whether they are using the best gem stones out there.
With this knowledge, they become more credible to importers, retailers and manufacturers of jewelries – not only in the United States but in the whole world. The jewelers also write reports which record the items that they use for future reference. Gemological microscopes must be maintained because it is valuable to jewelry-making. Research shows that the jewelry industry boomed after the introduction of gemological microscopes into the profession. It helps the jewelers make the best pieces easier and faster – which is good for mass production.
In small repair shops or retailers, the jewelers and appraisers all use gemological microscopes and do their best to maintain the contraption. Clearly, this is an investment for their business. This new technology helps them produce jewelry that is of higher quality. They can improve and cut the quality of the stones and engrave design work in only a millisecond.
There are jewelry companies that also resort to gemological microscopes hooked to the PC in order for them to better facilitate their jewelry designs and to also automate the steps involved in the modelmakeing and the moldmaking processes. This program is called CAD/CAM or computer-aided design and manufacturing.
By using this program, the jewelers modify the design and they can also change the stone. All these are done on their computer screen. They can actually see what the piece they have in mind will look like without having to do anything, therefore confirming whether the image they have in their heads will work or not. All these done through gemological microscopes. Amazing!
