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Thread: Purple gold

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    53

    Default Purple gold

    Here is something slightly different I did this past weekend.
    Attachment 6833
    I had some purple gold made by a company in South Africa called Mintek many years ago,
    Purple gold is a mixture of fine gold and approximately 22% to 25% aluminium, melted in an inert atmosphere.
    This picture shows the uncut piece on my dop, prior to cutting.
    Attachment 6834
    This picture shows the piece prior to polishing.
    If you look carefully at the table you can see the aluminium particles mixed in.
    Attachment 6835
    Once it is faceted and polished it takes on a purple-chrome look, very difficult to photograph.
    The material is called an inter-metallic compound, in that it is utterly brittle, cannot be deformed in the usual manner and is not generally suitable for rings.
    For those cutters on the list (are there any?) cutting is done with a 1200 grit lap and water, then a copper lap with 7000 grit and oil, then polished with a Batt lap and 50,000 grit diamond in oil.
    Tricky to cut, though. Only after my third attempt was I happy with the result
    8.5 mm in diameter and 5.4 carats in weight.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    1,086

    Default

    That's gorgeous! can it be cast to make a ring? Think of that set with an amethyst or (of course since this is me saying it) a purple pearl....drool!
    Author: Pearls A Practical Guide
    www.pearlsapractical.guide
    www.Pearlescence.co.uk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    268

    Default

    Very cool indeed!
    Carin Lindberg

    Camali Design
    www.camalidesign.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Cornwall
    Posts
    3,172

    Default

    Would be amazing if it could be cast.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    103

    Default

    Sooooo nice! Shame it's so brittle!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Staffordshire
    Posts
    1,727

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