My first post

[philongold]

Hi everyone,

My name is Phil, I have just turned 60 years old but feel like a 30 year old!

I have been a jewellery designer and maker for over 38 years. I have spent all that time working for myself. I started in a converted bedroom and ended up having my own High Street shop.

In the early days, I specialised in mostly commission work and have done some amazing pieces for quite famous people including royalty as well as for the ordinary man in the street. However, after I had my shop, I had to produce several ranges of jewellery which I designed and made myself, as commission work alone wouldn't keep me in the manner to which I had become accustomed lol!

This was back in the days when Margaret Thatcher thought she ruled the world and in her wisdom put the VAT on luxury goods (including jewellery) up to 25%. This just about killed the jewellery trade for a while.

I gave up making jewellery as a business for a while but always made the odd commission piece and a few other items mainly as a hobby. I sort of retired a few years ago due to ill health but have decided recently to bring my tools and Sievert torch out of mothballs.

I moved to France over 10 years ago so no longer have access to what used to be Johnson Matthey Metals but which is now Cooksongold and the Hockley area of Birmingham or Hatton Garden. I have lost all my contacts for stones etc and therefore would like your help.

Can anybody recommend some good well priced stone dealers? Dealers in ordinary cabs of good quality, maybe something a little different, and dealers in mid ranged precious stones. I particularly like cab tourmalines if anybody knows people who deal in these kinds of stones.

Also, I have a small Elmar Ultrasonic which I bought from Suttons a long time ago. What sort of liquids should I use for general ring cleaning after it has been on the polishing buff? I have just bought some Sea Clean 2 and wonder if this is any good in a warm water dilution.

Another question - back in the day, I never bothered much about trying to stop firescale and just used to spend ages with a buffing stick removing it. But I understand that there are things that you can paint on or dip items into to stop firescale or at least cut it down to a minimum. I was recommended some Argo-tect to use in combination with meths. Is this any good or can anybody recommend anything better and not so toxic.

I think that's probably enough of my ramblings for now. I await your replies.

Phil (philongold)

[Patstone]

Hello Phil, i buy most of my day-to-day stones from Kernowcraft in Cornwall, but another girl that sources some magnificent stones is Joopy Gems based in Hong Kong. Pat

[Goldsmith]

Hi Phil,
Check out; http://www.manchesterminerals.co.uk/ they took over Hilton Bros. lapidary and stock some nice stones.

I use ammonia based ultrasonic cleaner fluid, but on occasions when I run out I have used dishwasher fluid and hot water quite successfully.

I look forward to seeing some photos of the amazing pieces that you have made.

James

[enigma]

Hi Phil,

Im also in France

I buy everything from the UK though, its cheaper even with postage and the service is better than the French websites Ive found so far.
http://www.wardgemstones.com/ is another good stone supplier.

Would love to see photos of your past work!

[CJ57]

Hi Phil
Hope you find a 30 year old

I tend to use Marcia Lanyon for stones. If they don't have it on your website then they are really helpful and may have them in stock anyway.

I've always just polished out my firestain which is probably why I still like tripoli and rouge

[philongold]

Hi Phil
Hope you find a 30 year old

I tend to use Marcia Lanyon for stones. If they don't have it on your website then they are really helpful and may have them in stock anyway.

I've always just polished out my firestain which is probably why I still like tripoli and rouge

--------------------

Thanks for the info. I have dealt with Marcia Lanyon befroe.

I have looked at you website - I quite like some of the stuff by Caroline John.

Cheers.
Phil

[Moon Willow]

Hi Phil

Welcome to the forum,

I'll leave the stones to the experts,

"The ultrasonic" I find that fairy liquid in hot water (in my ultrasonic) works just as well as some of the industrial strength mixes
I usually scrub the piece with a toothbrush at regular intervals because there's always some compound that won't let go.

I love polishing, I buff my work smooth and if I see fire stain ill use a stiff polishing mop and hit it hard dipping the piece in water
to cool it at regular intervals, I only ever use one polishing compound (works for me) Dialux Bleu.

Carlton

[philongold]

Hello Carlton,

Thanks for your reply. What do you mean - 'I leave the stones to the experts'?

Don't you use stones in your jewellery?

Great tip re Ultrasonics - your brew sounds just the job - cheap and if it works - wonderful. I will try it. Having said that, I used some stuff I bought from CooksonGold called Sea Clean 2
(or something like that) yesterday to clean a ring I had just made. I didn't give it a scrub with a brush as I would normally do, I just put it into the ultrasonic bath as it came off the buff - all covered in rouge, just to see how this new Sea Clean would work. It did a FANTASTIC job, all sparkly and clean - Just how I like it!

By the way - you should only use Pure Hair Bristle brushes to brush jewellery - and old badge hair shaving brush is the best - or a proper cleaning brush from Suttons Tools B'ham or somewhere of that ilk.

What sort of jewellery do you make? I hope to post some of my older pieces as well as my new stuff soon - If I can work out how to post images on this forum.

All the very best
Phil (philongold@gmail.com)

[BarryM]

I think you will find it was Dennis Healey who introduced 25% vat rate on luxury goods, the highest rate under Maggie Thatcher was 17.5% after the 25% "higher rate" was abolished by the Chancellor Geoffrey Howe.

Welcome by the way, I can recommend Kernowcraft for semi precious cabs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[philongold]

Many many thanks to all of you that have replied so far. Keep your responses coming - the more the merrier.

I will check out all that you guys have recommended.

Barry M - you are right, but the problem remained the same!

Phil