Eectroforming Gemstones

[Former_Member]

Hello,

first, thank you in advance for your help!

For some past time I´m thinking about to do electroforming on geode slices, amethyst chunks, etc. in gold and add a loop at the top so you can thread a chain through and wear as a necklace.
Here are some examples (this are items bought): de.dawanda.com/product/30475237-CASCADING-AMETHYST-II-Kette-16k-gol...
de.dawanda.com/product/25023285-TIEFBLAUER-OZEAN-Kette-16k-gold-mit...

I have bought a book called "Electroforming" from Leslie Curtis and have an article form Art Jewelry about that.
They´re quit good I think, but it is not easy to understand for me and I couldn´t find exactly what I am looking for.
Everywhere they explain how to electroform a seed pod with copper for example, but I can´t find anything where they show how to electroform a gemstone.
I don´t know how to put a lead wire onto a gemstone or how I can put a loop on the gemstone and electroform it and how I could do all this with gold instead of copper.

I will not spend too much money to do a big production.
Could anyone maybe tell me if there's a simple way to do this?

I live in Germany and I havn´t found out that there are classes where they teach this method.

Thank you so much,
Daniela

[Former_Member]

Here's an article that might be helpful...
https://www.ishor.com/ElectroformArticle.php

[Former_Member]

yes, this is something i'd like to do as well. you might contact riogrande.com by email to ask them for some help as they sell the supplies..
i believe to do a gemstone you would have to coat it w/ something so that the chemicals you'd need for the electroforming wouldn't affect the stones.
sheri haab sells an electroform kit to do the copper
http://www.sherrihaab.com/Electroforming/e3-electroforming-kit

[Former_Member]

@ Nora: Thank you so much for the interesting article!

@ Jeanne: Wow, I think this is what I´m looking for! Thank you so much!
The set is quit expensive, of course not by comparison to the professional tools, but actually more I would like to spend for the beginning.
But I guess it´s better to spend a little bit more and have a bit more high-class kit, then to spend my money for this hobby starter kits. (I hope they ship to Germany :-)
And did you see the ring they show as a result, this is great, because this is the first time I found something in the way I wold like to do it!

I´m not sure how the process with gold is. I guess you have to electroform it with copper first an then put a gold over it.
Does somebody know what the process is if you want to have a gold finish?

Thank you so much,
Daniela

[Former_Member]

daniela, you use a different chemical solution to electro form gold i believe...
if you were electroforming over a whole thing, that wouldn't present a problem but stones have different hardnesses and i don't know if the chemical solution would etch the stone. i did read on a site last year that the stones were coated over the part where the bezel wouldn't be forming but it didn't mention what the stones were coated with.

here is a video riogrande sells on doing the copper electroplating of the whole item
http://www.riogrande.com/Product/Easy-Electroforming-for-Jewelry-DVD/560690?pos=5

[Former_Member]

@ Jeanne: Yes, I guess so, too. Do you know if, after electroforming with copper, I could just put it in the gold chemical solution and do the same process again? I mean, could I use the copper coil (or sheet) for this and the only difference is the gold solution or do I have to use a gold coil (or sheet)?
Thank you for the riogrande link! I will take a look at it.