What do you put under a translucent cabochon?

[Former_Member]

Hi all,

I have had a problem with some silver rings tarnishing beneath a translucent cabochon setting. I put a thin polished sheet of Argentium silver beneath the stone, but it is still tarnishing and showing through the stone.

What do you do to combat this issue?

Thanks!

[PureDichotomy]

Lots of people have different answers to this one. Here are some answers Ive seen for this question before:

1) leave it and realize its part of the overall patina
2) use fine silver under the stone
3) fine silver + epoxy coating to the backplate surface
4) Fine silver + resin coating to the backplate surface
4) pierce the backplate so that the stone always has light coming through it regardless of whether the metal tarnishes

[Untwistedsister]

What about setting it with an open back setting?

[NanceDesigns]

Some use aluminum foil as a back over the silver backplate between it and the stone.

[Former_Member]

Good thoughts, Thanks all!

@Nance, I haven't used aluminum for jewelry, but I think it would also tarnish over time. Maybe slower than silver?

@Terri, for rings with lighter stones, I think a silver backplate reflects more light out than an open back setting.

@Wendy, I think i'll try the epoxy coating and see if it works!

Any other thoughts out there? :)

[Former_Member]

aluminum foil?

[Former_Member]

Mylar.

[NanceDesigns]

Like Reynolds wrap foil. I have heard it is used.

[JazznJewelry]

I prefer open settings the best, but I have had customer supplied stones that aren't the best quality. For those I sometimes have used some of the reflective papers. These come in all colors, sometimes with a slight texture to them, similar to foiled Christmas wrapping paper, but a heavier weight. You have to caution them not to get the jewelry wet though. I like Matthew's idea about the mylar, and you wouldn't have to worry about it getting wet. Aluminum foil tarnishes over time. Remember the trick of polishing silver with washing soda and aluminum foil? It deposits the tarnish onto the aluminum foil. Silver will tarnish under clear epoxy over time.

[mizgeorge]

A disc cut from an old CD reflects the light brilliantly, and hides any black spot problems as well.

[Former_Member]

I asked on Amazon about mylar "Will this tarnish or oxidize from exposure to water or air?" and someone responded "yes, the finish ablates"

I've just submitted a response to find out more info on that. I'll let you all know if I learn more about the mylar.

Thanks for all your responses! Any other ideas? I want something that will withstand getting wet as I'm mostly interested in using this for rings.

[Untwistedsister]

I'm just thinking a a translucent stone is only semi transparent - allows light through but not necessarily images. Why not just cut a thin piece of fine silver to rest beneath the stone if you're afraid of the tarnish affecting the appearance of the stone. You could also try coating the silver with renaissance wax prior to setting.

[rioritajewelry]

I usually saw off the metal behind a transparent stone and give it a nice finish.

[TwoSilverMoons]

A super thin piece of sheet of 14k white behind the stone should work. A square inch of 34ga 14k white is under $40 right now and if it is for small stones it should go a long way.