GENUINE enamel
THE BEAUTY OF JEWELRY
PLAQUES • COOLER BADGES • CLUB BADGES
Jewellery enamel
In the workshop we use only jewellery enamel. Unlike industrial enamel, which is used for example for the production of signs and utensils and serves mainly as a great protection of metal against corrosion, jewellery enamel is much more refined, has a much higher gloss and brightness. It is hard but more fragile. Its price is many times higher. These properties make it suitable for use in arts and crafts production. Enamel is close in composition to glass, and is enriched with substances which lower its melting point. A wide range of shades is achieved by the addition of metal oxides. Only a small range of lead-free enamels can currently be ordered in the Czech Republic. Our opinion is that lead enamels achieve more beautiful results and therefore we order them from abroad.
The products retain their lustre and sparkle for centuries and resist the weather.
Handmade from start to finish
Enamelled products go through quite a complex technological process. First of all, a metal substrate (copper, tombak, silver or gold) with pits must be obtained. These are produced by engravers, by etching, or in mass production with large numbers of pieces by stamping. Next, the individual pits are filled with enamelling slurry (enamelling frits ground to a powder mixed with distilled water). Drying evaporates all the water from the slurry that would cause bubbles in the enamel during firing. It is then fired in a kiln at temperatures of around 800 °C. After natural cooling (sudden cooling could crack the enamel), the process is repeated. The product is then ground so that the enamel surface is flush with the metal. This step exposes any imperfections and unevenness, which are then corrected and the firing and grinding process repeated. The final firing gives the ground flat surface its typical shine. Finally, the scale that forms on the copper at high temperatures is cleaned and the copper is polished. The final products can be finished with nickel or chrome.
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