Pearl is an ancient organic gemstone. It is mainly produced in nacreous shellfish and mother-of-pearl mollusks; and the calcium carbonate-containing minerals bead grains generated due to endocrinology are formed by a large collection of tiny aragonite crystals. Pearls are colorful, warm and translucent, with a feeling of elegance, symbolizing health, purity, wealth and happiness, and have been loved by people since ancient times. Pearls currently used for jewelry making are artificially screened to retain square, nearly round, and rice grain type pearls. Most of the irregularly shaped pearls are polished into pearl powder. However, due to the lack of processing technology, it has caused a serious waste of raw materials. The usual hand-carving process the color of the pearl is not glossy enough, roundness is poor. For the defects in the prior art, this paper provides a nice process of carving pearls.
Step 1: Design
Whether it is a natural round pearl or an oddly shaped irregular pearl, a design needs to be carved into the surface of the pearl with a carving knife before the carving can officially begin.
For example, round pearls are universally loved and can be carved with a carving knife to create the classic motifs – the patterns of flowing water and auspicious clouds, or a notch in the carved portion for setting crushed diamonds; whereas irregularly shaped pearls need to have a unique pattern designed for it that fits its shape, utilizing the innate shape of the skillful carving so that it is both artistic and loved by most people.If the shape of the pearl is too peculiar can be adjusted with an suitable engraving tool.
Step 2: Sanding
The carved pearl needs to be polished, choose a good friction sandpaper to polish the sharp edges that appeared after carving to make it smooth. At the same time, rotate the pearl to see if there are any knife marks left on the surface of the pearl, which also need to be sanded to remove. Polishing will make the overall appearance of the pearl smooth and lustrous again, as if it were naturally occurring.
Handmade may have defects that are difficult to detect, you can bury a number of carved pearls into the emery and stir, to achieve friction grinding between each other, in the mixing, the use of mixing tools, the rate of the tool is adjusted to 15-25 revolutions / minute, mixing for 20-35 minutes, and then take out the pearls, the surface is coated with emery, and the use of brushes for scrubbing, you will get a completely smooth pearl.
Step 3: Screening
During the polishing process, the pearls may shed their surface layer due to excessive friction, so that the texture of the pearls is no longer strong and easy to break. Such pearls need to be screened out and eliminated.
Step 4: Polishing
The initial polishing is done with a hand wheel; to polish, hold the blade of the wheel at 15-30 degrees to the work surface and slowly begin to rub the surface of the pearl with firm pressure. Do not rush the process, as too much pressure can cause the surface of the pearl to dent. Use a grinding wheel with a diameter of 1.5-2.5 centimeters. At the end of polishing, perform a self-inspection to check for visible abrasive lines and depressions in the polished area. After polishing, the pearl surface can be placed in the polishing machine without any obvious unevenness.
After putting wood chips, small gravel and other materials in the polisher, set the polishing time within 70-75 hours. When the pearls are removed at the end of the time, you will find that the engraved patterns on the pearls are not worn and the luster of the pearls themselves is restored. Both hand polishing and machine polishing are an integral part of this process.
Step 5: Add accessories
Once the pearls are carved, they need to be combined with other accessories to make a perfect piece of pearl jewelry. For example, you can put on ear hooks to make a pair of pearl earrings. Or in the pearl specially left in the small hole position set with crushed diamonds, so that she becomes a beautiful pearl pendant, and the length of the combination of longer metal chain is a pearl necklace full of artistic sense. Combined with a shorter length of metal chain, it makes a nice pearl bracelet. The carved pearls can be accessorized as you wish, turning them into your own pearl jewelry.
Conclusion
In this paper, a unique pearl carving process has been developed by introducing the pearl carving method that combines hand carving and machine carving. This not only allows people to relax the requirements of pearl shape and reduces the rate of pearl waste. It also makes the pearls more beautiful through carving and has artistic collection value. In this way, every pearl can be turned into exquisite pearl jewelry through this process.