CBJ Practice and Application 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A platinum prong has cracked and needs to be re-tipped. Which solder type should be used?
- Platinum solder matched to the alloy (Correct answer)
- Easy gold solder for lower heat
- Silver solder for a strong bond
- No solder — platinum is laser-welded only
Correct answer: Platinum solder matched to the alloy
Platinum requires platinum solder matched to the specific alloy to maintain color, strength, and melting point compatibility.
Question 2: When polishing a high-karat gold piece on a buffing wheel, the jeweler should:
- Keep the piece moving and hold it below center of the wheel (Correct answer)
- Hold the piece stationary above the wheel center for consistent contact
- Apply maximum pressure for faster results
- Polish in one continuous direction without lifting off the wheel
Correct answer: Keep the piece moving and hold it below center of the wheel
Moving the piece constantly and keeping it below wheel center prevents the wheel from catching the piece and throwing it.
Question 3: A customer requests engraving on the inside of a tungsten carbide ring. The jeweler should:
- Advise the customer that tungsten carbide cannot be engraved with standard jewelry equipment (Correct answer)
- Use a diamond-tipped hand graver at low speed
- Apply a rotary high-speed steel bur
- Use an acid-etch method with masking tape
Correct answer: Advise the customer that tungsten carbide cannot be engraved with standard jewelry equipment
Tungsten carbide is extremely hard and brittle, making it incompatible with traditional engraving tools used in jewelry.
Question 4: When sizing a white gold ring up two sizes, the jeweler notices the solder joint turned yellow after soldering. This most likely means:
- Gold solder with too low a karat or wrong color was used (Correct answer)
- The ring was quenched too quickly
- Flux was applied to the inside of the shank
- The ring needs additional rhodium plating only
Correct answer: Gold solder with too low a karat or wrong color was used
Yellow discoloration at a white gold solder joint indicates a mismatched solder — yellow gold solder used instead of white gold solder.
Question 5: The purpose of annealing a piece of metal work-hardened during fabrication is to:
- Restore ductility and workability by relieving internal stress (Correct answer)
- Increase the metal's hardness for durability
- Prepare the surface for soldering by removing oxides
- Fuse two pieces of metal without solder
Correct answer: Restore ductility and workability by relieving internal stress
Annealing heats metal to relieve stress and recrystallize the grain structure, restoring malleability lost through work-hardening.
Question 6: A pave-set stone is sitting too high above its seat. The most appropriate corrective action is to:
- Deepen the seat with a bearing cutter until the stone sits at the correct height (Correct answer)
- Force the stone down with a bezel pusher
- Remove the stone, add solder to raise the seat, and reset
- Select a smaller stone to achieve a lower profile
Correct answer: Deepen the seat with a bearing cutter until the stone sits at the correct height
A bearing cutter removes metal precisely to deepen the seat so the stone sits at the proper height for secure setting.
Question 7: When using a flex shaft with a rubber abrasive wheel to pre-polish a textured silver surface, the correct technique is to:
- Work in the direction of the texture with light, overlapping passes (Correct answer)
- Press firmly and hold the tool stationary for maximum cutting
- Use the highest RPM setting to save time
- Work across the texture at 90 degrees for consistent contact
Correct answer: Work in the direction of the texture with light, overlapping passes
Following the direction of the texture with light passes prevents distortion of the design and maintains even surface refinement.
CBJ Practice and Application 3
A platinum prong has cracked and needs to be re-tipped.
Which solder type should be used?