Jewelry Design Jewelry 5 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary difference between 'cloisonné' and 'champlevé' enamel techniques?
- Cloisonné uses wire cells to contain enamel; champlevé uses recesses carved into the metal (Correct answer)
- Cloisonné is applied to copper only; champlevé is applied to gold
- Cloisonné is fired at lower temperatures than champlevé
- Cloisonné uses opaque enamel; champlevé always uses transparent enamel
Correct answer: Cloisonné uses wire cells to contain enamel; champlevé uses recesses carved into the metal
Cloisonné builds compartments using thin wire soldered to a base, while champlevé carves or etches recesses directly into the metal before filling with enamel.
Question 2: A designer wants to create a piece with a matte, non-reflective finish on silver. Which finishing technique should they use?
- Polishing with rouge compound
- Burnishing with a steel tool
- Sandblasting or brushing with a wire wheel (Correct answer)
- Electroplating with rhodium
Correct answer: Sandblasting or brushing with a wire wheel
Sandblasting or wire brushing creates a uniform matte texture by abrading the surface, scattering light rather than reflecting it.
Question 3: What does 'vermeil' describe in the context of fine jewelry?
- A type of synthetic gemstone used in costume jewelry
- Gold-plated sterling silver meeting specific thickness requirements (Correct answer)
- An alloy of gold and platinum
- A surface treatment using 18k gold paint
Correct answer: Gold-plated sterling silver meeting specific thickness requirements
Vermeil (pronounced ver-MAY) is sterling silver electroplated with at least 2.5 microns of gold, regulated by the FTC for marketing claims.
Question 4: Which chain style is the strongest and most resistant to kinking or breaking?
- Box chain
- Figaro chain
- Rope chain (Correct answer)
- Snake chain
Correct answer: Rope chain
Rope chains consist of twisted oval links that distribute stress along the full length, making them highly resistant to breakage from pulling or kinking.
Question 5: In jewelry design, what is 'granulation'?
- The process of measuring gemstone carat weights precisely
- A decorative technique attaching tiny metal spheres to a surface without solder (Correct answer)
- A method of creating textured patterns by rolling metal through a mill
- The grading system for pearl surface quality
Correct answer: A decorative technique attaching tiny metal spheres to a surface without solder
Granulation is an ancient technique of bonding minute metal spheres to a metal surface using a copper-based fusion process instead of traditional solder.
Question 6: A customer's yellow gold ring has turned their finger green. What is the most likely cause?
- The ring is made of 24k gold
- The ring contains high copper content in its alloy reacting with skin chemistry (Correct answer)
- The ring has been rhodium-plated incorrectly
- The customer applied too much hand lotion
Correct answer: The ring contains high copper content in its alloy reacting with skin chemistry
Green discoloration is caused by copper in the gold alloy oxidizing and reacting with skin acids and moisture, common in lower-karat gold pieces.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a 'mandrel' in jewelry making?
- A tool for measuring gemstone diameter
- A tapered cylindrical form used for shaping rings and other circular components (Correct answer)
- A type of burnisher for setting stones
- A flux applicator used during soldering
Correct answer: A tapered cylindrical form used for shaping rings and other circular components
A mandrel is a tapered steel or wooden rod used as a forming tool to shape, size, and true rings and bangles to precise circular forms.
Jewelry Design Jewelry 5
What is the primary difference between 'cloisonné' and 'champlevé' enamel techniques?