Heat marks on a Day Date II gold bracelet from soldering? Help before purchase

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

Did some research on heat damage to gold. This is more than just a mark, it is indicative of potential weakening of the golden and structural damage!

Here:

Understanding Heat Damage to Gold Jewelry

Heat damage to jewelry is a common problem. Jewelry made of gold, silver, and other metals can be vulnerable to changes in heat and temperature. Heat can cause gold jewelry to become discolored or even break. Yet understanding where the heat damage has occurred and what kind of heat damage it is can help you fix your burnt gold jewelry.

The first step in fixing burnt gold jewelry is indentifying which type of heat damage has occurred. Gold is a soft metal so it’s prone to many types of damage like scratches, chips, dings, and corrosion due to prolonged exposure to heat or water.

If there’s major warping due to heating then it may require more intensive repair work from a professional jeweler who specializes in working with precious metals like gold.

Finally, prevention is often better than repair when it comes taking care of delicate pieces like those made with gold – keep all items away from extreme temperatures if at all possible. It’s also a good idea to store pieces with some sort of padding between them so they don’t scratch each other when stored together, especially since different materials expand differently when heated causing damage along their edges where two surfaces meet unexpectedly.


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Heat will not easily discolour or weaken gold.

The other elements in the amalgam of 18k gold will discolour or oxidise.

Silver, copper etc.

This tray of gold is 99.99 % pure, had been melted from refined gold powder at >1100C and pelletised via a drum of distilled water.

This is the base is for all gold amalgams and in its pure form is not going to discolour.

18k gold in some amalgams is more resistant to wear than some 9k gold products even though I don’t consider 9k gold to be worthy of being called gold.


This pix was taken by me 15 years ago while installing equipment at an Australian refinery.

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by Andad

Heat will not easily discolour or weaken gold.

The other elements in the amalgam of 18k gold will discolour or oxidise.

Silver, copper etc.

This tray of gold is 99.99 % pure, had been melted from refined gold powder at >1100C and pelletised via a drum of distilled water.

This is the base is for all gold amalgams and in its pure form is not going to discolour.

18k gold in some amalgams is more resistant to wear than some 9k gold products even though I don’t consider 9k gold to be worthy of being called gold.


This pix was taken by me 15 years ago while installing equipment at an Australian refinery.

Thanks a lot. Really appreciate your expert insight. Based on your expertise, what is your view of this unknown bracelet repair and the heat marks?


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[Onikage]

Dark coppery oxidation isn't uncommon. Are we sure this is a bodgy repair or could poor old DDII just be showing his years? I Don't have one to hand..

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by Onikage

Dark coppery oxidation isn't uncommon. Are we sure this is a bodgy repair or could poor old DDII just be showing his years? I Don't have one to hand..

Interested to hear the answer to this, anyone?


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[Tools]

Originally Posted by Onikage

Dark coppery oxidation isn't uncommon. Are we sure this is a bodgy repair or could poor old DDII just be showing his years? I Don't have one to hand..

Agree. Looks like a couple of strokes with a fiber pencil and this would look factory fresh.

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by Tools

Agree. Looks like a couple of strokes with a fiber pencil and this would look factory fresh.

In this something I can do myself, or does a specialist jeweler have to do it? With the fiber pencil.


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[Formulansx]

You know…..this is really funny. Dealing with alloys that would have such caused discoloration, what would have happened in short order is the brazed material would have caught a light in short order. If it did light things off, It would have gone hotter than any of those he other alloys in the material. In my past experience, gold is the fastest thing that goes up in smoke. What a Weird place to be.

[turborolex]

Originally Posted by Onikage

Dark coppery oxidation isn't uncommon. Are we sure this is a bodgy repair or could poor old DDII just be showing his years? I Don't have one to hand..

I agree and I’ve seen this before.

OP, bring it to their attention and see what they say. They’ll be straight up with you if it’s been repaired. I’ve dealt with them many times and they have always been honest.

[Watchman001]

Looks like some dark marks under end links as well. Probably dirt/oxidation. Maybe ask if they can clean and take pics of result before you purchase.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

In this something I can do myself, or does a specialist jeweler have to do it? With the fiber pencil.

If you can brush your teeth or color within the lines you shouldn't have a problem.

HS2834-C.jpg

[favx]

It's an hard pass for me.

[Schweinwerfer]

That dial can cause eye cancer.
Fat Romans, fat bezel .. no bueno
Ymmv

[David5807]

Hard pass

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by turborolex

I agree and I’ve seen this before.

OP, bring it to their attention and see what they say. They’ll be straight up with you if it’s been repaired. I’ve dealt with them many times and they have always been honest.

They were honest and said it came to them like this, they don’t know the history, and can’t speak to it at all.


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