1
Chemistry / What happens when you melt gold into glass?
« on: 15/10/2021 12:10:12 »
Marcos wrote to us to ask:
I am curious about the process of melting gold into glass. Why if you mix it with clear glass you get red-cranberry glass, but if you melt it with blue glass, you get saphiret? Also, what is the technique for recreating saphiret? I can't find A SINGLE ARTICLE on the "how", all topics are all about the "what"... Is it mixed up in the crucible? At what point? How does one work with it once created? What are the steps for, say, cabochon/chaton making? How long does it need to be annealed? I have more questions too, about foiling the back of the glass stones too, but I wanted to stick with the basics to start.. thank you!
Can anyone help?
I am curious about the process of melting gold into glass. Why if you mix it with clear glass you get red-cranberry glass, but if you melt it with blue glass, you get saphiret? Also, what is the technique for recreating saphiret? I can't find A SINGLE ARTICLE on the "how", all topics are all about the "what"... Is it mixed up in the crucible? At what point? How does one work with it once created? What are the steps for, say, cabochon/chaton making? How long does it need to be annealed? I have more questions too, about foiling the back of the glass stones too, but I wanted to stick with the basics to start.. thank you!
Can anyone help?