Anyone know about working with gold?

[Flamesparrow]

I have a gold ring that my gran left me in her will...

It is not something I would ever wear, but I want to iyswim.

I have it in my head that someone could melt it down and turn it into a normal ring for me (at the moment it is a gold band with this big disc on the front with stones in it), and dot the stones round it possibly.

My main problem is I have no idea how to get it done or how much it would set me back - skint, so need to save (or find some gold working art student who wants to do it for a project )

My wedding ring doesn't fit me anymore and it would be lovely if I could get this one adapted to use instead

I do know that you shouldn't put rings of differing carats together as it alters their properties or something. Not sure if melting it down would also change the structure - wouldn't think so though. I think it's a nice idea, especially as your own ring doesn't fit.

Its just the one ring I would be having melted, so no carat issues... unless it loses some of the mass when melted and I would need extra gold?

is there an art college near you? A student may well take this on. A friend melted my gran's old ring down for me, when we were both art students and she did a grand job.

it worked fine; she made it into a lovely, simple gold ring. Go for it.

The Arts Institute is just down the road... I'll go down and stick a notice up (ooh or better still get DH to go and chat to his old modelmaking lecturer for where to ask! )