Technical Research

In addition to the recent introduction of CAD to the benefit of stone-in-place casting, ongoing research into this process has resulted in new techniques designed to improve quality and accuracy. In his 2005 Santa Fe Symposium paper, “The Preparation of the Master Mould—the Key Point of Stone-In-Place Casting,” Dr. Hubert Schuster of the Jewelry Technology Institute in Vicenza, Italy, outlines a “best practices” methodology for creating the best possible model.

As a result of recent hands-on research, Schuster has found that stone shapes and the types of settings affect how the manufacturer should proceed with the stone-in-place casting process. He also emphasizes that it is essential to prepare the seats for the stone as accurately as possible. According to Schuster’s research, one way to achieve this is by “pre-setting” stones (CZs or spinels, which are relatively inexpensive and easily breakable, that match the shape and size of the stones intended for the design) in the master model, and subsequently breaking them out before molding. His research has shown that only certain settings and shapes are suitable for this technique. (For more information on Schuster’s research, read “The Preparation of the Master Mold? The Key Point of Stone-in-Place Casting”, Proceedings of the Santa Fe Symposium, May 2005, pages 399-408.)