Big gourmette chain bracelet
The gourmette chain or curb chain is certainly one of the oldest types of chain.
The design is simple, links threaded then twisted, but fascinating by the interweaving they can present.
The singer Christophe often appears in photo with a big chain bracelet with triple silver gourmette chain.
We had the opportunity to reproduce this sterling silver bracelet on behalf of our client.
Three-row gourmette chain bracelet of the singer
This type of three-row bracelet is characterized by the fact that each row is twisted in the opposite direction of the adjacent row.
Manufacture of the gourmette chain bracelet
We will have to make two types of chains, one of more than 40 cm twisted on the right while the other of a little more than 20 cm twisted on the left.
The manufacture begins with the rolling of a silver wire big enough for our project.
Rolled silver wire, we will need more than 200 grams for this achievement
Our wire is then wound on a metal axis to obtain a spiral of silver wire, which cuts in the direction of the length will give us the links of our chain.
Assembly of silver round links forming our chain
Once the chain is the right length, the links that were sawn are welded and then the chain is tensioned.
One can then twist one-to-one links, then the chain is struck with a mallet.
Formatting the gourmette chain in tension
The chain is then filed to give it its faces, characteristics of the gourmette chains filed.
It should be noted that not all gourmette chains are necessarily filed.
The chain is glued on a wooden support to hold it fixed to file it.
The black that we see is the glue used to fix the chain to the wooden support. We notice the white parts, the silver exposed by the file.
Our two types of chains (twisted to the right or left) thus prepared, we can now assemble them by welding.
View of three rows of gourmette chains before soldering
Each link is thus welded to its lateral neighbors while respecting the alignment.
The sixty centimeters of simple prepared gourmet chain are now assembled into a triple chain of just over twenty centimeters.
View of the triple gourmette chain bracelet just welded
Realization of the clasp
We can then begin manufacture the ratchet clasp of the bracelet. This clasp integrated in the thickness of the bracelet must be the least visible possible.
Both ends of the bracelet with the clasp blade and its pusher.
The first tests of the ratchet clasp allow us to see the interlocking of the pieces and the discreet joining of the two ends of the bracelet.
We can then start polishing the bracelet. First overall polishing then link by link to polish the recessed surfaces.
Then we take care of the polishing of the parts of the less visible links.
We get our fully polished gourmette chain bracelet.
We can appreciate the flexibility of the bracelet despite the links that are very tight to each other.
View of the clasp, discreet after polishing
Here is another type of curb bracelet that may interest you :
The detail of its design is visible here
For further :
Comments
Fiona Manonn said:
Wow!! I like it very much. I will recommend your blog to my friend. She loves to read it and see the awesome earrings in your blogs. Thanks for sharing.