2.Investment Casting - a technical advisory manual for goldsmiths.

By Lino Zorzi. Published 1995. (1.95mb) English only.

Written by Italian experts in casting, this 44 page manual, illustrated in colour, covers all stages of the investment casting ('Lost Wax') process, gives practical advice on best practice and contains a section on trouble-shooting.

3. The Assaying and Refining of Gold - a guide for the gold jewellery producer.

By Peter Raw. Published 1997. Reprinted 2001.

Available as a free pdf download here in English (690kb).

This 30 page booklet describes the various analytical techniques for determining the gold content ('fineness') of jewellery and their limitations. It also describes the various processes for refining of gold-bearing materials and scraps and their limitations in terms of what metals are not removed during refining and so what may find its way back into your new jewellery production.

4. Handbook on Casting and Other Defects in Gold Jewellery Manufacture.

By Dieter Ott. Published March 1998. Reprinted 2001. Italian edition 2002.

Available as a free pdf download here in English and Italian (2mb)

The Handbook is a mine of information on the common defects that can occur in jewellery production with emphasis on those occurring in casting. Written by a world expert on jewellery technology, Dieter Ott, it is presented as a series of actual Case Histories of defects. Each defect is fully described and well illustrated in colour, together with an explanation of its cause and recommendations for its prevention in future. Where appropriate, full metallographic investigation of the defect has been carried out and is described and illustrated.

5. Finishing Handbook.

By Valerio Faccenda. Published March 1999.

Available as a free pdf download here in English and Italian (1.5mb)

This is a comprehensive reference book on all aspects of finishing of jewellery, whether done manually on polishing wheels or by use of automated machine. Written by WGC technical consultant, Dr V.Faccenda, this Handbook covers the basic principles of polishing, types of polishing media, the major types of equipment and their characteristics. It includes electropolishing, electroplating and other chemical techniques.

6.Handbook on Soldering.

By Mark F.Grimwade. Published January 2002

Available as a free pdf download here in English and Italian (1.7mb)

This is a comprehensive reference book on all aspects of finishing of jewellery, whether done manually on polishing wheels or by use of automated machine. Written by WGC technical consultant, Dr V.Faccenda, this Handbook covers the basic principles of polishing, types of polishing media, the major types of equipment and their characteristics. It includes electropolishing, electroplating and other chemical techniques. Again, this is a unique publication, illustrated in colour!

7. Handbook on Investing Casting

By Valerio Faccenda. Published 2003.

Available as a free pdf download here in English (1.7mb)

Seventh in the series of technical manuals and handbooks from World Gold Council, the Handbook on Investment Casting, written by Dr V.Faccenda , with a chapter on casting alloys by Dieter Ott (formerly of FEM, Germany), is a comprehensive book on the technology and manufacturing best practice on the most widely used process in jewellery manufacture (also known as the lost wax casting process). It is an update of the older Investment Casting Manual and complements the Handbook on Casting and other Defects.