A Bottega.

There are many ways to solder metals, and every craftsperson develops personal preferences, tools and working habits over time.

In the workshop we often use a traditional tool called achalumeau: a small jeweller’s torch that allows very precise control of heat.

The fascinating part is that flame control is almost immediate. After years of practice, the movement becomes natural, almost instinctive.

Contrary to what one might imagine, soldering does not always mean pointing the flame directly at the exact joint. In most cases the whole piece is heated in a controlled and even way, allowing the heat to reach the joint.

When the temperature is right, the solder melts and flows into the desired point by capillary action.

The final result depends on many factors: temperature, clean surfaces, the choice of soldering alloy and, above all, the experience of the craftsperson.

It is one of those jobs that look simple when done well, but take years of practice to truly master.

A pressed bezel is used when the object being set is too delicate to withstand blows or violent pressure.

The bezel is a simple strip of metal wrapped around the object. It is thinned first on the inside, to receive the coin or stone, and then on the outside, leaving a very thin edge.

Instead of striking the metal with a hammer, aspingitoreis used: a short tool guided by the fingers and held firmly in the palm.

The pusher does not work on the coin. It works only on the outer edge of the bezel, gently moving the metal inward through a series of small pressures.

The marks left on the edge are often not removed. They look like ornamentation, but they are also the sign of a choice: preserving what is fragile.

Annealed iron wire is soft, easy to bend and free from the spring memory of ordinary wire. For this reason it can be shaped around an object and will retain the form it is given.

Before use, it is often turned into a small braid. A length of wire is folded in half, twisted with the fingers, folded again and twisted once more, continuing until the binding is strong and stable enough.

La treccia viene poi avvolta intorno al pezzo da saldare e stretta lungo tutta la sua circonferenza. Non serve a bloccare soltanto il punto della giunzione: tiene insieme l'intero oggetto e impedisce che le parti si aprano o si spostino durante il riscaldamento.

The pliers simply grip the two ends of the binding. The wire, not the pliers, supports the piece. This means the pliers do not need to clamp the metal directly and do not draw unnecessary heat away from the flame.

Because the iron has already been annealed, it does not try to straighten itself. It also withstands temperatures far higher than those required for soldering silver and is unlikely to stick to the piece.

Once the soldering is complete, the binding is easily removed. Like many workshop tools, it has done its job by holding everything still at the necessary moment, then disappearing almost without a trace.