What is soldering in jewellery making?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Soldering in jewellery making is the process of joining two pieces of metal permanently by applying a third metal, called solder, that melts at a lower temperature than the pieces being joined. When heated with a torch, the solder flows into the join, bonds with both surfaces and locks them together as it cools. Precious metal jewellers actually use a technique closer to brazing, where high-temperature torch heat creates a very strong, nearly invisible fused join, though the word soldering is the everyday term used across the trade.
Frequently asked questions
- What is solder made from for jewellery?
- Precious metal solders are alloys formulated to match the metal being joined. Gold solders contain gold, silver solders contain silver, and each comes in grades with different melting points, labelled hard, medium and easy, which lets jewellers make multiple joins in one piece without re-melting earlier ones.
- Can a jeweller fix a broken ring by soldering it?
- Yes, soldering is one of the most common jewellery repairs. A break in a ring shank or a snapped chain link can usually be soldered back together, and when done well the join is barely visible.
- Is soldering the same as welding?
- They both join metals but in different ways. Soldering uses a filler metal that melts at a lower temperature than the base metals. Welding fuses the base metals themselves at extremely high temperatures, and it is rarely used in fine jewellery work.
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