THE CREATION OF TOURMALINE SCRAPS FOR MAKING JEWELRY

Abstract

The purposes of this research are 1) to create guidelines for the creation of tourmaline scraps from shape cutting process to develop jewelry styles, 2) to transfer the knowledge on the creation of tourmaline scraps from the cutting process to gems and jewelry entrepreneurs from the group of the community enterprise gems and jewelry Chanthaburi province. In this research, the scamper technique was applied using the creative process. The scamper technique is the technique that combines modern materials with local materials (gems scraps) in the design process. The gem scraps in this research were pink and green color tourmaline scraps from the shape-cutting process of making shapes and removing cracks.  The gem from that process would become smooth and flat with different thicknesses, transparent, and translucent. The creation was divided into two groups: the first group was thin tourmaline scraps. In this group, the scraps would be designed for mosaic work by applying polymer clay as a soldering material and coating gems with UV resin to make a glossy appearance and protect gemstones from falling off. The second group was thick tourmaline scraps. In this group, the scraps would be processed in shapes with epoxy resin in the casting process. The epoxy resin was chosen because of its dry quality which made scraps more beautiful and brighter. Afterward, the knowledge was transferred to gem and jewelry entrepreneurs to produce the jewelry prototype to increase its value. The processed scraps with resin were an option, and it could create the business opportunities to maximize the values of tourmaline scraps.