Thoughts on restoring an old mendak?

[nechesh]

Kai, i'm afraid this mendak looks like a lost cause to me. I'm not so sure you have a gold alloy there as much as plated brass, judging by the amount of corrosion. You could recycle the "stones", but from the chips and cracks i'd say it's possible they are not intans, but glass. Even if they are intans they probably wouldn't look right in a new setting considering how beat up they are. Fairly high quality mendaks made of silver and gold or gold plate with gemstones are still being made today in Jawa, pretty much in this style. My advise would be to stick this one in a draw and seek out a new one.

[kai]

Originally Posted by nechesh

I'm not so sure you have a gold alloy there as much as plated brass, judging by the amount of corrosion. You could recycle the "stones", but from the chips and cracks i'd say it's possible they are not intans, but glass.

Thanks, Nechesh! I won't bet my collection on the gold thing either... (The collector who I got this from claimed to had had it tested but I'm basing my decisions on the blade anyway.)

The stones scratch glass as easily as does a real diamond (in a glass cutting tool). That's why I came up with the intan hypothesis. I need to run them by an expert for sure - just for curiosity...


BTW, isn't there somewhere an online "Complete idiots guide to sorting out fake gems"? I could use a few hints on several other decorative stones from my collection.

Even if they are intans they probably wouldn't look right in a new setting considering how beat up they are.

Yup, and also my personal taste doesn't favor adding newly crafted fittings on an old blade. Even if these are of really good workmanship, they tend to look too gaudy from my point of view.

Regards,
Kai