Kam Yuen Gold has professional wire drawing machines and temperature-controlled annealing equipment for turning customer-supplied gold into wire. The gold is first cast into a wire rod, then drawn through a series of dies, each slightly smaller than the last, until it reaches the target diameter. It's annealed along the way to relieve internal stress, which keeps the wire supple and its dimensions accurate. Everything is done in front of you, and only the form of the gold changes, never its purity.
What gold wire is used for
- Jewellery making: chains, ear wires, hand-woven jewellery, bezels and edging
- Components and solder: structural parts for jewellery, and solder for joining
- Standardising material: turning loose scrap into wire of a uniform specification that's easy to weigh and use later
How it works
- Testing and registration: Purity is tested in front of you with an XRF analyser, and the gold is weighed on precision scales and registered
- Plan and quote: Wire diameter, weight or length, and quantity are agreed, with the processing fee, agreed loss and handling of leftover gold set out in writing
- Casting the wire rod: The gold is melted, the slag removed, and a thick wire rod cast
- Drawing: The rod is drawn through progressively finer dies, with annealing in between to soften it and prevent breakage
- Final check and handover: The finished wire is spooled, re-tested and weighed, then checked with you against "incoming gold = finished product + leftover gold + agreed loss" before handover
Leftover gold and loss
- Leftover gold: The ends of the wire rod and any broken lengths are recoverable leftover gold that belongs to you. Agree beforehand whether it's returned with your wire or kept as credit
- Loss: Mainly from impurities burning off and traces left in the crucible when the wire rod is cast. The loss rate is agreed in writing in advance and checked with you on delivery. For details, see How Is Gold Processing Loss Calculated?
FAQ
Can old jewellery be drawn straight into wire?
Yes, but gemstones, springs and other non-gold parts must be removed first. The gold is then cast into a wire rod before drawing.
What's the minimum amount of gold?
There's no fixed minimum; it depends on the wire diameter and quantity. Feel free to ask us.
Does wire drawing change the purity of gold?
No. Drawing is a physical change. Purity only drops if gold of different purities is melted together into one rod, so we recommend processing each purity separately.
Get a processing quote
Kam Yuen Gold is in Hung Hom, Hong Kong, and handles jewellery casting, gold powder, wire drawing and ingot casting for customer-supplied gold. Your gold and the finished pieces are weighed in front of you, and the processing fee and agreed loss are set out before work begins. To find out roughly how much loss to expect, message us on WhatsApp with the weight and purity of your gold and the process you have in mind.