Left over gold from previous manufacture is shown here in a crucible set in the induction furnace ready to re-melt.  This may also include pure (.9999+) gold and the appropriate amount of other metals (alloys) to make the particular karat (purity) as well as color and temper characteristics desired.

The material is just starting to melt at the very bottom of the crucible.

The gold is being pouring into a sheet form

The bar still inside one half of the sheet form after one side has been removed.

The bar after removal from sheet form.

The bar after cooling in water and cleaning.

Adjusting the opening of the “breakdown” rolling mill for the thickness of the bar.

The bar after it has been rolled several times.  It has elongated and the surface has smoothed out substantially.

The more the metal is rolled the harder it becomes.  After a point this requires re-softening the bar otherwise it becomes very difficult to roll and the material can start cracking.  To soften the metal the bar is heated to a certain high temperature for a certain period of time.  This process is called annealing.   Here the bar is being inserted in the oven for annealing.

Final rolling through the breakdown roller

After the metal is rolled through the breakdown roller and starts to approach the desired finished thickness, it is transferred to the finish roller. These rollers impart a much finer, almost mirror-like finish to the metal.  Here the metal is starting the process of rolling though the finish roller.

The final stages of rolling through the finish rollers.  Here the “mirror finish” on the metal is visible. 

An assortment of various colored gold and silver finished sheet.