In order to prevent the bursting of the jewels of a ring whilst the latter is being soldered, cut a juicy potato into halves and make a hollow in both portions, in which the part of the ring having jewels may fit exactly. Wrap the jewelled portion in soft paper, place it in the hollow, and bind up the closed potato with binding wire. Now solder with easy-flowing gold solder, the potato beingheld in the hand. Another method is to fill a small crucible with wet sand, bury the jewelled portion in the sand, and solder in the usual way.