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Your Silver Clay Project Will Be Flawless With These Tips

Silver clay? Whatever is that?

Silver clay, precious metal clay, art metal clay, and art clay silver are all different terms and types of “clay” that may be magically turned into gold and silver.

These innovative metal clays were introduced to the North American market in the nineties. Jewelry enthusiasts and hobbyists can now shape and mold precious metal as easily as clay.

Making jewelry naturally has a long history. The difference today is that you now do not have to bang or cast your metal to make jewellery if you don’t wish to. Silver clay now makes it feasible to make real metal forms without these traditional methods.

Here is how metal clay functions. Art metal clays are composed of fine metal particles suspended in an organic binder. This binder lets you mould and shape the clay as you would potter’s clay. When you are happy with the form, you let your project dry for no less than twenty-four hours ( or even more ). You then fire it in a kiln or by employing a hand torch. The binder burns away, leaving the fused metal behind in the shape you formed it.

Before you grab a lump of silver clay and go at it though, you will need to keep 1 or 2 rules under consideration. Silver clay isn’t cheap, so you don’t want to waste it.

Silver Clay Tips

Here are a bunch of tips for working with silver clay :

*Metal clays shrink 10-30% when fired. Be sure to check your package for shrinkage levels particularly if you are making rings or other objects that must be exact fits.

*Not all metal clays can be hand torch fired. If you won’t be employing a kiln be certain to check that your kind of silver clay is “low fire”.

*Only small pieces should be torch fired. Pieces bigger than 25g should be kiln fired.

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*Silver clay is expensive. The gold version especially is very high-priced. Be certain to shop carefully and follow instructions carefully so you don’t burn your money fruitlessly.

*Metal Clay simply takes on impressions of other objects ( and fingerprints too ). Experiment with different textures and objects to make imprints onto the wet clay.

*Gemstones that may stand up to the heat of firing can be set into the wet clay.

*Be sure to let your metal clay dry fully before firing. Firing damp clay won’t work and you will not be a happy camper.

*Metal clays are sticky to the touch so be sure to coat everything with a thin film of olive oil or other release agent. This suggests coat your hands, your tools, and work surface. Just a touch of oil will do, so don’t go too far.

*You can improve drying time by placing your piece in a low heat stove. ( 150-200 degrees fahrenheit ). Pieces finely than your palm usually take approximately twenty-four hours to fully dry and toughen without the cooker treatment.

*Sand your dried and hardened piece before firing. If you do not like fingerprints, you will not be well placed to remove them after firing.

*Metal clay is soluble and can be fell with water. Keep a tiny bowl of water or a spritzer handy while you’re employed. If it starts to dry out while working, you can add a bit of water to dampen it.

*Buying smaller packages beats larger as you will not have to fret about the entire block drying out. The price difference is immaterial, and you may waste extra cash by needing to thru out old dried out clay.

*You can extend the working time of your metal clay by adding a drop or 2 of glycerin ( available at drug stores ) to your newly opened package of silver clay. To use : make a depression with your thumb in the clay, and add a drop or 2 of glycerin. Fold the clay a couple of times to mix in the glycerin, then spritz with water. Wrap in plastic wrap and let sit so the clay can absorb the glycerin. When you work with the clay the following day, use as always. This trick will extend the working time, but also extends the drying time required before firing.

*If you see a blackish mildew, do not be disturbed. This will burn away when firing. This mildew takes place when you use regular tap water to moisten the clay.

*Playing cards make great “spacers” when rolling out clay to an even thickness. Just stack cards on each side of the clay, then use your roller to roll out the clay between the cards.

*To store metal clay between uses, be certain to spritz with water and wrap it well with plastic wrap.

*different clays have different firing temperatures so be certain to match your firing temperature to your clay type.

*Once fired, you must brush and burnish it to get a great shine. First brush well with a stiff brush to loosen any ash or residue, then rinse with water. Then you’ll be wanting to burnish the metal to compress it, make it smoother, and shinier. Utilise a burnishing tool made from agate or metal for this. The tool has a smooth face and pointy tip for burnishing the more detailed areas.

*You can dunk the piece in water after firing to chill it quickly .

*Firing you clay too shortly, at too low a temperature, or for too short a time may cause your project to crack. Firing for too much time may melt some of the detail.

Now you have some silver clay suggestions, I bet you are psyched. You need to work with this innovative material now! What will you make first?

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Semi-Precious Stone Earrings–A Fresh Alternative

Color in jewelry enhances a wardbrobe, but if you don’t want to wear costume jewelry–or if you cannot wear it due to metal sensitivities–consider fashion jewelry.  And not just fashion jewelry–handmade fashion jewelry with natural elements.

Fashion jewelry?  Quality jewelry made with components that are sterling silver, gold, or gold-filled.  Natural elements?  Yes, natural elements–semi-precious stones, nuts, seeds–with an endless variety.

Have you sworn not to wear costume jewelry?  Are you a little skeptical about the quality of jewelry that is handmade or jewelry that is not classified as fine jewelry?  Let me introduce you to some beautiful, semi-precious stones that will give you something to think about when it comes to quality fashion jewelry.

Semi-precious stone earrings are just one option of components for jewelry that is natural.  The colors and shapes of semi-precious stones are endless.

Are you looking for pink accessories?  Pink rhodonite stone earrings are absolutely lovely.  Rhodonite is a beautiful pink stone (Rhodon is Greek for rose) that appears to have black veins running through it.  The rhodonite stone is feminine yet very durable, and it comes in a variety of shapes.   You will find quality handmade rhodonite earrings available with sterling silver or gold-filled ear wires.

Or perhaps you want beautiful earrings for your black cocktail dress. Consider handmade rainbow obsidian earrings.  Rainbow obsidian is black–a by-product of lava.  This beautiful stone shows flashes of black, blue and green–casting off a beautiful iridescence in the light; hence it’s name: rainbow obsidian.  Rainbow obsidian handmade earrings and cocktail hour make a perfect match.

Are you casually dressed in red?  Have ever seen handmade red sponge coral earrings? Sponge coral is porous like a sponge.  If you really like the natural, organic look, you’ll love sponge coral earrings.  When they are handmade, these casual but classy earrings can be found in sterling silver and gold-filled ear wires.

Blue lapis.  Blue lapis stone earrings are a favorite with women who like semi-precious stone jewelry.  Whether you’re dressing up or down, these vibrant blue earrings will gorgeously accessorize your wardrobe.

The beauty of natural stones far surpasses anything that costume jewelry has to offer.  Expand your jewelry collection, but don’t leave nature out this time.  Consider quality, handmade jewelry with natural elements.  If you’re uncomfortable, ease into it with semi-precious stones.  You won’t regret the move.

This video demonstrates the casting of 1 kilogram of fine silver into the Market Harmony Bullion mold for the Trade Bar designs. Please visit the website for purchase of these beautiful Trade Bars
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Changing Metal Properties With Heat Treatment

Throughout history people have been creating things from different metals. Presumably the discovery of metal was an accident and probably caused inadvertently when a campfire burnt away some low melting point metal bearing ore and left the bewildered ancient with a crude metal lump.

Most likely the first such metal would have been tin as this has the lowest melting point by far of all other common metals. At two hundred and thirty two degrees centigrade the core of the fire would not have to be particularly hot to extract tin unlike iron which needs one thousand five hundred and thirty degrees to melt.

The melting point of metals vary a great amount and as the discovery of tin extraction became more and more understood and easier to achieve, the ancients of Mesopotamia and at the same time China, began looking for other metals. Tin was a useful metal but far too soft to create anything much more than plates, pots and ornaments. The next big step was the discovery of copper with tin deposits and this alloy we know of as bronze.

With a melting point of just under one thousand degrees centigrade, bronze could be fashioned into a much stronger finished product. For the first time metal swords and other weapons could be made as well as intricate jewellery mounted with precious stones.

Today bronze is still a valued alloy. With the addition of less than one per cent phosphor, the alloy can be easy to cast with an exceptionally smooth finish. This tough alloy known as phosphor bronze has a very low coefficient of friction making it ideal and nearly always the preferred metal of ships propellers. It has the additional property of not sparking which makes it ideal for electrical contacts. Screws made of phosphor bronze are used whenever there is the threat of electrical shorting and water.

Any metal can be heated to change its properties and every metal has some unique uses. Heat treatment of steel along with quick but not harsh cooling can toughen the original product. During heating magnetic alignments can be changed and this will also change the properties of the original.

Heat treatment is used to add subsidiary metals creating alloys for very specific uses. There are many types of aluminium alloys for specific purposes and NASA and European as well as Russian space agencies all use the same particular Aluminium alloy for their space craft.

Over thousands of years men have been making things out of pure metals and alloys. The values of all metals can change with the discovery of new uses. For example, when catalytic converters were first discovered in the late 1980s the catalyst used in the exhaust system to convert carbon monoxide into harmless air and water was a mix of palladium and rhodium. Prices of these two metals shot up in value and later when more cars were being produced globally with diesel engines, palladium dropped heavily as Platinum took over.

The Skill of a Master Craftsman or Imported Cast Jewellery? You Choose!

The selection of jewellery available today is greater than it has ever been.  Modern manufacturing methods ensures that the supply of mass designed jewellery is forever growing.

In any country in the world you will find the same type of jewellery,  The designs, the metals and stones that are used in those designs are virtually all the same.  This often imported jewellery is extremely cheap to buy and not expected to last the test of time.

Even some of the more ‘quality’ types of jewellery could be ‘cast jewellery’.  This means that the design has been originally made in wax with a mould being made from the design.  The mould is then filled with a metal, often an inferior one or an amalgamation of different metals and left to harden before the wax is removed.  This is known as lost wax casting.

The piece is then decorated with gems or precious stones, either attached to the piece or placed in the basket fixing such as you would expect for an engagement ring.  Even diamonds are included in pieces made in this way.  A high level of craftsmanship is not required and the piece is not custom made.  Instead, 100s or even 1000s of engagement rings or other pieces of jewellery are made from the same casting, resulting in an inferior product.  Cast jewellery has also found to be softer, therefore you cannot be confident that a piece made from an interior metal will last ‘forever’.

Although many cast and manufactured pieces are made from solid pieces of metal, their hand made counterparts are not and are usually crafted from less solid pieces.  This means that the skill of the craftsman is paramount to ensure that the hand made piece is perfect in every detail and why hand made jewellery is so coveted by passionate enthusiasts.

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The Skill of a Master Craftsman Ensures Quality and Innovative Design

To ensure that your diamond jewellery is totally unique and crafted from quality materials you should go to a diamond merchant such as My Diamonds at www.mydiamonds.com.au where they guarantee that every diamond has been graded using the world renowned GIA Diamond Grading criteria and that every diamond engagement ring, wedding ring or dress ring has been uniquely designed by their Australian Master Craftsman.

Using an eclectic array of loose diamonds, a client can join the artisan on the very first step of his or her journey towards the bespoke piece, ensuring that total confidence and pleasure in the jewellery can be achieved.

Adora Diamond Stud Earrings          Firenze Diamond Pendant        Massimo Men’s Wedding

Band

Stunning designs of handmade jewellery from My Diamonds www.diamond.com.au

The My Diamonds jewellery collection, some of which is showcased above is completely hand made by Australian craftsman in their workshops in Australia. Their designs are totally unique and the diamonds that they include in the designs are of the highest quality as stated by the GIA Diamond Grading Reports or Dossiers which are unique to each diamond.

The My Diamonds master craftsman has been using his talents and training to design the ultimate in diamond jewellery for the last 23 years, having been trained at the esteemed Brussels and Antwerp College of Fine Arts, Jewellery Design and Manufacture.

Because of this My Diamonds have built an unequalled reputation in the field of diamond jewellery that others can only aspire to.  They have complete confidence in their eclectic collection of stunning jewellery which includes wedding bands, engagement rings, men’s jewellery, pendants and diamond stud earrings.

They are now in the enviable position of using the talents of a team of master craftsmen who have all been trained to the same exacting standards by the My Diamonds head jeweller.

To ensure that when you buy your engagement ring or diamond you receive top quality jewellery that is 100% guaranteed go to My Diamonds at www.mydiamonds.com.au or call 1800 766 567

Aranmula Kannadi – A Unique Metal Mirror From India

Aranmula metal mirror is a rare piece of craft that had existed even during the Vedic period of Indian history. The myth about the origin and secret of its composition makes it a truly fascinating craft. As traditional as the mirror-making technology is, the artisans’ belief that the composition of the metal mirror is divine and some undisclosed metals alloyed with silver, bronze, copper and tin are responsible for the distortion-free images.

Aranmula Kannadi is not mass produced and is hand made with all its perfections as how one looks at it? While commercially available glass mirrors reflect an image, because of a silver coating at its rear, Aranmula Metal Mirror is the only mirror which reflects from the front plane. This had its popularity until the advent of the commercially manufactured glass mirrors which proved to be much cheaper. The demand of Aranmula Kannadi grew by bounds only a decade ago especially in foreign countries.

A huge amount of determination, perseverance and patience goes into the making of this enchanting mirror. Mud from the local paddy fields is used for the mould into which the molten alloy mix is poured to cast the mirror and the technique followed is the cire-perdue or the lost wax method of casting. Even with the utmost care, only about 60% of the cast metal mirrors can be salvaged, the rest get damaged in the process of manufacture. The metal mirror is then polished using well-ground, burnt clay powder mixed with special oil on a jute cloth. To achieve a highly reflective surface, polishing can go on from one to several days. When a satisfactory finish is achieved, the mirror is mounted on various models of artistic brass frames.

Aranmula Kannadi is unique in the make which is patent protected with a ‘Geographical indication tag’.
The British Museum in London has a 45 centimeter tall Aranmula Metal Mirror in its collection.
The Aranmula Kannadi is not created from glass but from a combination of special metal alloy.
Many people believe that owning an Aranmula Metal Mirror brings good luck, wealth and prosperity to one’s lives
Aranmula Kannadi is one among the eight auspicious items included in the “Astamangalya Set”, which is used for very auspicious occasions like marriage.

Aranmula Kannadi or Aranmula Metal Mirrors  is a very special type of metal mirror produced only in Aranmula, a village in kerala, south India. Aranmula metal mirror is a precious inherited gift. The mystery of its metal combination and production is still a secret to, which  handed over through generations of a single family.

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Preserving the Metal Garden Bench

Garden brings beauty and attraction in place like the house, school, park, and the other establishment that created garden in their vicinity. The mixed of plants, trees, the pathways, and furniture give additional color and glow creating a beautiful garden.

Garden furniture has several figures. It can be the benches, chairs, tables, and the like. Choosing the best and suitable furniture can be both fun, amusing, and works a lot of patient.

Benches are one of the furniture that has many options to choose from. The designs, the materials, the convenient, the quality, and durability are some of the attributes that a buyer will keep on looking at. The materials can be made of wood, metal, plastic, stone, and/or mixed of concrete and composites.

The metal garden bench is a type of bench that also has types of composition. The common types of metal used are the aluminum and iron garden bench. Take note that the metal bench is not for garden per se.

Cast aluminum and cast iron garden benches are both metal but does not have the same advantages and disadvantages.

Cast aluminum is lightweight while the iron is heavy. Both aluminum and iron garden benches are strong and sturdy enough to stay stand firm. The cast aluminum can be flexed enough to create detailed designs which is attractive in some buyers.

The iron also has enticing and stylish designs. Aluminum garden bench can withstand the different kinds of weather and temperature. Iron garden bench are prone to get rusted which requires extra care. Aluminum is much affordable than iron garden. When it comes to durability, iron garden bench much long last because of its endurance as iron.

In taking care and preserving the metal garden bench, there are only two tips and a must-do task to be done. That is, the repainting and cleaning should be done as maintenance of the precious garden bench.

Repainting is simply applying paint again. It can be applied using the brush or aerosol for pure metal garden bench. The purpose of repainting is to protect the bench from rust, and refresh its look or change the color and style. Cleaning, on the other hand, is can be done as often as the person wants. Abrasive chemicals must be avoided. Water and soap are enough to use as cleansing gear.

Buyers, owners, and users must have the initiative in taking care and preserving the stylishness, usefulness, and the quality of a metal garden bench. For a fact that it is made of metal, it is destined to get rusted.

Sterling Silver and Allergies to Metal

Sterling Silver and Allergies

The truth is people are not usually allergic to silver or sterling silver.  a metal known as nickel, which has been used in sterling silver. Sterling silver is an alloy consisting of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, traditionally copper, and sometimes some manufacturers will use nickel in sterling silver as a less pricey alternative to other metals.

Pure silver is  soft to produce any functional pieces and loses shape  easily. Other metals are added to improve qualities such as ductility, firescale, tarnish resistance, and reducing casting porosity.

Why Sterling Silver?

Nickel, is a hard and ductile, silvery white metal that has been mistaken for silver in the past. Nickel is commonly used in jewelry including with precious metals jewelry such as gold, white gold, sterling silver and platinum and also most cheap or costume jewelry. Nickel is what gives white gold it’s white color by alloying more of it with yellow gold, as gold isn’t found naturally white or any other color than yellow. Other metals are used to make other colors of gold, for instance silver is used to make green gold and copper is used to make rose gold. Nickel adds plenty of other properties besides color, such as strength and durability, and it’s a strong lustrous effect.

Metal Allergy Occurrence

Allergies to nickel occur in approximately 10% of the population, it is known as contact dermatitis, and nickel is the most common metal to cause an allergic reaction. An allergy to nickel used in jewelry usually causes a reddening of the skin, as well as itching or burning in the area of contact and sometimes blistering of the skin, or a rash. there’s differences in severity of metal allergies and sometimes if you do not have a severe allergy to a certain metal then a piece of jewelry containing a  small portion of that metal may not cause a reaction, whereas a piece of jewelry containing a high amount will cause a slight reaction.

Metal Allergy Development

While some are genetically predisposed to have a reaction to some metals, others can develop a metal allergy over time with regular exposure. This is common among most kinds of allergies. So, it is possible to have a favorite piece of jewelry, regardless if it is made from a precious metal such as gold or platinum or silver, that has been worn plenty of times or consistently for years suddenly cause a reaction.

Nickel free jewelry is also more pricey as it uses other higher priced metals in place of nickel. It should not be assumed that nickel free jewelry is actually allergy free. People can be allergic to any type of metal including brass, copper and  never gold or silver. it is recommended that if any jewelry causes any discomfort, such as the symptoms described above, you should seek a metal allergy check from your physician to make certain you know what metal is causing this. Otherwise you might make the wrong assumption and wind up buying a whole new wardrobe of jewelry that may cause a reaction as well.

Company: Yiwu Dushang Jewelry Co.,Ltd

Address:    3f,No.13-15,Building 4,A zone,Futian jewelry street,yiwu city,zhejiang,china(322000)

Site:     http://www.silver-jewelry-wholesaler.com

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Precious coral

Habitat

Red corals grow on rocky seabottom with low sedimentation, typically in dark environments–either in the depths or in dark caverns or crevices. The original species, C. rubrum, is found mainly in the Mediterranean Sea. It grows at depths from 10 to 300 m, although the shallower of these habitats have been largely depleted by harvesting. In the underwater caves of Alghero, Sardinia (the “Coral Riviera”) it grows at the depth of 4 m. The same species is also found at Atlantic sites near the Strait of Gibraltar and at the Cape Verde Islands. Other Corallium species are native to the western Pacific, notably around Japan (Corallium japonicum) and Taiwan; these occur at depths of 350 to 1500 m in areas with strong currents.

Anatomy

In common with other Gorgonacea, red corals have the shape of small leafless bushes and grow up to a meter in height. Their valuable skeleton is composed of intermeshed spicules of hard calcium carbonate, colored in shades of red by carotenoid pigments. In living specimens, the skeletal branches are overlaid with soft bright red integument, from which numerous retractable white polyps protrude. The polyps exhibit octameric radial symmetry.

Coral as a gemstone

Polished fragments of fake dyed red bamboo coral

Chinese coral sculpture

Non precious red dyed sponge coral earrings

The hard skeleton of red coral branches is naturally matte, but can be polished to a glassy shine. It exhibits a range of warm reddish pink colors from pale pink to deep red; the word coral is also used to name such colors. Owing to its intense and permanent coloration and glossiness, precious coral skeletons have been harvested since antiquity for decorative use. Coral jewelry has been found in ancient Egyptian and prehistoric European burials, and continues to be made to the present day.

Precious coral has relative density of 3.86 and hardness 3.5 on the Mohs scale. Due to its softness and opacity, coral is usually cut en cabochon, or used to make beads.

History of trade in coral

At the beginning of the Christian era, there was a great trade carried on in coral between the Mediterranean and India, where it was highly esteemed as a substance endowed with mysterious sacred properties. It is remarked by Pliny that, previous to the existence of the Indian demand, the Gauls were in the habit of using it for the ornamentation of their weapons of war and helmets; but in his day, so great was the Eastern demand, that it was very rarely seen even in the regions which produced it. Among the Romans branches of coral were hung around children’s necks to preserve them from danger, and the substance had many medicinal virtues attributed to it. A belief in its potency as a charm continued to be entertained throughout medieval times; and even early in the 20th century in Italy was worn as a preservative from the evil eye, and by females as a cure for sterility.

From the middle ages upwards the securing of the right to the coral fisheries on the African coasts was an object of considerable rivalry among the Mediterranean communities of Europe. Previous to the 16th century they were controlled by the Italian republics. For a short period the Tunisian fisheries were secured by Charles V to Spain; but the monopoly soon fell into the hands of the French, who held the right till the Revolutionary government in 1793 threw the trade open. For a short period (about 1806) the British government controlled the fisheries, but later returned to the hands of the French authorities. Previous to the French Revolution much of the coral trade centred in Marseilles; but since that period, both the procuring of the raw material and the working of it up into the various forms in which it is used became peculiarly Italian industries, centering largely in Naples, Rome and Genoa.

Coral in mythology

The origin of coral is explained in Greek mythology by the story of Perseus. Having petrified Cetus, the sea monster threatening Andromeda, Perseus placed Medusa’s head on the riverbank while he washed his hands. When he recovered her head, he saw that her blood had turned the seaweed (in some variants the reeds) into red coral. Thus, the Greek word for coral is ‘Gorgeia’, as Medusa was one of the three Gorgons.

Poseidon resided in a palace made of coral and gems, and Hephaestus first crafted his work from coral.

The Romans believed coral could protect children from harm, as well as cure wounds made by snakes and scorpions and diagnose diseases by changing colour.

Trivia

The two biogenic precious gemstones, coral and pearl, although drastically different in appearance, are chemically very similar. Both are mostly calcium carbonate deposited by marine invertebrates.

Another unrelated species, the Hawaiian black coral is sometimes used as an ornamental material. Its skeleton is not mineralized, consisting mostly of conchiolin.

In Vedic astrology red coral is associated with the planet Mars.

A branch of red coral figures prominently in the civic coat of arms of the town of Alghero, Italy.

References

^ a b c d “Corallium species”. ARKive. http://www.arkive.org/coral/Coral/corallium_more.html. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 

^ a b c “Gemstones: Coral”. http://www.gemstone.org/gem-by-gem/english/coral.html. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 

^ a b “Red Coral”. Marenostrum. http://marenostrum.org/vidamarina/animalia/invertebrados/cnidarios/corales/rojoi.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 

^ “Jewelry Central”. http://www.jewelrycentral.com/Target_Coral.asp. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 

^  ”Coral”. Encyclopdia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. 

^ “Passage from Ovid’s Metamorphoses about the origin of coral”. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0422/is_2_81/ai_55174794/pg_34. Retrieved 2007-03-18. 

External links

www.arkive.org Photos of living red corals and skeletons (Accessed 02 February 2007)

International Colored Gemstone Association Extensive info on gemstone coral and jewelry photos (Accessed 02 February 2007)

American Gem Trade Association Information on coral as a gemstone (Accessed 02 February 2007)

Organic Gems: Red Coral Jewelry Photos of raw coral material and coral jewelry (Accessed 02 February 2007)

Mediterranean red coral: research team International Research Team on Mediterranean red coral (Accessed 15 March 2007)

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Jewellery

Forms

Anklet  Belt buckle  Belly chain   Bracelet  Brooch  Chatelaine  Crown  Cufflink  Earring  lapel pin  Necklace  Pendant  Ring  Tiara  Tie clip  Watch (pocket)

Making

People

Bench jeweler  Goldsmith  Jewelry designer  Lapidary  Watchmaker

Processes

Casting (centrifugal, lost-wax, vacuum)  Enameling  Engraving  Filigree  Metal clay  Plating  Polishing  Repouss and chasing  Soldering  Stonesetting  Wire wrapping

Tools

Draw plate  File  Hammer  Mandrel  Pliers

Materials

Precious metals

Gold  Palladium  Platinum  Rhodium  Silver

Precious metal alloys

Britannia silver  Colored gold  Crown gold  Electrum  Platinum sterling  Shakudo  Shibuichi  Sterling silver  Tumbaga

Base metals/alloys

Brass  Bronze  Copper  Kuromido  Pewter  Stainless steel  Titanium

Mineral gemstones

Aventurine  Agate  Alexandrite  Amethyst  Aquamarine  Carnelian  Citrine  Diamond  Emerald  Garnet  Jade  Jasper  Malachite  Lapis lazuli  Moonstone  Obsidian  Onyx  Opal  Peridot  Quartz  Ruby  Sapphire  Sodalite  Sunstone  Tanzanite  Tiger’s Eye  Topaz  Tourmaline

Organic gemstones

Amber  Copal  Coral  Jet  Pearl  Abalone

Terms

Carat (unit)  Carat (purity)  Finding  Millesimal fineness

Related topics: Body piercing  Fashion  Gemology  Metalworking  Wearable art

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Corals and coral reefs

Stony corals

Scleractinia  Hermatypic coral  Blue coral  Brain coral  Pillar coral  Staghorn coral  Table coral

Soft corals

Alcyonacea  Black coral  Bamboo coral  Organ pipe coral  Sea fans  Sea pens

Coral diseases

Coral bleaching  Black band disease  Skeletal eroding band  White band disease  White pox disease

Coral reefs

Atoll reef  Cay  Fringing reef  Microatoll  Coral reef fish  The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs

Coral regions

Deep water coral  Andros, Bahamas  Belize Barrier Reef  Coral Sea Islands  Coral Triangle  Great Barrier Reef  Maldives  New Caledonia Barrier Reef  Pulley Ridge  Raja Ampat Islands  Red Sea  Southeast Asian coral reefs

Protection

Coral reef protection  Project AWARE  Reef Check  Reef Ball  Coral Reef Alliance  International Society for Reef Studies

Other

Coral biology  Coral dermatitis  Coral (precious)  Coral rag  Coral sand  Coralline algae  Fire coral  Rugosa (extinct)  Tabulate (extinct)  Zooxanthella

Categories: Anthozoa | Gemstones

Rings Fine Jewelry Using Marking to Value Your Precious Piece

The moist popular metals used for jewelry are platinum and gold alloys. These are also traditional metals used for wedding jewelry. You can also go for other modern choices of metals such as titanium; stainless steel and tungsten carbide. All you require making sure is that these metals are tested for purity.

A number of online jewelers specialize in religious and spiritual jewelry. Rings and pendants with crucifixes, patron saints medallions, and Stars of David are constant reminders of one’s faith as well as indicators of one’s religious values. Many wearers, men and women alike, never take them off. More spiritual than religious are angel charms, lapel pins, and medals.

If you buy quality jewelry, you’re not going to shatter it anyway. Only cheap bracelets and necklaces break easily. Good materials are made to last for years. Charms can now be secured by a special clip system, so that you don’t lose them when you take your jewelry off. They are simply too special and evocative to lose.

Which jewelry, some of you may ask, can be categorized as “fine” jewelry? A bangle made out of brass may look just as “fine” to you as one made out of gold. Plainly speaking, fine jewelry may be defined as jewelry made out of precious metals such as gold or silver and set with precious or semi-precious stones. However, this is neither a final definition nor an absolute one. It conveniently leaves out the finest jewelry of all times, platinum jewelry. Also, it is not always necessary that the precious metal should be set with diamonds or other stones to be able to qualify as “fine” jewelry.

Although it’s easiest to shop online for wedding rings, it’s important to know your online jeweler. Most jewelry websites that specialize in wedding rings will provide information about their experience. Each jeweler will carry a collection of rings from which to choose. Gold and platinum remains the most popular fine metal for today’s rings. So, the market for bands and rings is readily available.

A wedding band with an unusual design or custom setting also increases in value. So cost may not always be the determining factor in the purchase. In addition, an older wedding ring can be updated for an anniversary quite easily. Giving an original band or ring a new look is a wonderful anniversary gift. This is a particularly nice aspect of today’s markets in wedding jewelry. Don’t forget that even a very old ring or one that no longer fits can be altered for dazzling pins or pendants.

The Manufacturer offering this exciting new technology has made it decently affordable considering what you get, 2 or three Fine Jewelry Pieces wearable on a Daily basis or as a night on the town Stunner. The use of Precious Stones like Emerald and Ruby was very exciting and most are cast in 18K Gold taking this line to the luxury Jewelry Category but we all need a little luxury.

It is best to spend more money on fewer pieces of fine gemstone jewelry, as it will always be in fashion. Gemstones in every color imaginable will beautifully accessorize your clothing, and you might even begin your own collection of fine gems.

Jewelry Designer Eric Marlow demonstrates “lost wax casting” by constructing a ring and casting it in silver.
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Boone Titanium Rings:The Allure of Alternative Metals

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Traditional jewelry has always been based on what’s known as the precious metals. These include gold, platinum, silver, and white gold. The metals are easy to cast, solder, bend, and shape, and they take a good finish. They have worked well for thousands of years, but today’s customers are looking for some alternatives. Precious metals are at or near all time highs, and men in particular don’t care for the offerings in a typical jewelry store. It seems that most stores are geared towards women, and only have around 10 men’s rings to choose from, and they are either very plain in a soft white metal or covered with diamonds. Neither option is very appealing to him. The advent of alternative metals such as titanium or zirconium offers a break from the ordinary.

Titanium is a material so strong and lightweight that it was originally used for aerospace applications. It was found to be extremely inert, so later found uses in medical implants like femurs and bone screws. A person can wear a titanium rings even if they are allergic to white gold, as many people are. They are much stronger than precious metals, so won’t dent or ding like the softer metals can. The increased strength also allows such innovations as inlays of exotic hardwoods, meteorite, carbon fiber or other materials.

Another perfect application for titanium is in the use of tension set rings. Tension sets are rings that hold onto diamonds without the use of traditional prongs. The ring itself holds the stone by small grooves cut into the side walls, and the stone looks to be suspended without trusses, braces, or other visible means of support. This allows more light to get through the stone, and it greatly improves the look of a diamond. The stone needs to be held with a lot of force. Past tension sets have been made in gold or platinum, but generally had to be very thick in order to get the needed strength. The rings were also extremely expensive because they were controlled by patents that deal with making the weaker metals more springy so they could work. Only four companies in the world were licensed to make them, so they controlled the market, charging huge prices and having long lead times. Titanium has the advantages of being a springier and stronger metal to begin with, so no special treatment is necessary to work better than precious metals in this application.

Titanium has been overlooked by jewelers in the past because it takes very special equipment to make rings from it. It is normally machined from solid bar rather than cast like silver or gold. It takes special computer controlled machines which are out of the scope of most jewelers. Being versed in the technology needed to make the rings allows manufacturers to make custom rings to order in a short amount of time.