| Jewelry making metals are an important part of the | | | | Platifina: Introduced in 2005, platifina is a new sterling |
| jewelry artist studio. The most commonly used metals | | | | silver alloy comprised of 92.5 percent silver, 1 percent |
| are probably silver and gold, however there is a | | | | platinum and 6.5 percent other metals (that's a trade |
| variety of jewelry making metals that give the jewelry | | | | secret). This new alloy creates a metal that is brighter |
| artist flexibility when they are designing and creating | | | | in color than either silver or pure platinum and is |
| their pieces. | | | | guaranteed tarnish-resistant, yet platifina jewelry is |
| With today's scientific and technological advances you | | | | much more affordable than platinum jewelry. |
| can integrate many other alloys into your work. | | | | Karatium: Alloys are a new family of alloys containing |
| Factors to Consider When Choosing the Metals You | | | | a percentage of gold and have been formulated in |
| Want to Work With | | | | response to industry demand for less expensive |
| - Cost is probably the number one factor. | | | | metals. They are available in Yellow which contains |
| - What style of jewelry you design. If you are mostly | | | | 20% gold, Pink and White options which contain 10% |
| attracted to silver, you will gravitate towards | | | | gold as well as a sterling silver alloy which contains |
| incorporating silver in your work. There is also the | | | | 2.5% gold. Although Karatium alloys polish to a high |
| possibility of mixing metals to give definition and texture | | | | luster much like traditional karat gold alloys, they can be |
| to a piece of jewelry. Using bi-metals were a layer of | | | | priced considerably less than 10kt gold and are an |
| gold is fused into sterling silver, can also save money | | | | attractive alternative to gold filled products since they |
| and accomplish the quality you are looking for. | | | | are a true "Alloy" and not a clad product with a base |
| - Different metals required the use of alternative | | | | metal layer making up the majority of your jewelry. |
| equipment. You will need to factor in the amount of | | | | Karatium alloys also have the advantage over gold |
| money you have to invest in tools and equipments to | | | | filled that the gold layer will never wear off. Karatium |
| accomplish the type of jewelry designs you want to | | | | alloys are formulated to work well for all jewelry |
| create | | | | applications and can be cast, formed and fabricated |
| Metals have a variety of alloys that when added | | | | just like karat gold alloys. All Karatium metal jewelry |
| together provide the unique properties of each one. | | | | supplies have been formulated for optimum tarnish |
| Silver Alloys: Silver, has the highest thermal | | | | resistance. These qualities make Karatium a jewelry |
| conductivity. | | | | making material to investigate and experiment with. |
| Fine-Silver is about 99.9% pure. In this form it is a | | | | Stainless Steel: Has recently gained in popularity as a |
| lustrous and soft. | | | | jewelry making material, Stainless steel was developed |
| Sterling-Silver is an alloy containing 92.5% by | | | | in the 19th Century and is a combination of iron-carbon |
| weight of silver and 7.5% by weight of other | | | | alloy. It has been used in tools, structures and |
| components, usually copper. | | | | manufacturing. Jewelry artists have recently started |
| Argentium Silver is a tarnish resistant silver and | | | | using it because its resistance to Its attractive grey |
| firescale free. It is perfectly malleable once annealed, | | | | color, strength and low cost, has made stainless steel |
| and is almost twice as hard as traditional sterling silver. | | | | a good alternative metal for making jewelry. |
| Most high quality silver items are stamped with a | | | | Titanium: Titanium is probably the strongest available. It |
| "fineness" or "quality" mark. This mark designates the | | | | is an industrial metal that has been recently introduce |
| content of the jewelry, and under federal law, must be | | | | into the jewelry industry. Titanium has an attractive |
| accompanied by a maker's mark or registered | | | | gray tone and gives jewelry a modern look. It is |
| trademark. The most important thing is that silver is | | | | corrosion, tarnish and discoloration resistant. Titanium |
| more affordable than gold and makes wonderful | | | | can be fabricated into different designs and has |
| jewelry! | | | | become a great alternative for wedding and |
| Pure Gold: is 24 Karats, which is the reason for the | | | | engagement rings. |
| high price on jewelry made with 24K. | | | | Tungsten: Also called wolfram, is formed from super |
| The solution to making gold consumer-friendly is to mix | | | | dense alloys and is used in products ranging from golf |
| it with another material, creating an alloy that results in | | | | club heads to weapons. This metal is as strong as |
| a stronger and frequently less-expensive piece. | | | | steel and about twice the weight, making this metal |
| Carats (also written as karats and abbreviated as kt) | | | | almost wear proof and a perfect alternative for |
| are the measure of the ratio of gold to other metals | | | | jewelry making. |
| contained within the alloy. The more gold an alloy | | | | Palladium: Is a lustrous silvery white jewelry making |
| contains, the higher the caratage is. | | | | material used in electronics, jewelry, and certain other |
| Gold alloys typically span a range from 8 to 18 carats. | | | | industries. Palladium is considered to be a precious |
| An 8 carat alloy means that the gold content is 1/3 and | | | | metal. With its bright color and durable nature is the |
| an 18 carat piece is 75% gold. Other common | | | | perfect metal to use for wedding jewelry which is |
| caratages of gold jewelry alloys are 10 kt and 14 kt. | | | | expected to keep its appearance for decades. |
| Gold Overlay or Bi-Metal: Gold overlay is an | | | | Bronze: An early copper alloy; so early, in fact, that an |
| application of gold on a base metal piece. This | | | | entire era - the Bronze Age - was named for it. |
| technique gives an item the expensive look of gold for | | | | Bronze was used for making bracelets, ankles, and |
| a fraction of the price. A piece of gold overlay jewelry | | | | earrings, and beaded necklaces. Bronze is gaining in |
| is always stamped indicating the process and the | | | | popularity because of its color and the easiness to |
| gold's karat quality. | | | | create interesting textures. |
| Gold Plate: This technique chemically bonds a layer | | | | Brass: Combine copper with zinc and you see the |
| of gold to a base metal using electrolysis. It is created | | | | golden luster of brass. Brass is a malleable, and has a |
| when the base metal is coated with layer of gold with | | | | high-luster, that gives it the appearance of gold. Bronze |
| at least 10 karats. | | | | was used primarily to create functional items such as |
| Gold Filled: This is the process in which a metal is | | | | door knobs and picture frames. Brass has now gained |
| layered with at least 10-karat gold by using heat and | | | | in popularity as a metal amongst jewelry designers |
| pressure. In order for jewelry to be "gold filled," the gold | | | | Some of the metals, such as, bronze, copper and silver |
| content must compose at least 1/20th of the item's | | | | can be etched by using a prepared solution of ferric |
| total weight. | | | | chloride which also contains hydrochloric acid. This |
| Gold over Silver: This is a gold overlay using a | | | | process allows you to create unique textures and |
| silver base metal. Jewelry made with Silver covered | | | | designs. Make sure you follow instructions when |
| with a layer of yellow gold is considered to be the | | | | etching any of these three metals and that you |
| most luxurious of the bi-metals. You can use this metal | | | | dispose of the solution properly. |
| with confidence because it is durable and to gives | | | | Alpaca (Alpacca): Not to be confused with the animal, |
| jewelry a more expensive rich look. | | | | alpaca is a relatively new metal jewelry making supply, |
| Copper: is a great alternative to the skyrocketing | | | | predominantly made of copper alloyed with nickel, zinc, |
| prices in the precious metal market. Many jewelry | | | | and tin. The reduced expense of alpaca makes it a |
| artists and designers have discovered Copper as | | | | natural jewelry making material substitute for silver in |
| exciting alternative. Copper jewelry making can be | | | | fashion jewelry. |
| very versatile, not only because of the cost, but also | | | | Pewter: As copper alloyed with tin became bronze, tin |
| because Copper is one of the easiest metal to work | | | | alloyed with copper and lead resulted in pewter. |
| with. Copper is also very pliable and thus easy to cut, | | | | Pewter was mostly used in the manufacturing of |
| form and fold. Copper jewelry making is easier than | | | | tableware as well as being a base metal often used |
| ever because of the accessibility of the metal. Copper | | | | for rings and pendants. When polished to a high luster, |
| can be found at jewelry supply and metal supply | | | | pewter approaches the elegant sheen of fine silver. |
| stores. Like many of the other metals, Copper can be | | | | Now that you are familiar with the different types of |
| purchased in many forms: Wire, sheet, tube, chain, | | | | jewelry making metals, you can begin to enhance you |
| beads and jewelry components. | | | | designs. |