Mixed Metal
Jewelry Making Metals – Information and Techniques
The most commonly used metals are probably silver and gold, however there is a variety of jewelry making metals that give the jewelry artist flexibility when they are designing and creating their pieces.
With today’s scientific and technological advances you can integrate many other alloys into your work.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Metals You Want to Work With
- Cost is probably the number one factor.
- What style of jewelry you design. If you are mostly attracted to silver, you will gravitate towards incorporating silver in your work. There is also the possibility of mixing metals to give definition and texture to a piece of jewelry. Using bi-metals were a layer of gold is fused into sterling silver, can also save money and accomplish the quality you are looking for.
- Different metals required the use of alternative equipment. You will need to factor in the amount of money you have to invest in tools and equipments to accomplish the type of jewelry designs you want to create
Metals have a variety of alloys that when added together provide the unique properties of each one.
Silver Alloys: Silver, has the highest thermal conductivity.
• Fine-Silver is about 99.9% pure. In this form it is a lustrous and soft.
• Sterling-Silver is an alloy containing 92.5% by weight of silver and 7.5% by weight of other components, usually copper.
• Argentium Silver is a tarnish resistant silver and firescale free. It is perfectly malleable once annealed, and is almost twice as hard as traditional sterling silver.
Most High Quality silver items are stamped with a “fineness” or “quality” mark. This mark designates the content of the jewelry, and under federal law, must be accompanied by a maker’s mark or registered trademark. The most important thing is that silver is more affordable than gold and makes wonderful jewelry!
Pure Gold: is 24 Karats, which is the reason for the high price on jewelry made with 24K.
The solution to making gold consumer-friendly is to mix it with another material, creating an alloy that results in a stronger and frequently less-expensive piece.
Carats (also written as karats and abbreviated as kt) are the measure of the ratio of gold to other metals contained within the alloy. The more gold an alloy contains, the higher the caratage is.
Gold alloys typically span a range from 8 to 18 carats. An 8 carat alloy means that the gold content is 1/3 and an 18 carat piece is 75% gold. Other common caratages of gold jewelry alloys are 10 kt and 14 kt.
• Gold Overlay or Bi-Metal: Gold overlay is an application of gold on a base metal piece. This technique gives an item the expensive look of gold for a fraction of the price. A piece of gold overlay jewelry is always stamped indicating the process and the gold’s karat quality.
• Gold Plate: This technique chemically bonds a layer of gold to a base metal using electrolysis. It is created when the base metal is coated with layer of gold with at least 10 karats.
• Gold Filled: This is the process in which a metal is layered with at least 10-karat gold by using heat and pressure. In order for jewelry to be “gold filled,” the gold content must compose at least 1/20th of the item’s total weight.
• Gold over Silver: This is a gold overlay using a silver base metal. Jewelry made with Silver covered with a layer of Yellow Gold is considered to be the most luxurious of the bi-metals. You can use this metal with confidence because it is durable and to gives jewelry a more expensive rich look.
Copper: is a great alternative to the skyrocketing prices in the precious metal market. Many jewelry artists and designers have discovered Copper as exciting alternative. Copper jewelry making can be very versatile, not only because of the cost, but also because Copper is one of the easiest metal to work with. Copper is also very pliable and thus easy to cut, form and fold. Copper jewelry making is easier than ever because of the accessibility of the metal. Copper can be found at jewelry supply and metal supply stores. Like many of the other metals, Copper can be purchased in many forms: Wire, sheet, tube, chain, beads and jewelry components.
Platifina: Introduced in 2005, platifina is a new sterling silver alloy comprised of 92.5 percent silver, 1 percent platinum and 6.5 percent other metals (that’s a trade secret). This new alloy creates a metal that is brighter in color than either silver or pure platinum and is guaranteed tarnish-resistant, yet platifina jewelry is much more affordable than platinum jewelry.
Karatium: Alloys are a new family of alloys containing a percentage of gold and have been formulated in response to industry demand for less expensive metals. They are available in Yellow which contains 20% gold, Pink and White options which contain 10% gold as well as a sterling silver alloy which contains 2.5% gold. Although Karatium alloys polish to a high luster much like traditional karat gold alloys, they can be priced considerably less than 10kt gold and are an attractive alternative to gold filled products since they are a true “Alloy” and not a clad product with a base metal layer making up the majority of your jewelry. Karatium alloys also have the advantage over gold filled that the gold layer will never wear off. Karatium alloys are formulated to work well for all jewelry applications and can be cast, formed and fabricated just like karat gold alloys. All Karatium metal jewelry supplies have been formulated for optimum tarnish resistance. These qualities make Karatium a jewelry making material to investigate and experiment with.
Stainless Steel: Has recently gained in popularity as a jewelry making material, Stainless steel was developed in the 19th Century and is a combination of iron-carbon alloy. It has been used in tools, structures and manufacturing. Jewelry artists have recently started using it because its resistance to Its attractive grey color, strength and low cost, has made stainless steel a good alternative metal for making jewelry.
Titanium: Titanium is probably the strongest available. It is an industrial metal that has been recently introduce into the jewelry industry. Titanium has an attractive gray tone and gives jewelry a modern look. It is corrosion, tarnish and discoloration resistant. Titanium can be fabricated into different designs and has become a great alternative for wedding and engagement rings.
Tungsten: Also called wolfram, is formed from super dense alloys and is used in products ranging from golf club heads to weapons. This metal is as strong as steel and about twice the weight, making this metal almost wear proof and a perfect alternative for jewelry making.
Palladium: Is a lustrous silvery white jewelry making material used in electronics, jewelry, and certain other industries. Palladium is considered to be a precious metal. With its bright color and durable nature is the perfect metal to use for wedding jewelry which is expected to keep its appearance for decades.
Bronze: An early copper alloy; so early, in fact, that an entire era – the Bronze Age – was named for it. Bronze was used for making bracelets, ankles, and earrings, and beaded necklaces. Bronze is gaining in popularity because of its color and the easiness to create interesting textures.
Brass: Combine copper with zinc and you see the golden luster of brass. Brass is a malleable, and has a high-luster, that gives it the appearance of gold. Bronze was used primarily to create functional items such as door knobs and picture frames. Brass has now gained in popularity as a metal amongst jewelry designers
Some of the metals, such as, bronze, copper and silver can be etched by using a prepared solution of ferric chloride which also contains hydrochloric acid. This process allows you to create unique textures and designs. Make sure you follow instructions when etching any of these three metals and that you dispose of the solution properly.
Alpaca (Alpacca): Not to be confused with the animal, alpaca is a relatively new metal jewelry making supply, predominantly made of copper alloyed with nickel, zinc, and tin. The reduced expense of alpaca makes it a natural jewelry making material substitute for silver in fashion jewelry.
Pewter: As copper alloyed with tin became bronze, tin alloyed with copper and lead resulted in pewter. Pewter was mostly used in the manufacturing of tableware as well as being a base metal often used for rings and pendants. When polished to a high luster, pewter approaches the elegant sheen of fine silver.
Now that you are familiar with the different types of jewelry making metals, you can begin to enhance you designs.
To learn more about jewelry making visit. http://theartofmakingjewelry.com Jewelry Making Tips and Techniques – A Resource Guide for Artist and Designers. This website was created to share information about the art of making jewelry with other jewelry artist and designers.
About the Author
Mixed Metal Scrap arrived to our yard
|
|
OXO SteeL Double Jigger $7.00 Measure and the perfect drink ratios, and start using OXO’s SteeL jigger. Designed to make any user professional in their drink making, the jigger is double sided to include common measurements. One side measures out in 1-1/2 ounce, 3/4 ounce, and 1/3 ounce increments, while the other in 1/4 ounce, 1/2 ounce, and 1 ounce increments. A handy grip around the center is non-slip, and soft enough to re… |
|
|
Oster 4961 Ice Blade $0.90 2 Piece, Blender Accessory, Includes: 1 Blade & 1 Sealing Ring, Refresh & Revive Your Oster Blender, Compatible With Most Oster 5 & 6 Cup Glass Or Plastic Jars, Stainless Steel Ice Crusher Blade For Perfectly Crushed Ice Every Time…. |
|
|
OXO SteeL Muddler $11.95 Enhance your drinks with crushed ingredients, such as mints and fruits, with the SteeL muddler by OXO. Perfect for mixing in a bit of citrus and mint, the muddler allows you to make delicious mojitos, caipirinhas, mint juleps, and more. The grip is soft and easy on the hands, and the otherwise stainless steel muddler uses a nylon head in order to protect glasses from damage. OXO was founded on the… |
|
|
Greatest Hits 93-03 $6.07 First they went platinum…Now they’re going green. Your best loved music in its simplest form. 20 best-selling “Greatest Hits” & “Best of” collections now available in a new eco-friendly package. 1CD in card wallet packaging – no plastic, no booklet – just great music! Booklets are available online through a unique URL on the package…. |
|
|
Monsters of Rock $6.35 … |
|
|
Best Of 70’s Supergroups $5.00 Various Artists… |
|
|
Gilmour 362 Professional No Pre-Mix Sprayer, White $14.29 “Just three easy steps to a professionally sprayed yard”–that’s what the packaging claims on this Gilmour hose end sprayer, and it’s the truth. Just fill the bottle, set the dial, and spray. The Gilmour hose end sprayer dilutes as it sprays so you don’t have to premix (unless you’re using a powdered formula), and the metering dial lets you choose one of 16 dilution rates. We especially liked the … |
|
|
Metal and Stone Random Strips Backsplash Tile Mosaic 15-1/2×12 $16.99 These durable marble tiles create a great focal point to suit a variety of enviroments and imaginations. Applications can include kitchen backsplashes, shower walls, or even boarder accents to existing tile work. The mesh backing not only simplifies installation, it also allows the tiles to be separated which adds to their design flexibility…. |
|
|
Sunshine Systems GSSPOT GrowSpot Mixed Spectrum LED Grow Light Bulb E39 $79.95 The energy squeezing GrowSpotTM showers your plants with the perfect blend of light needed for fast, vigorous growth. The GrowSpotTM fits into any standard light socket making it the most versatile LED grow light on the market today. The GrowSpotTM led grow light rivals the output of a 150 watt Metal Halide or HPS grow light. Suitable for all stages of growth, the GrowSpotTM covers 4 square feet a… |
|
|
Quilting Arts Workshop Metal Embellishments: Incorporating Wire, Foil, Metal Sheeting, & More Into Fiber Art $19.49 Starting out with metal sheeting as the focus, foils and copper sheeting are explored. Next, Mary demonstrates how wire (in a variety of metals and gauges) can be used to create shapes, images, weaving, and baubles to personalize art quilts and fiber art. Forging, shaping, and texturing sheet metal and wire are covered, along with simple techniques for using a propane torch to add special effects,… |
|
|
Headbandz Pink/ White 5-piece Baby Accessory Pack $32.49 This baby pack makes a perfect accessory collection for your little girl, or the perfect baby shower gift. All of these color coordinated pieces can be mixed and matched, creating a stylish finishing touch to any outfit. |
|
|
ICL Glass/ Metal Mix Tiles (Case of 11) $153.49 Brand: ICLMaterial: Glass/metalDimensions of tiles: 11.81 inches long x 11.81 inches wide x 0.31 inches |
|
|
Metal Wave Mix Mosaic Tiles E-2110 (Case of 11) $113.99 These tiles feature a beautiful blend of polished and rippled glass and stainless steel on a meshed sheet. Designed in a case of 11 sheets to add contemporary styling, to any residential or commercial wall project. |
|
|
ICL Glass and Metal Mix Tiles (Pack of 11) $156.99 Brand: ICLMaterial: GlassDimensions of tiles: 11.81 inches wide x 11.81 inches long |
|
|
Extreme Metal Bass (Mixed media product) $12.11 As the original bassist for the seminal death metal band Cannibal Corpse, author Alex Webster offers invaluable insight into the realm of metal bass guitar. This exclusive book/CD pack provides detailed, hands-on training, featuring vital bass guitar t… |
|
|
Mixed Metals (Paperback) $17.72 Creating gorgeous jewelry from a variety of metals with inventive techniques involves not only silver, copper, gold, but pewter and other delightful materials. Making a delicate “Rosy Posies” gold necklace or a be-jeweled “Greta Garbo” choker will be a… |
|
|
Metal Clay And Mixed Media Jewelry (Paperback) $14.85 Metal clay starts as clay and turns into metal. Does it get any more magical? Now it does—with Metal Clay and Mixed Media Jewelry. Author Sherri Haab takes this compelling material, today`s hottest craft item, to the next level, brilliantl… |
|
|
Sculptural Metal Clay Jewelry (Mixed media product) $18.49 Join master teacher and jewelry artist Kate McKinnon as she explores the amazing effects of metal clay. After a detailed overview of metal-smithing basics, techniques, and tools, Sculptural Metal Clay Jewelry explores sculptural forms, moving parts, an… |
|
|
Metal Lead Guitar (Mixed media product) $15.4 This intense metal method teaches you the elements of lead guitar technique with an easy to understand, player-oriented approach. The metal concepts, theory, and musical principals are all applied to real metal licks, runs and full compositions. Learn … |
|
|
Metal Lead Guitar (Mixed media product) $13.43 This intense metal method teaches you the elements of lead guitar technique with an easy to understand, player-oriented approach. The metal concepts, theory, and musical principles are all applied to real metal licks, runs and full compositions. Learn … |
|
|
Southwest Moon Sterling Silver Necklace $103.99 This necklace is comprised of sterling silver, copper and gold over copper. This jewelry piece features a secure lobster claw clasp. |
|
|
Southwest Moon Sterling Silver, Brass and Copper Beaded Drop Earrings $19.49 Each of these colorful earrings features mixed metals including sterling silver, brass and copper. The earrings feature beaded drop designs dangling from hook findings. |
|
|
Good Tidings CMGT170612LED50 Mixed Tip with 50 LED Lights/ Berries Garland $61.99 Bring Holiday charm and warmth to your home this season with the Good Tidings LED mixed-top garland. This garland features energy-saving LED technology, a generous 50 bulbs and a 9-foot length. |
|
|
Metal Rhythm Guitar (Mixed media product) $13.45 Because rhythm and timing lie at the foundation of everything you play, its importance can`t be underestimated. This series will give you that solid foundation you need. Starts with simple upbeat rhythms for the beginner and moves step by step into a… |
|
|
Good Tidings CMGT920012A Mixed Tip Cashmere/ Berries/ Cones Garland $29.99 Bring Holiday charm and warmth to your home this season with the Good Tidings Garland mixed-tip cashmere garland. This beautiful holiday garland features lush berries, cones and a 9-foot length. |
|
|
Cuisinart ICE-45PK Mix It In Soft Serve Pink Ice Cream Maker $0 This Cuisinart ice cream maker produces professional quality soft serve ice cream, yogurt, sorbet, and sherbet. This machine features three built-in condiments dispensers and a cone holder. No salt, chemicals, or ice is required. |
|
|
Mixed Metal Jewelry Workshop (Hardcover) $14.92 In this creative workshop, metal clay, one of the hottest trends in jewelry making, is combined with traditional metal forms to create fabulous jewelry. Twenty fun projects, professional instruction, and a gallery of… |
|
|
Good Tidings 47031 Gold Poinsettias/ Cones Mixed Greens Garland $59.99 Bring Holiday charm and warmth to your home this season with the Good Tidings Mixed Greens Garland with gold poinsettias and cones. This beautiful decorative piece features soft white poinsettia leaves, cones and a mixed pine base. |
|
|
Good Tidings 1839 216 Tips Mixed Pine Garland $41.49 Bring Holiday charm and warmth to your home this season with the Good Tidings Mixed Pine Garland . This beautiful holiday garland features a mixed pine finish. |
|
|
Good Tidings 30-inch Mixed Green Gold Poinsettias Wreath $73.99 Bring holiday charm and style to your home this season with this Good Tidings Mixed Green Wreath with Gold Poinsettias and Cones. This beautiful decor piece features a lush dark green color and accents from gold and warm white poinsettia leaves. |
|
|
Good Tidings Mixed Cedar & Pine Wreath $40.99 Bring holiday charm and style to your home this season with the Good Tidings Mixed Cedar and Pine Wreath with Juniper Berry. This beautiful decor piece features a deep green pine color and accents from red berries, juniper branches and pine branches. |
|
|
Czech Glass 6/0 Lot Mix ‘Metallic’ Gold/ Silver/ Copper Seed Beads (2-ounce Pack) $6.19 Give your arts and crafts the perfect metallic finish with these jewelry-making accessories. These Czech seed beads feature an array of goldtone hues including gold, silver, and copper. |
|
|
Jeweler`s Studio Handbook (Paperback) $16.33 Master the art and craft of metal jewelry making in your own home studio! Great jewelry is original, well-designed, and — with the right tools — can be created at home by the aspiri… |
|
|
Computational Studies of Transition Metal Nanoalloys (Mixed media product) $126.98 The focus of this thesis is the computational modelling of transition metal bimetallic (nanoalloy) clusters. More specifically, the study of Pd-Pt, Ag-Pt, Au-Au and Pd-Au as a few tens of atoms in the gas phase. The author used a combination of global … |
|
|
Metal Guitar Tricks (Mixed media product) $14.84 Learn `every trick in the book` including virtually every whammy bar and two-handed fretting technique conceivable as well as all types of harmonics, sound effects, and other techniques. All of the techniques are applied to a variety of licks. Also in… |
|
|
Acesonic 80-watt Karaoke Mixing Amplifier $116.99 The Acesonic AM-145 80-Watt Mixing Amplifier is designed with performance and value in mind. For those who need a professional karaoke mixing amplifier for smaller environments, this amplifier will definitely meets your needs in term of quality and price. |
|
|
Scentfully Delightful Hand-painted Mixed Berries Salt and Pepper Shaker Set $16.49 Functionality and art are combined in these hand-painted salt and pepper shakers. Each shaker is hand-painted with mixed berries to add a touch of artistic flair to your table. |
|
|
Good Tidings 2295 Mixed Long Needle Pine with Cones/ Berries Garland $43.99 Bring Holiday charm and warmth to your home this season with the Good Tidings Mixed Long Needle Pine Garland. This beautiful decorative piece features cones and berries as well as a lush textured look. |
|
|
Copper Supra Metallic Mix 11/0 Czech Seed Beads (Hank of 4000) $7.39 Make stunning necklaces, bracelets and other creations with Czech seed beadsSupra Metallic beads feature a shimmering copper finishCzech seed beads are some of the highest quality, most uniformly sized beads in use today |
|
|
Mixed Metal Mania (Paperback) $14.78 Description not available. |
|
|
JonCar Classic Vintage Metal and Gemstone Bracelet $29.49 The look of vintage is with mixed metals and gemstones in this bracelet from JonCar Classic. This bracelet is crafted with plated steel, copper and brass. |
|
|
Men’s Callaway I-Mix FT 9 Driver Head $154.38 Get Callaway I-Mix technology at your fingertips with this men’s Callaway I-Mix FT 9 Driver Head. Experience the I-Mix advantage and take command of your game like never before. |
|
|
Good Tidings 18-inch Mixed Wreath with Candle and Bow $31.99 Bring holiday charm and style to your home this season with this Good Tidings Mixed Wreath with Candle and Bow. This beautiful decor piece features a deep green pine color and is accented with a warm-colored, LED candle and a red holiday bow. |
|
|
Midnight Garden Silver Metal Card Suit Charms (Pack of  $4.97 Midnight Garden explores the wonderland of childhood with a more sophisticated twist. Rich colors of beads and ribbons are subdued, and mixed metals offer a soft glow. This collection of playful and charming jewelry offers style with a secret story. |
|
|
Good Tidings 24-inch Mixed Wreath with Candle and Bow $39.99 Bring holiday charm and style to your home this season with this Good Tidings Mixed Wreath with Candle and Bow. This beautiful decor piece features a deep green pine color and is accented with a warm-colored, LED candle and a red holiday bow. |
|
|
Good Tidings 2276 Mixed Pine Kissing Ball $25.99 Bring Holiday charm and warmth to your home this season with the Good Tidings Pine Kissing Ball . Unlike the traditional mistletoe, this beautiful holiday garland features a mixed pine finish to compliment your other seasonal trimmings. |
|
|
Good Tidings 2294 Long Needle Mix with Greenery Berry Cones Candle Holder Centerpiece $36.99 Bring Holiday charm and warmth to your home this season with the Good Tidings Crescent Mixed Long Needle Centerpiece. This beautiful decorative piece features cones and berries as well as a lush textured look. |
|
|
Good Tidings 24-inch Mixed Pine Wreath $23.99 Bring holiday charm and style to your home this season with this Good Tidings Mixed Pine Wreath. This beautiful decor piece features a deep green pine color, 75 individual tips and a 24-inch diameter. |
|
|
Good Tidings 44223 Mixed Pine with Red Poinsettias Garland $55.99 Bring Holiday charm and warmth to your home this season with the Good Tidings Red Poinsettia and Mixed Pine Garland. This beautiful decorative piece features vibrant red poinsettia flowers, red decorative balls and a mixed pine base. |
|
|
Parker Sonnet CT Slim Matte Black Blue Ink Ballpoint Pen $30.99 From the geometrical precision and luxury of the precious metals to the modern elegance of this pen, you are sure to find a Parker Sonnet that is right for everyone. This Parker Sonnet pen combines the perfect mix of modernity and timeless style. |
