The materials used in decorating clothing can be many. Without limitation to metal works, we will find good works in glass, polymer resin, wood or ceramics. There is nothing better than another, it is a matter of style and taste.
But if we live in “classic” jewelry, metal is the basis of all jewelry.
Rarely, if you are a beginner, work directly with precious metals such as gold or platinum. It would certainly be a shame to waste such precious metals, even if it were always possible to melt the earth for reuse. So let’s take a look at expensive metals and alloys, training jewelry as “real jewelry”, but without breaking the bank and with a lot of fun!
What is an alloy?
A alloy is the result of a combination of several metals.
Iron, on the other hand, is found in its natural state in the subsoil. The bodies are soft and strong (except for mercury) but are usually soft enough to be used properly in jewelry.
And yes: if you wanted a Wholesale Jewelry in gold or silver (100%), it would quickly break, crack, crush, damage!
Similarly, the creation of alloys allows you to slightly change the color of the metal. Yellow gold is good for a while… if you can have white gold and pink, it is even better! So add a little zinc, a piece of silver, a little copper and in the way of new creations! Blending metal thus means allowing for a wide variety of colors, high visibility, durability, but also easy brazing to do (= welding of metals. No, it is not wrong, we are talking about “welding” in jewelry!).
As for the gold ear, it is brass;
Brass alloy copper and zinc. It is sometimes called Bronze, though it is two different alloys (bronze is Copper blended with Tin gives it a more “rosy” metallic look). It’s just the same, which is why English speakers make no difference and use the same word “Brass” to denote two.
Brass is my favorite training base: at a lower price, slightly lighter than gold, but lighter than silver, and looks more durable. Once refined, we get a very bright “champagne” color, but sadly it doesn’t last.
Of course, copper oxidize naturally in contact with air, water or more: skin! The oxidation reaction, also known as “verdigris” will lead to the contamination of the metal, and more or less radiance depends on the acidity of the owner’s skin. This oxidation can be transferred to the skin, so the black spots that sometimes wrap around the fingers under the brass alloy ring. This practice is harmless but may endanger its owner.
Thus, this metal coloring can be very attractive, depending on the style you want to give to your jewel. For an older and less “bling-bling” look, brass will be fine. Remember, though, that when a jewelry item is sold to a buyer, he or she usually expects it to remain the same as the purchase. So let your customers know!
We will see later how to make “old” bronze jewelry and thus quickly find this “old bronze” or even “dirty” patterns. However, it remains an alloy of choice for jewelry designed for packaging. Electrolysis compounds are particularly effective on this alloy.
To keep it as it was polished, I unfortunately did not find a miracle answer to date: professional varnishes or not, the result is stainless and corrosive. That said, brass is very easy to clean: most grandmother recipes remove this dirt in a few minutes. You just need to take care of yourself all the time!
With silver jewelry: nickel silver
Silver Nickel is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel. Its name comes from the manufacturers: Frenchmen Maillot and Chorier. It is also found under the name “alpaca” (but in Latin America) or “German silver” (because it was popular with the Germans). Silver in color, is available, for example, on the outer circle of a coin of 1, or on the inside of € 2 coin.
Please note, however: nickel silver will no longer be allowed to be resold in France and Europe! It certainly contains nickel, which has been banned from sale in jewelry since 2009. On the other hand, you can use it well to train, create prototypes, or even donate your jewelry (for non-allergies, based on your own).
Nickel silver is slightly lighter than silver, and slightly “hard” or “hard” to work with. Nothing is too hard, especially since it can be repaired if closed often, and it is easy to sell for silver. It is less expensive than copper, yet more valuable than silver. It is widely used in jewelry schools to create works in silver colors, now rarely obtained from the ban on its re-sale in jewelry. But with good pressing, we finally get it!
Pros: with the exception of a blowtorch fire, this metal mixes a little! The wind or touch of the skin will eventually reduce the shine of the jewelry after the shine, but it will take time. And just like copper, it is easy to clean. For example, nickel silver is similar to 925 silver, although it is “black” than silver, which is much whiter if refined.