A. Metal
Brass is an alloy made mainly of copper and zinc. The proportions of copper and zinc can vary to produce different types of brass. Sometimes, other metals such as lead and nickel can be added to brass as well.
Brass is known for its strength and durability. it is also very malleable, making it ideal for shaping into intricate jewelry designs. this metal is popularly used by jewelry designers. The beautiful warm tones of brass range from yellow to dull gold. Often, large statement pieces are made using brass for a stunning effect. However, you can also find brass in dainty minimalist designs. Brass can be made into all forms of jewelry, including rings, necklaces, bracelets, bangles, and earrings.
Silver
What Is Sterling Silver?
Pure silver is relatively soft and malleable, and easily damaged—not well suited for jewelry. To defend against deformation or destruction, silver is combined with other metals to make it more durable. Sterling silver is the most common alloy mix found in jewelry. It must be at least 92.5% pure silver, but the other 7.5% can be any metal. Typically, this alloy is copper. Centuries of experimentation have shown copper to be silver’s best companion, without affecting its beautiful color. The small amount of copper added to sterling has very little effect on the metal’s value. Instead, the price of sterling silver is affected by the labor involved in making the item, the skill of the craftsperson, and the intricacy of the design. Also, jewelry made with sterling silver is often plated with rhodium to give it a bright white finish that is a bit more resistant to scratching.
History And Hallmarks
The hallmark indicates the amount of pure silver content, and sometimes denotes the date of completion and country of origin. And under federal law, it must be accompanied by a maker’s mark or registered trademark. Acceptable quality marks for sterling silver include:
Sterling
Sterling silver
Ster
0.925
Common Uses For Sterling Silver In Jewelry
Sterling Silver Necklaces
Due to sterling silver’s light weight and its durable properties, this alloy is one of the most popular among craftspeople.
A metal combined with other metals to improve durability, color, etc., in jewelry making, alloy are created when two or more metals are combined to form a new type of metal with different characteristics. The new metal may be harder, have a different color, or be different in some other way.
Outside of silver, gold, and platinum, there are plenty of other jewelry metals used alloys.
The resulting mix of two or more metal elements is called an alloy.
For instance, pure silver bends and scratches quite easily. A metal alloy for jewelry, like sterling silver, is a better solution for most applications. To make sterling silver you’d alloy 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% copper to have a stronger metal to work with. When both metal atoms are the same size they will become a substitution alloy, which means the new atoms will simply replace some of the base metal atoms in the structure. For example, silver and copper both have an FCC structure. When you add copper to the silver, the copper replaces some of the silver atoms. The FCC structure stays the same, the alloy retains its ductile properties and can be easily shaped or drawn in the studio.
B. 4 Main Jewelry Plated colors
Define
A plating is a thin deposit of metal that is electro-chemically or otherwise applied to the surface of a different metal base. Other materials, like plastic, can also be plated. Many plated items are plated with copper first, then the final color.
Terms like white, yellow, silver plate, and gold plate can be somewhat ambiguous when you’re trying to determine whether or not the clasps in your hand will match the jewelry chain, jump rings, ear wires, etc. listed in a catalog. Here are our plating definitions, which are fairly standard throughout the jewelry industry:
Rhodium
1.What is rhodium?
Rhodium is a rare and precious element that can be 10 to 25 times more expensive than gold. Rhodium is a member of the platinum group of metals and is silver-hued, highly reflective and does not tarnish or corrode. It is harder than gold and is highly durable.
2.How thick should the rhodium coating be? The thickness of rhodium plating generally used is 0.03-1.0 microns. Adjust the thickness according to different product positioning, and the cost will be different. If the rhodium coating is too thick, it will crack due to the brittleness of rhodium. However, if the rhodium coating is too thin, it may cause discoloration of the jewelry.
3.Is rhodium plated jewelry safe to wear?
Yes, it is. Because rhodium plating is hypoallergenic, you won’t get skin reactions by wearing rhodium plated jewelry. This is because rhodium does not contain any allergens such as nickel. In fact if you have a piece of jewelry that is causing you skin reactions, rhodium plating the piece can eliminate this problem.
4.How long does rhodium plating last?
Many shoppers believe that rhodium plating is permanent. While it is permanent, like any other metal used in jewelry, it tends to suffer wear and tear with exposure.
5.Will rhodium plating affect gemstones?
This depends on the gemstone. Some softer gemstones such as peridot, pearls, opals, topaz, turquoise, coral and treated or heavily included rubies and emeralds can be damaged during the process. These gemstones, and many others, are not able to cope with the sulfuric acids and heat in the electroplating solutions and their surfaces can be damaged, becoming spotty and studded. Cubic zirconia will not be affected.
6.How can I make rhodium plating last longer?
Rhodium plating is bound to wear off after a while, but there are some steps you can take to make it last as long as possible.
Gold plating
- What is gold plating?
Gold plating is a process where a thin layer of gold is bonded onto a base metal. Plating is quite common in the jewelry world, with gold and rhodium being two popular types. This process was invented by an Italian chemist, Luigi Brugnatelli in 1805, the first person to plate a thin coat of gold onto silver.
Gold plating is commonly used for costume jewelry or to mimic more expensive pieces. - What metals can be gold plated?
Gold plating can be done on most metals, such as nickel, brass, stainless steel, silver and copper. Modern industrial metals such as tungsten and titanium are also frequently gold plated. Of these, silver and copper are the most commonly used. - Is gold plated real gold?
Yes, gold plating is real gold but because of how little gold is used, such jewelry doesn’t hold the value of gold.
The purity of the gold used in gold plating ranges just like solid gold. The lowest purity is usually 10K and the highest is 24K gold. When it comes to gold plating, the main difference in these types of gold is the color it produces rather than in the value. The higher the purity of the gold, the more gold-like the color is. However, the value doesn’t change much because of how little gold is used, regardless of the purity levels. - How thick should gold plating be?
Gold plating can range in thickness between .03 to 2.5 microns.
thE gold plating of value and the main benefit is that the plating lasts longer when it’s thicker. - Does gold plating fade and tarnish?
Gold plating can fade and tarnish over time, losing its initial luster and brightness. This is common and can happen regardless of the quality of the piece. However, many people wonder why gold-plated jewelry tarnishes. After all, isn’t gold an inert metal that doesn’t rust or corrode?
The best way to deal with tarnished pieces is to have the piece replated when required. How often you need to do this depends on the thickness of the plating, the quality of the piece, the color of the base metal and how much wear and tear the piece sustains. - Is gold plate hypoallergenic?
This depends on the thickness of the gold and whether the piece contains metals that cause allergies, like nickel, zinc and cobalt.
In general, gold plating is not hypoallergenic and can cause skin reactions for people with metal allergies. This is because of the nickel content that is in the piece. When the gold layer wears down or flakes off, the nickel in the jewelry comes into contact with your skin, causing reactions.
Electroplating is environmentally friendly and non-allergenic is one of our most important requirements for product quality. We can provide third-party test reports and internal laboratory test reports.
Rose gold
Rose gold is a commercial alloy made from gold and copper. The red color of the copper gives rose gold its signature pinkish tone. Unlike pure yellow gold, rose gold does not occur naturally and has to be man-made for jewelry and other items.
Although the electroplating process is almost the same as GOLD PLATED,the Rose gold plating also can range in thickness between .03 to 2.5 microns.,but compared with GOLD PLATED/RHODIUM PLATED, ROSE GOLD is more prone to oxidation and discoloration,
Gun metal
Also known as red brass in the United States, is a type of bronze – an alloy of copper, tin, and zinc. Proportions vary but 88% copper, 8–10% tin, and 2–4% zinc is an approximation. Originally used chiefly for making guns, it has largely been replaced by steel. Gunmetal, which casts and machines well and is resistant to corrosion from steam and salt water。
Gunmetal can also mean steel treated to simulate gunmetal bronze.Bushings made of this metal are used in machinery.
Gunmetal plating varies in color from gun blue to matte dark gray to shiny black metal. It often consists of black nickel plated over brass, but we also carry some gunmetal components that meet the EU Nickel Directive.
Gunmetal plating varies in color from gun blue to matte dark gray to shiny black metal. It often consists of black nickel plated over brass, but we also carry some gunmetal components that meet the EU Nickel Directive.
