Metals that are used in jewelry making.

Sushanta Das
4 min readJun 30, 2022

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Jewelry is fun to wear using different metals paired with other precious gemstones. The various pieces of jewelry that we wear both occasionally and daily involve a lot in its manufacturing; mining, extraction of the metals from the ores, going through the washing off the dirt from it and then shaping it into a form which can be used in the designing of the pieces of jewelry.

Ring Designs, necklaces, pendants, anklets and many other jewelry items are used using elegant metals that are quite bright and lustrous in terms of their texture. So in this article, we will come across the vast range of metals that are being used for jewelry making. It is necessary to know that apart from gold and silver, many other variations of metals can be used to shape them into jewelry. The more we know about them, the more we will save the natural resources from being exploited as the entire process is quite lengthy and exhaustible.

DISCOVERY OF DIFFERENT METALS IN THE PROCESS OF JEWELRY MAKING:

Generally, we know that metals that are quite high in their luster and are used in the designing of jewelry as it adds a different allure to the piece you are wearing. Still, apart from this, several non-metals are gaining popularity and can be used in contemporary jewelry. Let us now explore the wide variations of metals used in jewelry making.

  • First of all, let us discuss gold as this is the most commonly used metal for jewelery due to its appearance as well as some properties of it. In order to create a wide range of color variations and working properties, gold is often mixed with other alloys. White gold is usually alloyed with nickel for custom gold rings in some jewellery brands. As gold is malleable and dense metal with a bright yellow color, it can be paired with many other gemstones, so its beauty or elegance can be amplified more in everyone’s eyes. But remember that do not polish your gold items often as polishing means a thin layer of gold will be removed; thus, it will reduce weight.
  • Another metal is titanium which is the hardest natural metal in the world. This metal is generally used to alloy aircraft metals but is also a popular choice for piercing jewelry due to its hypoallergenic properties. It is shatterproof and lightweight at the same time, which makes its usage more popular in the jewelry making. This white natural metal is low-density, strong and highly corrosion-resistant.
  • Tungsten is harder than gold alloys, making it useful for ring designs as tungstens resist scratching, especially in designs with a brushed finish. These are strengthened steel-grey metals with a high melting point, making them suitable for the metal fabrication industry.
  • Stainless steel is resistant to rusting and tarnish. Some people are allergic to certain metals, so for them, stainless steel is an outstanding alternative for people with allergies and sensitivity to metals such as brass or copper. Stainless steels are mainly used in the jewelry of men, like men’s bracelets, necklaces, wedding bands and rings. Many brands even make watches using stainless steel. Stainless jewellery is more restricted than the other metals used in jewelry making.
  • Sterling silver is cheap compared to other metals like gold, platinum and titanium. Sterling silver is a good choice if, as a wearer, you want to enhance your look with a touch of some extra elegance and sophistication, depending on the occasion. Silver is a soft metal than platinum, gold or silver and does not have the hardness in its texture; therefore, it is more prone to getting scratches.
  • Platinum has a group of metals categorised under it, among which palladium is a platinum group metal first used in jewelry in 1939. It acts as a whitening agent for white gold. People sensitive to nickel can surely choose palladium for their jewelry as it is hypoallergenic.
  • Rhodium is also a metal which comes under the platinum group of metals and is considered the most valuable metal. Rhodium is found in the same ore in which silver and gold exist but only in smaller quantities. For the last finishing on white gold, jewelry rhodium is used.

Apart from the names mentioned above, metals like brass, aluminium, bronze, niobium, and pewter are also used in making jewelry. The birthstone ring designs paired with any metals that are quite strong in term of their property is also a good choice.

CONCLUSION:

So in this article, we educated ourselves about many metals that can be used in making jewelry and even their properties. The most commonly used or known metals have always been gold, silver and platinum. Still, apart from this also, there is a wide range of variations for picking up a particular metal in designing your jewellery pieces.

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