Materials
Metals
925 Sterling Silver is a combination of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, and it is the highest percentage of fine silver possible for jewelry subject to everyday wear. Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft and malleable for jewelry. Therefore, it is usually combined with copper to give it strength, while at the same time preserving both the ductility and beauty of its original form. |
|
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. The proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties. For jewelry, the most commonly used percentages of copper and zinc is 67% and 33%. This mixture helps the brass become stronger and more durable than copper alone, which allows for superb electroplating quality, and thus, it is the perfect combination for fashion jewelry. |
|
Iron is by mass the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust. Pure iron is relatively soft, but is unobtainable by smelting. The material is significantly hardened and strengthened by impurities, in particular carbon, from the smelting process. A certain proportion of carbon (between 0.002% and 2.1%) produces steel, which may be up to 1000 times harder than pure iron. |
|
TK316 Stainless Steel used in fashion jewelry, is an alloy with a minimum of 10% chromium content by mass. It does not stain, corrode or rust as easily as ordinary steel, and it is also hypoallergenic. Thus, it is extensively used in heavy gauge-welded components, such as jewelry. Tusk 316 stainless steel is of the highest quality for jewelry products. |
|
White Metal is any alloy that is light-colored, and is used especially as a base for plated silverware, ornaments and jewelry. Some of the metals used to create this alloy are antimony, tin, lead, cadmium, bismuth and zinc. Not all of these metals are found in all white metal alloys, but are combined to achieve a desired need, such as being able to be casted and polished. |
Other Materials
|
Paper is a thin material produced by pressing together moist fibers of cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets. It is a versatile material with many uses, including writing, printing, packaging, cleaning, and a number of industrial and construction processes. |
Plastic is a material consisting of any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds that are malleable and can be molded into solid objects. Plastics are typically organic polymers of high molecular mass, but they often contain other substances. They are usually synthetic, most commonly derived from petrochemicals, but many are partially natural. Due to their relatively low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility, and imperviousness to water, plastics are used in an enormous and expanding range of products. |
|
Resin is a durable and transparent plastic that is especially suited for jewelry-making because of its ease of use. It begins in a liquid form, but after being casted, becomes quite durable. Special resin molds with smooth surfaces are created to give it a glossy finish. |
|
|
Stone or rock, is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of one or more minerals or mineraloids. They have been used by mankind throughout history. From the Stone Age, stones have been used for tools. The minerals and metals found in stones have been essential to human civilization. |
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive feel. Velvet can be made from either synthetic or natural fibers. |
|
Wood Wood is a natural material that can be used to create fashion jewelry. It is usually finished off with a coat of resin to make it more tough and long-lasting. It gives jewelry a more primal and natural feel. |