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Jewelry manufacturers are well-versed in everything there is to know about the metals with which they work. If you’re looking to invest in fine, custom-designed jewelry, it helps to know some background on these materials. Here’s what you should know before making your selection.

What to Know About Jewelry Metals

Silver

The silver used in jewelry is never pure silver. The material alone is too soft for a jewelry manufacturer to make sturdy pieces from, so it’s mixed with copper to create sterling silver. This process makes it much more durable. It is still softer than other popular precious metals, however, so it must be cleaned and stored properly to avoid tarnishing.

Platinum

Incredibly resilient and resistant to tarnishing, platinum is a rare and expensive precious metal. It’s also hypoallergenic, which is good news for those who suffer from reactions when wearing other types of jewelry. Platinum is often mixed with other metals to form alloys, which change its appearance and further increase its durability. Common platinum alloys include iridium and cobalt. 

Gold

jewelry manufacturerGold is a perennially popular metal. Gold jewelry is mixed with other metals such as silver, zinc, and nickel to make it less malleable. The actual gold content of a piece is measured in Karats, where the higher the K, the more gold was used in the making. 24K is pure gold. 14K is generally the ideal proportion, but many even splurge for 18K. The higher the content of gold, the less likely the jewelry is to tarnish. 

Bronze & Brass

Metals like bronze and brass are not considered precious metals because of their wide availability. Between these attractive base metals, bronze has a warm golden color, while brass is more yellow in tone. They are inexpensive for jewelry manufacturers to obtain and utilize, making them much more affordable and accessible to many.

 

Fine jewelry is an investment, so you should only shop with a jeweler you can trust to bring your vision to life. Each unique piece at Frank Billanti Jewelry Casting in Manhattan, NY, is cast, assembled, set, polished, and packaged on site. With profound knowledge and experience in jewelry casting, this jewelry manufacturer has earned a stellar reputation as industry experts. Your piece will be made with precision from only the best materials. To learn more about the gold, silver, brass, or bronze casting process, call (212) 221-0440 today. Visit the website to view their selection of base and precious metal options.

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