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The Meaning of Metals

January 16th, 2009 in jewelry making

Susan Beal, contributor

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Each metal has a different association and history, not to mention a wide range of advantages, costs and qualities.

Photo: Susan Beal

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I spotted this post by Barbara at Fire Mountain Gems on the meaning of metals, from perennial favorites gold and silver to the more unusual modern types (like rhodium, niobium, and titanium). Barbara describes the history of each substance, from the ancient to the everyday, and presents clear details about each, demystifying designations like karat, gold-filled, and fine silver -- and aside from precious metals, she also includes less glamorous workhorses like stainless steel and pewter.

Aside from the very helpful information she presents, I liked the question she poses at the end of her post:

When you design jewelry, you're not only creating beauty, you're creating a message. That message is a mix of the design, the colors, the techniques -- and the materials.

What do your jewelry designs say?

posted in: jewelry making, history, metals, meaning

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Comments (2)

trusk4u writes: I saw this too and found it to be very informative! And the question does make one think a little more about their own creations!
Posted: 7:34 pm on January 16th

RNC11254 writes: Interesting that the article didn't mention platinum - a less common, but very coveted metal for jewelry.
Posted: 6:56 pm on January 16th

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