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MATERIAL INFORMATION
Precious
Metal
Stringing Materials
Beads
Jewelry Care
Precious Metal
Gold
A precious metal that does not
oxidize or tarnish as most other metals do. It has been used for over 6000
years in coins, jewelry and ornamental objects. Gold is very malleable and
can be melted and cast into both small and large objects. It is also
forged into very thin sheets called gold leaf and used to cover the
surface of less valuable ornaments.
Gold is alloyed with
other metals like silver, copper or nickel to make it harder. The ratio of
gold to other metals is what denotes the karat content.
Common gold alloys
are made by mixing gold, silver, copper, and/or other metals to produce
14K, 18K and 22K gold, white gold (gold and nickel or palladium), rose
gold (gold and copper), green gold (gold with silver or silver and
cadmium) , and blue gold (a recent gold color perfected by only a few
jewelers). (example: 14kt-by weight 14 parts gold to 10 parts other
metals, or 58.33% pure gold)
Gold Fill
Jewelry or other item with a sheet of
gold applied to its surface. Newer items contain markings that indicate
how much and what type of gold was used in the layer. Example: a marking
of 1/20 12K G.F. means that the piece is at least 1/20th 12K gold by
weight.
Gold Plated
A layer of gold applied to base
metal, usually by electroplating. This is usually a very thin layer, only
a few microns, which is likely to wear much more quickly than gold-filled.
How is gold-filled different from
gold-plated?
Gold-filled, or gold
overlay, is made by heat and pressure-bonding a thin layer of gold to a
brass core. The gold covers the brass surface, making it tarnish
resistant. The value of gold-filled is greater than gold-plated because
gold-filled has an actual layer of gold, not just a microscopic film.
Sterling Silver
Sterling is silver with a fineness of
925 parts per thousand or 92.5% silver and 75 parts per thousand or 7.5%
copper. Copper is added to the alloy to increase the silver's hardness.
Silver Plated
A fine silver film deposited on a
base metal by electrolysis, in the same kind of electrically-charged bath
used to make gold electroplate. The film can be as thin as seven
millionths of an inch. A silver plate item cannot be called sterling or
bear a marking of ’silver’.
Pewter
Pewter is an alloy of tin, lead,
antimony, and a bit of silver or copper. Pewter was the most widely used
metal in America between the early 1700 and 1800's. The best pewter is
achieved using a low lead content and a high tin content. As you would
expect, U.S. pewter manufacturer's today are required to make lead free
pewter. Both copper and antimony are added to the tin to make a harder
metal alloy.
Platinum
Platinum is the rarest of the three
precious metals (platinum, gold and silver). It is harder than gold or
silver making it more durable for jewelry purposes. It has a whiter color
than silver and is resistant to oxidation (tarnish). Challenging to work
with due to its high melting point it is difficult to alloy and cast.
Platinum was discovered in the 1700's in Russia and is abbreviated Pt. or
Plat.
Vermeil
Vermeil (pronounced ver-may) is a
process that combines precious metals to produce semi-fine quality
jewelry. The inside core is sterling silver, the outside is a thin coating
of 14 karat gold. This combination produces jewelry that looks and feels
like pure gold.
Base Metal
Non-precious metals used as a core
for plating and gold-filled items. Brass and nickel are common base metals
in jewelry.
Karen Hill Tribe Silver
Karen Hill Tribe silver beads and
pendants used by Lindsey's Jewelry Designs are made by the Karen Hill
Tribe in northern Thailand using traditional tribal methods passed down
from generation to generation. Purchasing these Thai beads helps sustain a
traditional craft and provides the Karen people with a reliable source of
income. The silver content in Hill Tribes silver beads and pendants is
typically 95-99%, even higher than sterling (92.5%). This higher silver
content is softer and therefore easier to shape into all the unique and
wonderful styles. On close inspection you will notice that no two pieces
are exactly alike, attesting to the handmade nature of these beautiful
pieces.
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Stringing
Materials
Soft Flex
Soft Flex® Wire is
constructed of either 21 or 49 micro spun, marine quality,
stainless steel wires woven together and then nylon
coated. Made in the USA, Soft Flex Wire is hypoallergenic
and can be worn in and out of salt or fresh water. It is
one the most flexible and knottable stainless steel wires
available.
Greek Leather
When it
comes to leather cord, Greek Leather is the best of the
best. Known for its inherent flexibility, natural
qualities, smooth finish, consistent color, and supple
texture. Greek Leather has been used in jewelry
making for hundreds of years. Properly maintained, Greek
Leather will look better longer than other types of
leather.
Wire
Thin strands of metal wire provide a
stringing material that is both strong and stiff enough to add structure
to a beaded project. Wire is sold in different sizes which are called
gauges, with smaller numbers being thicker. All the jewelry at Lindsey's
Jewelry Designs uses semiprecious metal wire.
Memory Wire
Wire made of a metal that will retain
its shape after it has been bent or coiled in some fashion.
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Beads
Briolette
A teardrop or pear shaped gemstone or
glass bead.
They
come either faceted or non-faceted.
Briolettes are used in bracelets, earrings and necklaces and they bring a
unique and delicate look to these jewelry pieces. Briolettes are a more time involved bead to
make and are considerably more expensive than a round bead to purchase.
Faceted
One of the flat
polished surfaces cut on a gemstone which allow the cut stone to sparkle
and reflect light. Diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies are normally
faceted.
Cats Eye
Top "A" grade fiber optic glass beads
is expertly shaped with a well-defined "eye" line and uniform "eye" within
the bead strand. This kind of bead has graduated colors in it starting
with a lighter colored "eye" centered around the middle of the bead. A lot
of bright colors to choose from make this bead a good choice for many uses
in bead jewelry designs.
Sterling Silver Bali Beads
"Bali" style beads use designs that are not
actually exclusive to Bali. These designs are hundreds of years old and
have appeared throughout the middle east and Asia. The word Bali started
being used to describe the style because tourists commonly bought silver
jewelry items while vacationing on Bali beaches.
Cultured Pearl
Like natural pearls, cultured pearls
grow inside a living organism. However, they do not begin as accidental
intruders to the shell. Instead, humans insert mother-of-pearl beads or
other shapes into a mollusk. Over time they become coated with nacre. The
depth of the nacre coating depends on how long the beads are left in place
before being harvested.
Freshwater Pearl
An irregular pearl of various colors
produced by fresh water mollusks such as mussels and clams, popular in
Roman jewelry for its irregular shape and relative availability.
Mother of Pearl
Mother of pearl is the common name
for iridescent nacre, a blend of minerals that are secreted by oysters and
other mollusks and deposited inside their shells, coating and protecting
their bodies from parasites and foreign objects.
A pearl grows when mother of pearl surrounds and builds layers around an
object that's inserted in she shell by nature or humans.
Saltwater Pearl
Saltwater Cultured Pearls, are farmed
in saltwater, and grown in oysters. Only one pearl is grown per oyster.
This makes salt-water pearls more expensive than freshwater pearls.
Countries known as producer of saltwater pearl are Burma, Indonesia,
Thailand, and Philippines in South East Asia; Australia and Tahiti in
South Pacific, especially in Tahiti, you'll find the beautiful black
pearls.
Gemstone
Today, the common definition of a
gemstone is any precious or semiprecious stone, rock or mineral. The term
"Gemstone" can be used to identify any mineral highly prized for it's
beauty, durability, and rarity. A gem is a mineral enhanced in some manner
by altering the shape, usually by cutting or polishing. Over 4000 minerals
have been identified, however, fewer than 100 are classified as gemstones .
The explicit definition of a gemstone is a precious stone: diamond, ruby,
sapphire, emerald and precious opal. Semiprecious stones are any other
rocks, minerals, or petrified material that is not classified as precious
and which is used in jewelry or collected. Some semiprecious stones
include: agate, topaz, carnelian, and jasper, lapis lazuli, jade and
turquoise.
Glass Bead
Blass beads are formed by winding
molten glass around a mandrel, which is usually a stainless steel rod of
varying diameters. Many glass beads are decorated with dots, spirals, and
other designs of glass.
Druk
Glass beads that are round and
smooth.
Lampwork Bead
Lampwork beads are glass beads that
are formed by winding molten glass around a mandrel, which is usually a
stainless steel rod of varying diameters. Many lampwork beads are
decorated with dots, spirals, and other designs of glass.
Millefiori Beads
Created by fusion of several glass
rods arranged so that the cross-section creates a flower or pattern with a
mosaic-like appearance.
Seed Bead
Very small oval beads made from
segments of tubes of glass that have been tumbled and polished.
Swarovski Crystal
Made in Austria, Swarovski products
are considered to be one of the finest products of their kind in the
world. Swarovski Crystal is the brand name for the range of
precision cut crystal glass produced by companies owned by Swarovski AG of
Feldmeilen, near Zurich, Switzerland. Austrian glass cutter and jeweller,
Daniel Swarovski (1862-1956), began cutting multi-faceted crystals at the
end of the 19th century creating new opportunities for jewelry makers
everywhere. In 1892 he invented the automatic cutting machine creating new
dimensions to raw crystals. Then in 1895, Daniel Swarovski established a
crystal cutting factory in Wattens, which marks the beginning of the
Swarovski Company.
Swarovski Crystal is manufactured from a man made raw
material and does not occur naturally. The formula for
these man made crystals was perfected by Daniel Swarovski
and his three sons. The crystals contain 32% lead to
maximize refraction, which categorized Swarovski crystals
as a "fully leaded crystal." Although lead can be a toxic
substance, wearing leaded crystal jewelry does not pose a
health risk.
When these raw materials are
produced, they are cut and polished using the superior techniques invented
by Daniel Swarovski. Swarovski crystals are unmatched in quality and
brilliance. No competitor has come close to the sharp facet angels,
symmetry and exceptional sparkle of the Swarovski Crystal. They are
considered the "Diamond of the Crystal Market."
How are Swarovski Crystals used?
Swarovski crystals are used in crystal sculptures and miniatures, jewelry
and couture, home decor, chandeliers, beads and rhinestones. They are the
most popular element and crystals used in jewelry today. Their increasing
demand has lead to the hundreds of shapes, colors, sizes and finishes. The
Swarovski company has been able to replicate the colors of semiprecious
and precious gemstones such as Amethyst, Alexandrite, Aquamarine, Citrine,
Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, Sapphire, Tanzanite, Topaz and many more. The
abundance in selection available from Swarovski Crystals has paved the way
for unique handmade creations and jewelry everywhere.
I am
proud to use Swarovski Crystals in my unique handmade
jewelry designs. The Swarovski crystal is a valuable and
unique accent to the glass beads, semiprecious stones and
pearls I use in my jewelry designs.
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Jewelry Care
Lindsey's jewelry
designs are made with
high quality materials, and should give you a life time of wearing
pleasure.
Here are some simple care suggestions:
Always avoid contact with chemicals, such as:
-
Pool and sea water
-
Hair spray
-
Perfume
-
Household cleansers
-
Tap and well water: Water leaves nasty mineral deposits behind (look at
your chrome faucets at home).
-
Chlorine: You can help avoid this by not swimming with your jewelry
pieces on (chlorine & salt) and by not putting your jewelry on until you
are finished with your hair and makeup.
Don't wear your jewelry to bed or to the
gym. Exercising, swimming or doing household chores while wearing your
jewelry will cover them with cooking grease, smoke, sweat and
perspiration, and will eventually leave a film behind, dulling the color
and shine. This is why it is necessary to clean your jewelry periodically.
Try to remember to wipe your jewelry pieces
with a soft, damp cloth after wearing.
Any silver and gold jewelry will tarnish or
discolor if left out in the open air. The less air contact there is with
the jewelry the better off you are. I have had silver develop a dull haze
in one week. The easiest way to keep your jewelry from tarnishing is to
store it properly.
If you want your jewelry to
be ready to wear at a moments notice, you should store your jewelry pieces
the FREE zip lock bags that it came with your purchase
All Sterling Silver jewelry will tarnish
with time, as soon as sterling silver makes contact with oxygen,
tarnishing will begin. Please note, your sterling silver jewelry will not
discolor immediately, usually pieces that are cared for will not tarnish
for a year or so. Tarnish can easily be taken off your jewelry with a
Sterling Silver
Polishing Cloth.
Place jewelry in a jewelry
box or jewelry case with the lid tightly closed.
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