Jewellery Materials
When a jeweller is making a decision about a piece of jewellery then it's important for him to first figure out what the requirements of the jewellery are. For example if he is making jewellery intended to last a long time then it's practical to use gold or platinum as these materials resist corrosion and don't irritate the skin. When long lasting jewellery is not so important then there is a growing trend towards plastics and other cheaper materials. Gold in it's true form is too soft to be used for jewellery making purposes which is why it is combined with other metals to be used in jewellery.
Platinum is widely used in jewellery making due to it being an extremely hard material in it's natural state. Because of its hardness and versatility platinum is used predominately in the jewellery industry to create the mounts for other precious gemstones such as diamonds. Platinum’s colour also tends to enhance a stones beauty.
Silver like gold is too soft in it's natural state to make jewellery, alone, which is why it is alloyed with other metals to give it more strength and durability. Because of the cheap price of silver and it's availability it is used in a large number of different jewellery products also. It is also extremely popular within the jewellery industry due to it being extremely reflective. Silver is mixed with copper to produce sterling silver which together is much harder than pure silver by itself. Silver like gold is used in currency and has been for a long time.
A white metal is mixed with gold to produce what is termed white gold and it is measured in carats the same as yellow gold. There is a downside to white gold as some people are allergic to white cold which can contain nickel and can give a person a minor skin irritation. White gold is generally given a coating of rhodium, which gives it the same shine as platinum or silver. The only problem with this is that the rhodium will wear off eventually which means you will need to recoat it at a later date or have it cleaned.
Rose gold is made up of gold and copper, which is usually used in specialized jewellery. Because of the reddish colour of copper, rose gold generally has a reddish tinge to the finished product and as such is used to make special jewellery.
Gemstones are used in many different forms of jewellery making such as rings and earrings. Depending on the gemstones which are used they can vary greatly in price depending on how rare they are. It is important when choosing a gemstone that you make sure you match it with other metals as some work very well together and others can make the gemstone look very dull and unappealing. It is also important to note that some gemstones are much lighter than others are and must be given a more protective covering as they can be more susceptible to knocks or scratches. With diamonds being the hardest gemstone it can be given a much less protective covering as scratches or knocks will not affect the stone.