Making Your Own Silver Jewelry

I have always wanted to make jewelry, silver bangles in particular.  But first I have to learn about the different types of silver that I can use for my jewelry project and the method I have to use in order to make it.

First of all I wanted to know what a bangle bracelet is.  I learned that it is a bracelet in solid form and is made from gold, silver or other metals.  It is most common in India and is worn by women to denote their marital status.  Some bangles are engraved and made with other metals and stones. These engraved bangles are very popular today.

There are many types of silver that we can use and make into bangle bracelets.  The best is sterling silver which is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, it is also hypoallergenic but can lose its luster if not cared for properly.  Then there is the silver plated or silver-electroplated which is not real silver but a costume jewelry.  Another type of costume jewelry is alpaca silver. Both can cause skin irritation especially to those who have sensitive skin.

Then there is silver clay, which is made from true silver particles which are extremely fine and mixed with organic binders and water.  It is easy to use when you are still starting to learn how to make silver jewelry.  It is easy to shape and you can use slip or paste to glue pieces together and you can even put the clay in a syringe to produce different designs and add other materials before firing it.

In firing, a gas hob, kiln or small kitchen torch can be used depending on your available materials.  You can then polish or burnish the product to make it shine and then you already have a silver jewelry which you made yourself.

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