Jewelry is one of the most ancient means of adornment in human history. Humans have been using it with their ever-changing attires to add a charm to their personalities. The use of jewels and ornaments dates to thousands of years. For centuries, the type of materials used to make Jewelry have been evolving and are being shaped in various styles. Resultantly, the trinkets have become more versatile and appealing with time.
Around the world, Jewelry making requires eye-catching and lustrous materials. The type of material used enhances the value of Jewelry and your fashion statement as well. Some of the popular materials for making Jewelry are as follows:
1. Gold
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One of the most popular choices for making Jewelry is Gold. Pure Gold is very soft in its original form and not suitable for jewelry-making procedures. Gold is mixed with silver, zinc, and copper to create alloys which makes the ornament stern, and the structure holds its place.
The outcome leads to four different Gold shades that are yellow, white, rose, and green. The quantity of alloy determines the standards of Gold, which are 21k, 18k, 16k, and 14k. These alloys make wedding rings, necklaces, earrings, bangles, nose rings, pendants, etc. Gold Jewelry, to this day, is one of the most valuable commodities.
2. Silver
Silver is a precious metal with a bright outlook. The reflective surface of Silver makes it an ideal choice for pendants, necklaces, and rings. Silver usually costs less than Gold and has antimicrobial nature. This specific quality adds to its properties as silver kills microorganisms and prohibits their growth. Silver is an ideal choice for craftsmanship as it is soft and easy to structure with a long life span and precisely for this reason, silver chains are quite popular.
3. Platinum
Platinum is an expensive material otherwise known as silver-white metal. Platinum is a rare metal, with one very important physical property, strength. Platinum products are long-lasting and maintain their shape and color.
The heat-resistant nature of platinum makes it a popular choice for ornaments such as wedding bands. Platinum also retains its natural color and doesn’t faint. Primarily the craftsman uses it for setting stones as the base metal secures, complements, and protects the stone Jewelry.
4. Pearls
Pearl is one of the most luminous gemstones. The soft tissues of oysters undergo a long process to make a pearl. Through a long and tedious process, pearls are then extracted from the sea. The radiant surface makes it a popular choice for Jewelry. Pearls have been in style for ages.
Pearls require little effort to be converted into Jewelry because of their natural shape and beauty. Pearls are used for making elegant necklaces and are an excellent pick for formal attire. They are available in cream, yellow and white.
5. Shells
Shells are a trendy choice for Jewelry making. Before the discovery of metals, Shells were very increasingly used for jewels as they were readily available. They are incredibly delicate and require careful handling. They are pretty simple to manipulate and shape. Shells can be polished in different shades too and tied with string for making bracelets and necklaces. Even the broken shells can be used and crafted into various shapes for creating Jewelry.
6. Manjoos
Manjoos is another very common material, used to make different types of Jewelry. Because of its characteristic color, manjoos looks like real gold and one can hardly distinguish between a manjoos set and a real gold set. However, if the shimmer fades away from your manjoos set, you can also get it polished. The main advantage of such fake trinkets is that they can be worn with different outfits, just by changing different shades of pearls that complement your attire.
7. Stones
Stones are another popular choice for making Jewelry. Popular stones include Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Amethyst, Jasper, Jade, Opal, Zircon, Quartz, and Diamond. Stones with their colorful and appealing composition are used to make family heirlooms such as necklaces and rings.
People hold superstitious beliefs regarding stones and use them as their lucky charms, making them a popular choice and an essential choice for designing Jewelry.
8. Glass
Glass is one of the most common raw materials. Glass is made by heating sand at high temperatures until it turns into liquid. The craftsman can give different shapes to liquid. The glass can keep its original transparent form or be tinted with different colors.
The jewelry can also be engraved to make symbolic ornaments. Glass is cheap, available, and easy to manipulate. This makes it a popular choice for crafting ornaments and jewels.
9. Wood
Wood is another Jewelry making material. Wood is available in ample amounts everywhere. The use of wood has become popular since the advent of eco-friendly initiatives, increasing its demand.
Old wooden products are recycled to fashion new and trendy Jewelry such as beads, bangles, and lockets. Wood is carved into various shapes and inscribed with names and initials. Wooden Jewelry is economical, lightweight, and easy to carry. Wood is re-useable too. Paint in different hues can be applied on all types of wood used in jewelry and then polished to obtain quality jewelry that is manageable and trendy.
10. Aluminium
Some artisan and costume Jewelry pieces contain aluminium. It is either used as a whole or in combination with different metals. There are several reasons as to why aluminum is becoming a priority of jewelers nowadays. They are listed below.
- Aluminium is silver-colored and has an incredibly beautiful sheen. With anodizing technology, it can affectively be colored in several pretty and bright shades.
- Because of its stability, aluminium does not corrode or tarnish, when exposed to daily activities. You can also wear it in water.
- Aluminium is an extremely light-weight material, which makes it perfect for large items like cuff bracelets.
11. Copper
Copper is an orange-red metal that has multiple alloys. Copper alloys such as bronze and brass are used frequently to make Jewelry. The rigid wire copper is used to make heavy ornaments. This specific metal is easy to bend and can be given any shape. After that, the copper product is heated at a high temperature until it solidifies.
Copper is a cost-friendly option for making Jewelry and is available everywhere. The natural hue of the metal is what makes it an attractive alternative to fashion traditional ornaments and necklaces.
Copper remains versatile because of its moldable nature. The jewelry makers engrave copper with signs and imprinted different names. Copper Jewelry is very durable and remains unaffected for an extended period.
12. Titanium
Titanium is one of the strongest materials used to put together Jewelry and embellishments. Titanium is a wise choice when it comes to Jewelry. The natural color of titanium is cool gray, which changes into purple, blue, and black. The titanium product, through the process of anodizing, acquires different tones.
This creates a wide range of color options in Titanium Jewelry. Titanium is very lightweight, making it a popular choice for wedding bands, earrings, and bracelets. Pure titanium Jewelry is hypoallergenic and does not cause any allergies or irritation, which adds to its list of physical properties.
13. Brass
Because of its attractive gold color, Brass is one of the most common choices for costume Jewelry. It also offers a nice and affordable alternative to costly and precious metals. Brass is made from a combination of zinc and copper, and its properties vary depending upon the used amount of these two metals. You might consider switching to Jewelry sets made of brass, mainly because,
- Brass is an ideal material for casting, i.e. creating Jewelry from molds. Many costume pieces are created this way.
- It is a very strong material and the costume Jewelry products made with brass are incredibly durable.
- Brass is extremely affordable, since it does not contain costly/precious metals.
- In general, brass won’t go bad or corrode with regular use. However, depending upon the content of copper used in a combination, brass may turn green over a long period of time. Unlacquered brass may require regular polishing, from time to time, but many Jewelry manufacturers apply a clear lacquer to avoid this problem in future.
14. Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel is a popular Jewelry-making apparatus. This particular steel is composed of a portion of chromium and Iron to create a third metal. The outcome is a strong product that does not rust and has a long shelf life, which makes it suitable for Jewelry products. The Steel has a shiny grey finish that gives it an attractive outlook. And makes the Jewelry lustrous.
Stainless Steel is used for making chains, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Jewelry makers consider stainless steel as a great option for people living in humid areas as it does not change its shape or color. Dermatologists suggest it as a great alternate for people with allergies.
15. Clay
Clay is one of the unique materials for making Jewelry. Clay is put inside a mold to make multiple jewels of the same shape. Clay can also be manipulated into different forms by hand to give it a personal touch. Clay does not get any scratches and is a great replacement for those who have allergies.
These clay jewels are lightweight. Clay is excellent for crafting earrings, necklaces, and bracelets in multiple colors and designs. Macramé crafting is often showed off alongside clay jewelry. It is maintained by polishing with a piece of damp cloth.
16. Palladium
Palladium is another material that is used to make different Jewelry items.
- Palladium is durable, which is why jewelers prefer it for frequently-worn Jewelry items, such as rings.
- It is more economical that platinum or gold.
- As compared to platinum, palladium is light in weight and can be used for substantial pieces.
Go With the Trend- Get Smart with the Jewelry Shopping
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The market for Jewelry-making materials is expanding every day with the increase in demand. Jewelry and trinkets, which used to be a luxury, have become pretty common. All types of materials, even plastic is now used to create ornaments with trendy designs with the help of limited resources.
Jewelry products are found in every market as they have become essential in making a statement. The desire for jewelry continues to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing trend of styles and fashion. So, don’t break your bank and get smart with the Jewelry shopping, i.e. by opting for some cheaper and nicer gold/silver alternatives!