Silver Penny Mall

Jewellery Making Applications of Silver
Findings

No jewellery workbox is complete without
a selection of silver findings.
Essential to any form of jewellery
making, silver findings are cheap,
plentiful and have a huge range of
applications in every aspect of the
craft. Used in everything from earrings
to broaches, bracelets, necklaces and
rings, silver findings are a cheap
alternative to gold, allowing everyone
to explore the fascinating world of
creating their own jewellery.

Silver findings also make it possible to
incorporate other aspects into your
designs such as the inclusion of
precious and semi-precious gemstones.
Jewellery making suppliers have
catalogues full of silver findings
specifically designed to take stones,
ranging from pre-cut cabochons to
unique, one-off designs that can be
adapted to suit a specific stone. The
reflection from the silver finding gives
the stone added depth and warmth,
particularly when working with more
translucent stones such as opal or the
ever-popular amber.

Silver findings also have an added
advantage in that they can be worked and
re-worked to create a specific effect.
If the jeweller is unhappy with the
final result, the stone can be removed
easily and the silver finding adjusted
to give a better fit or finish. Silver
is harder than gold but does tend to
scratch easily so it is essential that
you use the correct equipment when
working with silver findings to ensure
that the surface of the metal is not
damaged. Deep marks can be very
difficult to polish out and may detract
from the beauty of the final piece,
especially if they are on an exposed
surface.

For those who may be allergic to nickel
coated findings, silver and in
particular Sterling silver findings are
a useful alternative as they rarely
cause any form of allergic reaction with
the skin. It does depend on the copper
content of the finding, which if high
can turn the skin a green colour, but by
selecting good quality findings from a
reputable supplier this problem can be
easily avoided. Silver findings used in
earrings are relatively cheap and easy
to use, so it is worth the extra small
expense in selecting these over nickel
plated findings to ensure that your
jewellery can be worn by everyone.

The tiniest finding in anyones workbox
is also the most useful  the humble
jump ring. This circular ring, which is
split to allow it to be linked to other
findings, is used in almost every type
of jewellery making, particularly in the
manufacture of necklaces and bracelets.
Its most usual application is to fix
clasps to the ends of strings of beads
or chains and means that bracelet and
necklace lengths can be adjusted to
various sizes. It is always advisable to
silver solder the jump ring once it is
in place to avoid it catching on a piece
of clothing, for example, and opening up
allowing the necklace or bracelet to
separate.

Silver findings are readily available
from all good jewellery making suppliers
and a quick scan on the Internet will
give you plenty to choose from in your
area. However, if youre looking for
more unusual findings, dont be afraid
to hunt further afield to add a bit of
adventurous flare to your designs.

No jewellery workbox is complete without a selection of
silver findings. Essential to any form of jewellery making,
silver findings are cheap, plentiful and have a huge range
of applications in every aspect of the craft. Used in
everything from earrings to broaches, bracelets, necklaces
and rings, silver findings are a cheap alternative to gold,
allowing everyone to explore the fascinating world of
creating their own jewellery.

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