Silver Penny Mall

Jewellery Making using Sterling Silver
Findings

Sterling silver findings are the
essential components that link together
the parts of a piece of jewellery and
give you that professional finish.
Without jewellery findings it would be
very difficult to incorporate gemstones
into your work, for example, or to link
the ends of a simple chain and turn it
into a beautiful necklace. By using
silver findings, you can give your
jewellery that professional look and
increase the value of the finished
piece.

Sterling silver is quite a soft metal,
so gentle handling is required when
working with silver findings. Findings
come in every shape and size and can be
used for practically any
jewellery-making project. Silver is a
particularly good metal to work with
when using gemstones, as its ability to
catch the light adds depth to a well-cut
stone, complementing it rather than
overwhelming its natural beauty.

By using a silver finding that
incorporates a setting for a cabochon,
the depth of the stone is emphasised by
the light reflected back from the silver
behind it. Silver findings can be worked
and re-worked to create the desired
effect, as the metal is a very
forgiving medium to work in and any
mistakes can be easily rectified with a
little care.

If you are working with Sterling silver
findings, it is essential that you use
the right equipment to avoid damaging
the soft surface of the metal. Although
harder than gold, silver scratches
easily and a deep mark can be very
difficult to polish out. Many silver
findings are extremely small (such as
the universal jump ring, crimp beads and
sterling silver earring wires) and can
be awkward to handle. By using a pair of
pointed nose pliers, you can hold your
jewellery findings securely and safely
without exerting too much pressure on
the metal and damaging it.

Silver findings are used in almost every
type of jewellery  from delicate
filigree work to brash and cheerful
costume jewellery. Silver is eternally
popular and many people prefer to wear
silver jewellery for everyday use. By
incorporating silver findings into your
work you can turn a simple string of
beads into a more complex design, giving
you a unique necklace that calls
attention both to the elements within it
and to the wearer. Alternatively,
sterling silver findings can allow the
beauty of a gemstone to take precedence
or for foil beads to dominate a necklace
without the eye being distracted by
flashy findings.

Silver findings can also be helpful to
people who are allergic to nickel-plated
findings, particularly in earring wires.
Some people can only wear precious metal
findings in their skin, as other types
can cause an unpleasant allergic
reaction. Sterling silver earring
findings are not as expensive as you
would think, so it may be good practice
to use these instead of the cheaper
non-silver findings to avoid any
possible reaction.

Silver bracelets always look elegant and
are as popular now as they have ever
been. A simple band with a jewellery
finding incorporated into it to hold a
cabochon can make a clean, modern
looking watch style bracelet that
draws attention to the gemstone rather
than the band itself. The same is true
for silver rings, and ring blanks that
have a claw setting in them to hold a
gemstone make the perfect base for a
stunning ring of any size.

Sterling silver findings are an
essential part of jewellery making and
should have a special place in any
jewellery makers workbox. Theyre cheap
and easily available and compliment any
gemstone perfectly.

Sterling silver findings are the essential components that
link together the parts of a piece of jewellery and give you
that professional finish. Without jewellery findings it
would be very difficult to incorporate gemstones into your
work, for example, or to link the ends of a simple chain and
turn it into a beautiful necklace. By using silver findings,
you can give your jewellery that professional look and
increase the value of the finished piece.

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