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Metals
Mokume
Gane: A laminate technique composed of fused sheets
of varrying alloys that are hammered, carve, and/or filed
to expose a cross section, creating unique patterns. This
technique is similar to damascene steel.
Fine
Silver: 99.9% pure silver
Sterling
Silver: an alloy of 92.5% fine silver, and 7.5% copper
24k
Gold = 99.9% pure gold
22K
Gold = 90% gold, 10% silver and/or copper
18K
Gold = 75% gold, 25% silver, copper, and/or zinc
White
gold, rose gold, green gold, or other colors of gold
are composed of 24K gold and other metals, which change the
color of the gold from yellow. Because enough enough copper,
palladium, or nickle is needed to achieve a color change,
these alloys are always 18K or lower.
Bi-Metal:
Sheet gold fused to sheet sterling or fine silver. Bi-metal
is a formable sheet of metal like any other and nearly as
durable as solid sheet gold. It is NOT gold filled, plated,
vermeil, kum boo, or gilding. It is an actual sheet of gold
backed by a sheet of silver for strength. My use of bi-metal
allows me to create larger works that would not only be excessively
heavy in gold, their cost would be prohibitive. Pieces using
bi-metal are stamped according to karat (18K or 24K) and also
stamped sterling and/or fine silver.
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