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SILVER and GOLD
(Learn About Silver) Silver was once thought more precious than gold. It is referred to as the metal of the moon and some believe it has powers over emotions, the psychic mind, love, and healing. This is a very soft metal, so it is often mixed with an alloy like copper. Sterling silver originally was created in an area in Germany called Easterling. So that's where the word sterling came from. To be sterling sliver, the metal is made up of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Pure silver, aka Fine Silver (.999), will melt at 1761 degrees F (961 degrees C), while sterling melts at 1434 degrees F (779 degreees C) and the flow point is 1655 degrees F (902 degrees C). Coin silver melts at a slightly lower temperature than sterling because it has more copper alloy in it; usually any where for 10 to 20 percent of it is an alloy. Bright, Beautiful Gold (Folklore and Facts) Gold is believed to have the powers of healing, protection, wisdom, money, and success. When worn, it elevates your personal power. In ancient Mexico, it was linked to the powers of the Sun. In the middle ages, gold tools were used while collecting herbs to make their powers stronger. Pure gold is too soft to use for most items, especially jewelry which receives a lot of wear and tear. So, it is often combined with other metals, such as copper, to give it added strength. Pure gold is called 24kt, while most gold jewelry is in either 18kt, 14kt, or 10kt gold. If you have a gold chain that is considered 18kt gold, then this means the gold is 18 parts gold and six part of another metal. The melting point of gold ranges from 1380 degrees F to 2732 degrees F. Jewelers like working with gold because, though it is a heavy metal, it is easy to form. There also isn't much to polishing this metal because it does not oxidize. Usually a quick rub with a polishing cloth is all that is necessary. Often jewelry is also gold-filled or gold-plated. Gold-filled is a gold plating that is either soldered, brazed, or welded onto another metal. To be considered gold-filled, a plating must constitute at least 1/20th of the metal in the article. Gold-plated or overlay, also called vermeil, is most often 10kt or 14kt gold bonded onto either sterling silver or a base metal. This overlay only needs to be about 120 micro inches of gold over the metal. How To Use Wrap-Tite Settings STEP 1: 
Place the stone so the crown (the top of the stone) is face down on your work surface, and the back of the stone is face up. STEP 2:  Put the Wrap-Tite setting over the stone, settling it into place around the girdle. The girdle is the widest part and it separates the top of the stone from the bottom. STEP 3: ............................ 
Wraptite settings
Put a piece of wire into the end loop on one side of the setting, sized to fit the loop, this will help maintain the loop when setting the stone. Using chain nose or bent chain nose pliers, compress the wire at the base of the loop, wrapping the setting tighter around the stone. STEP 4:  Repeat for the other side of the setting. Your stone is now ''wrapped tite'' and ready to use in your design. |
