Blackdog Handcrafted Jewelry

Colorado inspired artisan jewelry by Sandi Fasano
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From scraps

 

You can "Go Green" and look gorgeous doing it!

Knowing where the silver in my designs comes from is important to me. I use Silver that is 100% pre-produced to help minimize my effect on the environment and promote a healthier world. The mining of most new precious metals, including silver, can negatively impacts the environment and cultures surrounding mines.

to Wearable Art!

Throughout history Silver has been associated with purity. European folklore has long held silver to be an antidote to various illnesses and evils, such as Vampires and Werewolves.

 

A few of it's qualities are:
~Silver has the highest optical reflectivity index of any mental (higher than gold or platinum!).
~Silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any mental.
~Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of any mental.
~Silver is the whitest and brightest of all metals.

 

Pollutants in air and water cause silver to tarnish, specifically trace amounts sulfur gases in the air and hydrogen sulfide in water.

Light also speeds up the tarnish process. Store your silver jewelry in a zip-lock bag and keep it out of the sun.

Different metals and caring for them... 

Sterling Silver (SS): Sterling Silver is an alloy made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually Copper. It is strong and beautiful and when polished it has a lustrous sheen. A lovely patina, which has a soft glow with darkened areas, will develop on Sterling Silver jewelry that is worn often.  If you prefer a shiny look, use a mild abrasive cleaner or polishing cloth. Never use toothpaste to clean your sterling silver jewelry. This will result in fine scratches that can dull the surface. Store your Sterling Silver jewelry in anti-tarnish cloth bags or in plastic bags. This will also protect your jewelry from scratches.

Argentium Sterling Silver:  is sterling silver with the addition of germanium, making it tarnish resistant. Handle and care for Argentuum Sterling Silver the same as Sterling Silver.
Silver Plate (SP):  A thin layer of silver is deposited on a base metal by electrolysis.  A silver plated piece is not the same as sterling silver and will wear off over time.
Gold: Gold is a precious metal that does not oxidize or tarnish like other metals do.  Common gold alloys are madeby mixing silver, copper and other metals to produce 22K, 18K and 14K gold. K or Karat is the measure of fineness of gold. The ratio of added metals determines its hardness and karat. It is very malleable and can be melted and cast into various shapes and sizes.
White Gold: is an alloy mixture of gold, palladium and or nickel and zinc.  Because of the nickel content in the alloy, white gold is whiter and brighter than silver.  
Rose Gold:  Rose Gold is an alloy mix of gold and copper.
Gold Filled (GF):  Gold Filled is made by fusing a layer of Karat Gold to a supporting metal or alloy, which produces a bond that is permanent and durable. With reasonable care, it should last a lifetime. Clean gently with a polishing cloth or use a mild soap and warm water. Rinse completely and dry. Store your Gold Filled jewelry in a plastic or cloth jewelry bag.
Gold Plate (GP):  A thin layer of gold is applied to a base metal.  This finish will wear off over time.
Copper: Since copper naturally tends to tarnish easily, it will acquire an antiqued look. Handle and care for Copper Jewelry the same as Sterling Silver. To keep it looking bright, use a gentle copper cleaner and polishing cloth to remove tarnish. Store in an anti-tarnish or plastic bag.

Pewter: Pewter is an alloy made up of tin, lead silver, antimony and copper. Copper and antimony are added to make the pewter harder.
Platinum: Of the three precious metals, platinum is the rarest.  It is harder than gold or silver, making it very durable.  It resists oxidation or tarnish and has a whiter color than silver. 
Vermeil: Vermeil is made by coating a core of sterling silver with a thin layer of 14K gold. It has the look and feel of pure gold.  
Base Metal: Base Metal is a non-precious metal that is used as a core or frame for plating. Nickel & Brass are often used in basemetal jewelry.
Patina, Oxidized or Antiqued Finish: These finishes can be a highly desired look, achieved by the application of silver black or by normal wearing. Do Not use a silver cleaner if you want the patina because this will remove most of the blackened areas. A soft polishing cloth will keep the raised area looking bright.