Jewelry alloys are more common than many of us think, and surprisingly most of the jewelry we wear is an example of it.
This is because some pure metals like gold and silver are too brittle in their elemental state, leading to them being scratched and dented or tarnished more easily. So, to increase its hardness, improve the durability of use or create a different appearance, two or more metals are mixed, which is known as an alloy. Therefore, having many options when it comes to metals available in jewelry is due to alloys.
If you are a jewelry lover like us, join us in discovering below some interesting facts about jewelry alloys that you may not yet know.
What are the most common materials used in jewelry alloys?
Alloying elements are the materials that are added to the base metal and that when combined add specific chemical or mechanical properties. The following are the most frequently added items:
- Nickel: adds toughness.
- Copper: makes metals precipitation harden and increases corrosion resistance.
- Manganese: improves strength and heat resistance.
- Silicon: a non-metallic alloying element that increases strength and lowers the melting temperature.
- Chrome: increases corrosion resistance, hardness and strength.
What are the most common jewelry alloys?
expensive jewelry alloys
Now that we’ve seen what alloys are in general and how they’re applied in jewelry, let’s explore some of the more expensive jewelry alloys you’ll find.
1. Alloy gold – 10K, 14K 18K are all alloys
Pure gold is too soft and therefore hardly ever used in jewelry making. Still, gold is preferred because it can be molded into any shape. When alloyed with other metals, it helps with malleability and strength.
That means it can retain its shape, whatever way it’s made, and be durable. Let’s look at the various gold alloys on the market based on what they have been alloyed with. Carat refers to the purity of the gold or the amount of gold present in the alloy.
18-karat gold means that it is 75 percent gold, with the rest being other metals to form the alloy. Thus, yellow gold comprises 75 percent gold and the remaining percentage is made from zinc and/or cobalt, copper, and silver. Globally, this is the most widely used alloy as it is accessible.
Other gold alloys
In the case of white gold, zinc and copper are also present, and palladium and nickel are added to form the final product. What you will notice about white gold is that once the item is made, it receives a rhodium plating. This is because white gold tends to deteriorate with prolonged use when left as is. After a long time, it loses its silver-gray color and the intensity of yellow gold appears.
The other type of white gold is 18-karat white gold palladium, which is a combination of gold and 25 percent palladium. It is more expensive but quite durable. Lastly, there is rose gold and green gold, which have copper and silver respectively combined with gold to form the alloy.
To make jewelry with lower carats, the same alloys that we have discussed above are used. That means the same goes for 14k and 10k gold.
The only difference is the amount or purity of the gold. In the case of 14k gold, it means that the entire piece is made of 58.5 percent gold. Starting from 10k gold, the amount of gold is 41.7 percent, with the rest being part of the various metals that we have mentioned. Therefore, if you want more gold in your jewelry, then you should go for a higher karat gold measure.
2.Silver alloy
The silver used to make authentic silver pieces is also an alloy. Like gold, silver is too soft and therefore not useful in this industry.
The 925 stamp you see means the item contains 92.5 percent silver. The remaining 7.5 percent is copper, which, when combined, makes it an alloy.
The amount of silver varies; Mexican silver is 95 percent silver, while British silver is 95.84 percent silver. The remaining percentage is copper.
3. Platinum Alloys
There are four types of platinum alloys that are used in jewelry.
Pt950/Ir means it has 950 parts platinum and 50 parts iridium, and Pt950/Ru also has similar parts platinum, all 50 parts being ruthenium.
Pt900/Ir has 900 parts platinum and 100 parts iridium and Pt950/Co has 950 parts platinum with cobalt yielding 50 parts.
Cheap Jewelry Alloys
1. zinc alloy
Pure zinc is a shiny bluish-white metal. The most common zinc alloy is brass, which is made from the combination of zinc and copper.
In the world of jewelry, brass is among the most used materials. It is known for its low cost, versatility, and high corrosion resistance.
2. Stainless steel
Stainless steel is an iron-based alloy. It has a minimum of 11 percent chromium; that’s the metal added to keep the iron from rusting.
It also benefits the iron, as it develops heat resistant properties. There are several types of stainless steel, but in jewelry, the most common types are 304, 316, 316L, and 316F. 304 stainless steel is 18-20 percent chromium and 8-10.5 percent nickel.
For the hypoallergenic type, we have 316, which has two to three percent molybdenum, which also improves corrosion resistance.
3. Tungsten Carbide
This inorganic compound is part of the carbon family. It is dense and resembles metal, being light gray in color with a slight bluish tint.
Tungsten itself is a chemical element on the periodic table and is known to have the highest melting point of any metal.
Carbide is produced when powdered tungsten is combined with carbon black in hydrogen. The only thing that competes with tungsten carbide is a diamond. This alloy is more laborious than titanium.