Some time ago I began making breast milk jewellery. There has been a great deal of interest for this kind of jewellery item and it allowed me to use my metalsmith knowledge to make something …
Trip to Gondomar – buying an old jeweller’s bench
After studying jewellery for 4 years I felt it was time to get a proper jeweller’s bench. Unfortunately it’s not the cheapest piece of furniture, which is why I’d been delaying its purchase for so …
Tutorial – twisting wire
Twisted wire is very decorative and can be used in several different ways – wrapped around a bezel, to make decorative jump rings or swirls. Here are some examples of such use: So long as …
Oxidizing copper or silver with liver of sulfur
I’ve made a video on how to oxidize, or apply patina, to copper or silver. The chemical compound used in this video is potassium sulfide, also known as liver of sulfur. In its natural state …
Mohs Scale – hardness scale for minerals, metals and other materials
When you work with minerals you notice there’s a difference in hardness between gemstones. As a jeweller you must know which gemstones are resistance to damage, both during the creation process and afterwards, while wearing …
Annealing wire
I made a video that shows how to anneal thin copper wire. The same method can be used for silver or brass and for thicker gauge wire. Thicker wire should be kept in a tight …
Wire weaving tips – sampler and ways to hold your wires
I’ve recently returned to wire work. I love silversmith projects but I have to sit at my bench, with the drawer open over my legs, while I saw, file or polish. Sometimes I just want …
Key Pendant – crown setting
This article has moved to dalilacaria.com, my website dedicated to jewellery and metalsmith techniques.
Leverback earrings with 8 prong setting
This article has moved to dalilacaria.com, my website dedicated to jewellery and metalsmith techniques.
Wire weaving
When I first started making jewellery, my favorite technique was wire wrapping because it requires so few tools for such stunning results. Recently I’ve been refining my jewellery knowledge but I still love wire work …
Silver purification with nitric acid
This article has moved to dalilacaria.com, my website dedicated to jewellery and metalsmith techniques.
Three tone metal earrings
I had a lot of fun making my last collection of copper earrings, so I took it a step further and added brass to the mix. The ear wires are silver to avoid allergies. Aside …