Alternative Jewelry Metals...

I just received the October 2008 issue of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine and the theme for this issue is "Alternative Jewelry Metals".

There are several designs featured using palladium. Palladium (Pd) is a member of the platinum group. It is 95% pure, naturally white, hard or harder than platinum and it's hypoallergenic!

It is also a bargain if you want to work with a "white precious metal"....today platinum is over $1700/oz but palladium is just over $380/oz!!

Stainless steel was another featured metal. Stainless steel is very affordable and can be found easily by making a trip to an industrial surplus supply store to find an abundance of components. This metal is great for the designer and the customer because it doesn't rust /tarnish!

One of my favorite Etsy sellers, Timothy Adam Designs, creates the most amazing jewelry from stainless steel.

Scroll down to see this amazing Ruby Ball ring by Abrasha (18k gold, stainless steel and synthetic ruby ball). Or how about this stunning stainless steel necklace by Unzicker Design.

Of course, there are plenty of "green" designers who are using recycled alternative metals like Boris Bally who has made De-Sign brooches using recycled aluminum traffic signs!

As always, I was inspired by other artists and had a chance to connect whilst flipping through the pages of the magazine!

Reversible Blue Banded Agate Sterling Pendant

The May 2008 Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine had an amazing Kentucky agate that I was just drooling over (see current cover to the right)....when I quickly flipped the page to read the artist's design notes, I had a "lightbulb" moment.


John Leeds demonstrated how you can use jump rings tacked to a bezel for an open back. While he used "half" jump rings and an actual bezel, I was inspired to use the jump ring idea. I created large jump rings from round sterling wire and soldered them together using the outer edges of the slice as my guide.

I didn't use a bezel but created "prong settings" with round sterling silver wire so that my slice can be worn either way....yep, it is reversible.

With the "prongs" you see the banding more and the open back lets light through this fairly thin slice (4mm).

The bail was created from fine silver bezel wire that was wrapped around a tear shaped mandrel several times.

I just love the way it turned out!