Getting the Perfect Fit
To get the correct size of your wrist or finger, please follow the instructions below:
- Take a piece of sewing thread and wrap it around your wrist or finger to the desired fit of the
jewelry piece.
- Cut the thread where the end meets (to the size needed).
- Measure that piece of thread against a ruler and give me (in Special Instructions) the length of the
thread.
This is what the Inner Diameter of a jewelry piece or your wrist size is. This is NOT the length of the chain or piece needed.
Example: The length of a bracelet may be 7-1/2", but the inner diameter will be 6-3/4". It all depends on how thick the piece is.
If you have any questions about finding your correct size, please feel free to contact me at chrisbettini@ikowdesigns.com.
Argentium Silver is my metal of choice. It is a modern sterling silver alloy which modifies the traditional alloy (92.5% silver + 7.5% copper) by replacing some of the copper with the metalloid germanium. As it retains the same 92.5% silver content, it is still sterling silver, just as the traditional alloy. Germanium was discovered to impart the following properties to sterling silver:
- Firescale elimination
- High tarnish resistance
- Precipitation hardening and simple heat-hardening properties
- Increased ductility
- Increased thermal and electrical resistance (making alloys suitable for welding and laser forming)
- Environmental advantages (associated with not having to remove or plate over firescale)
Many of these properties significantly affect the traditional methods of working silver. For instance the absence of firescale eliminates tedious and time-consuming steps required by the silver worker using traditional sterling silver. It also eliminates the need for plating the final product which is often done on manufactured items because of the problems introduced by firescale. Tarnish resistance is of significant importance to both silver workers and the wearer of silver jewelry.
14K Gold Filled is composed of a solid layer of gold bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal such as brass. Some high quality gold-filled pieces have the look, luster, and beauty of 14 Karat (58%) gold. By definition, the minimum layer of karat gold in an item stamped GF must equal at least 1/20 the weight of the total item. 1/20 12kt GF is the most common stamp you will find on gold-filled jewelry. 10kt and 14kt are also common karatages. Gold filled items, even with daily wear, can last five to 30 years but will eventually wear through. The gold layer on gold-plated jewelry varies greatly depending on manufacturer, so there is no single, simple comparison. Gold-filled items are 50 to 100,000 times thicker than regular gold plating, and 17 to 25,000 times thicker than heavy gold electroplate (sometimes stamped HGE or HGP -- usually found on flashy cubic zirconia "cocktail rings").
Stainless Steel is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10% chromium content by mass. Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as ordinary steel (it stains less), but it is not stain-proof. It is also called corrosion-resistant steel or CRES when the alloy type and grade are not detailed. There are different grades and surface finishes of stainless steel to suit the environment to which the material will be subjected in its lifetime.
Niobium and some niobium alloys are used in medical devices such as pacemakers, because they are physiologically inert (and thus hypoallergenic). Along with titanium, tantalum, and aluminium, niobium can also be electrically heated and anodized, resulting in a wide array of colors using a process known as reactive metal anodizing which is useful in making jewelry. The fact that niobium is hypoallergenic also benefits the use in jewelry.
All definitions are from Wikipedia
