I have been wanting to make this necklace for so long and only now i have the time to do it! Therefore, I would like to share with you the process of making this classic piece.
I was torn at first about choosing the material to use. After much thought, a classic piece like this (that i will be putting in so much time and effort), the first piece should be made out of precious metal. Probably the second piece i will make it in bare copper.
This necklace is made out of
a mixture of Argentium Silver 930 parts and Sterling Silver 925 parts.
WHAT IS ARGENTIUM SILVER 930?
Argentium® Silver is a patented and trademarked alloy
that is at least 92.5% pure silver, just like traditional sterling.
What makes it different from traditional sterling silver is that
a small amount of germanium replaces some of the copper
that is usually the other 7.5% of sterling silver. Peter Johns,
a professor of silversmithing at Middlesex University in
England, invented Argentium® Silver in 1996.
It is highly tarnish-resistant.
Wires were meticulously measured and cut and each component weaved with love.
It took me about 2 nights of 4-5 hours each for making and construction and another third night for oxidizing and polishing (two steps). The first polish is to remove some of the blackened layer with steel wool to reveal a beautiful shade of gray. The second polish is the final tumbling process.
For most of the silver pieces i made, the process is the same. With the fast rising prices of precious metals, i wud say at least silver is still affordable and feel less intimidating to wear with regards to safety and fear of theft.
so how much will something like this cost?
Retail, intricate silver pieces like this can cost up to RM2000. Made it in Gold it will cost 10 times more.
Then again, it isnt the same piece.
This is is one unique piece.
The price for this necklace is RM950
but
the whole joyful experience of crafting this classic piece is priceless.
Yours Truly
:)
M
The finished piece after oxidization before polishing.
Component on the left is after first polishing process using steel wool.
The component on the right is after oxidization and before first polish.
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