Metal clay is a suspension of tiny particles of metal in a clay binder, which can be used to make jewellery, beads and small findings The beauty of metal clay is that it can be manipulated in the same way as any modelling clay, but once fired the binding agents are burnt off leaving the metal form intact

Sterling silver findings are the essential components that link together the parts of a piece of jewellery and give you that professional finish Without jewellery findings it would be very difficult to incorporate gemstones into your work, for example, or to link the ends of a simple chain and turn it into a beautiful necklace

Soldering is the process of fusing or joining two or more metal items together using a flux and solder and incorporating heat as the catalyst But before you can begin soldering, there are several things to be considered

The Earth has produced a veritable rainbow of precious and semi-precious gemstones and through the ages mankind has taken these beautiful stones and incorporated them into jewellery making Certain stones hold particular significance for many cultures and some are prized above others for their rarity or beauty

Jewellery findings are the seemingly insignificant but vitally important components of any type of jewellery making Without crimp beads, for example, it would be difficult to get a professional looking finish to a necklace or bracelet clasp

The Earth yields up a rich variety of gemstones that can be used in jewellery making, with every hue and colour imaginable available to incorporate into stunning pieces that will compliment any outfit The choice of which gemstone to include in a piece is purely down to the individual and is subject to all kinds of influences including birthdate, fashion or even superstition

Like any other craft, jewellery making has a list of essential tools that will make your hobby much more enjoyable and your results much more professional For the beginner it can be confusing as the huge selection of tools available range from the basic to the specialist

In the 1990’s scientists in Japan developed a combination of binders and fine metal particles to create a material with the malleable properties of modelling clay, known as Precious Metal Clay (PMC) This product is now available to the jewellery making industry and to hobbyists as well

Precious Metal Clay (PMC) made its first appearance in the 1990’s and has become popular in jewellery making The clay is a combination of binders and tiny particles of precious metal suspended in the clay

Beads are probably one of man’s oldest forms of decoration and jewellery, and are still as popular today as they have ever been With the advent of modern jewellery making techniques, the range of beads available to the home jeweller is vast, ranging from simple bone or wooden beads through to precious metal beads made of gold and silver