A precious metal is a rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical element of high economic value, which (generally speaking) is not radioactive. The best known precious metals are gold and silver. While both have industrial uses and have been used in the past as currency, they are better known nowadays for their uses in art and jewelry. Other precious metals include the platinum group of metals: platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, osmium, and iridium, of which platinum is the most widely traded for various uses.
The demand for and price of precious metals are driven not only by their practical use, but also by their role as investments and a store of value. Historically, precious metals have commanded much higher prices than common industrial metals. Perhaps you were used to seeing sterling silver jewelry at very affordable prices, but now things are changing and the price of silver is going up, while the price of gold has skyrocketed.
So some of these precious metals are going back to being honored as “precious,” and not just “metals.” Of course, this is not something new. Originally, precious metals were considered precious due to their purity and rarity. Something to consider when you choose what you adorn yourself with. Not only is it something you just feel attracted to by its beauty, nowadays it is also an investment. Plus, the purer and rarer the metal, the purer its energy. Gold resonates with the energy of the Sun, and silver resonates with the energy of the Moon, which is probably why it is my precious metal of choice. I like its cooling, dreamy, feminine energy. It goes well with my designing style.
Precious Metal Clay (PMC) is a wonderfully versatile material that was developed in Japan in the 1990s as the result of combining binders and metal particles with the working properties of modeling clay. An organic binder holds very tiny grains of metal (gold, silver, bronze, or copper) while providing elasticity to this water-soluble material. After the water is evaporated and the metal clay is completely dry, the object modeled is fired, which burns the binder and leaves the particles of pure metal to harden with the heat.
PMC is used to create silver, copper, gold, or bronze jewelry with a different technique than that of casting metals or those used by a classic metalsmith. Metal clay is great at capturing textures, including those of natural objects like leaves or feathers, but it can also be used for more than just textures. It is a versatile material that can be handled like modeling clay to create all sorts of jewelry pieces, yet has to be finished and polished like metal once fired.
An important aspect to remember about Gold and Silver Precious Metal Clay is that is it made with pure gold and silver particles. Gold used in PMC is 24k gold and the silver used in Silver Clay is pure silver, which means it is 99.9% silver (marked .999) as opposed to sterling silver, which is 92.5% silver with copper or other metals mixed in (marked .925).
Bronze and Copper are not considered precious metals, so bronze and copper jewelry can be more affordable than jewelry created with precious metals like pure silver and gold. I like copper because of its malleability and reddish tones. Plus, it is a great conductor of energy. Of course, it is a matter of preference, and given the choice I always go for the silver first. To me, its energy, beauty, and purity doesn’t compare to other, more affordable metals. Isn’t that worth the price?
Plus, considering that all Precious Metal Clay Silver is made from recycled or reclaimed silver (from photographic film, x-ray scans, and the like), it is an environmentally friendly material that does not lose its beauty in the process. Quite the opposite! Such is the nobility and purity of silver.
