base metals

[Polly]

Hi Marina,

Pure nickel silver isn't used very often for handcrafted jewelry, because it is a very hard metal (difficult to bend).

We stock a solid nickel jump ring, designed for making chain mail (37-019-0). We also recommend it for attaching items to key rings, because it is so durable and hard to bend.  OOPS, 37-019-0 is solid "Nickel SILVER" - an alloy of nickel and copper. It is NOT solid nickel.

Our nickel silver wire (also sometimes called German silver) is made softer with the addition of copper and zinc (it is an alloy of 65% copper, 18% nickel, and 17% zinc)... and even then, it is still much stiffer than sterling silver wire.

We also stock a small number of nickel (or nickel-alloy) findings, mostly for soldering American Indian style jewelry (belt buckle blanks, lighter covers, money clips).

Most jump rings, head pins, eye pins, and stamped charms are made of brass, then plated.
Most cast charms are alloys of tin and other white metals.

Try this page of our web site for more metals information, including some nickel-free information:
http://www.rings-things.com/METALS.HTM

This is a rather interesting page with information about the uses of nickel:
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/80th/nickel.html

Here is a great page with information about a variety of metals and their uses in jewelry.
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/metal_safety.htm

About.com has some interesting chemistry-related links … I've listed some of the most relevant descriptions below. Use this link to get to the page that has the articles below:
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/jewelrychemistry/

The Metals
Learn about the group chemistry of metals, including their common properties and locations on the Periodic Table.
Why is Stainless Steel Stainless?
Learn about the chemistry of stainless steel. This article also includes descriptions of the different types of stainless steels, comments on passivation, and numerous links to sites offering related information.
Copper Page
Publication from the copper and brass industry.
Metals Designations and Equivalents
From Granta Design Limited, contains tables of equivalent national and international designation systems for Ferrous Metals, Aluminium Alloys, Magnesium Alloys, Copper Alloys, Nickel Alloys, and Titanium Alloys.
Metals
This is a comprehensive About.com website devoted to... you guessed it! Metals!
Short History of Metals and Metallurgy
Introduction to some metallic elements and their properties. From Alan W. Cramb, Carnegie Mellon University.

[Russ Nobbs]

OOPS!  We just realized that Polly's first post in this thread said 37-019-0 is solid nickel - it's actually made from the alloy "nickel silver" - a white alloy of copper and nickel.  Sorry for any confusion. Even the heading on page 26 is misleading although the fine print correctly calls it nickel silver.

Most costume jewelry "nickel" findings are just nickel color, that is, they are stamped from steel, copper clad steel or brass and plated with nickel or white imitation rhodium. Many yellow or gold plated basemetal items are first plated with nickel and finally plated with a gold material.  Euro standard nickel free items do not hve the nickel plating.

[marina]

hey

im researching base metals and ive just started with nickel. firstly, is pure nickel ever used when making chains, jewellery finding etc?? or are its alloys, such as nickel silver, used to make them??

on its alloys...what are the main alloys of nickel used in costume jewellery and used to make findings etc.

any help would be great

marina

[Polly]

Hi Marina,

I realize I didn't exactly answer your question about "costume jewelry".  

A lot of costume jewelry is manufactured in Asia, at large manufacturing plants.  They each have their own proprietary methods which they aren't likely to post in public.  In addition, costume jewelry sales are generally based on price and trendiness, rather than how they are made or anything special about what they're made of.

So, instead you can find information in catalogs (and on the Web) about the methods and materials used in fine jewelry and other hand-crafted jewelry ... and so that's why I'm giving you that kind of information (or links to it) rather than exactly what you asked for.