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14/20 Rolled Gold Wire
Rolled-Gold Wire, sometimes called gold-filled, is appropriate for creating all types of jewelry. For most people, it will last their entire lifetime without showing signs of wear. It is made by heat and pressure, bonding a thin layer of gold to a base metal core, usually jeweler's brass but on occasion silver. The gold content is 5% or 1/20 of the total wire. Gold-filled wire for jewelry of fine quality is an affordable, durable choice at a fraction of the cost of solid karat gold. It is generally available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and tempers. It wears like 14 kt gold and only people with extreme sensitivity generally have any allergic reactions to the metal because the outer layer is 14 kt gold.
A few facts about 14K rolled gold wire (gold-filled)
*** 14/20 rolled gold wire creates high fashion jewelry at a fraction of the cost of solid gold and is accepted extremely well because of the fascination with gold.
*** There is 100 times more gold in 14 kt rolled gold than in gold plate.
*** A 14/20 rolled gold creation is usually considered a lifetime piece of jewelry.
*** 14/20 rolled gold is usually used for pendants, pins, collars, bracelets and small rings.
*** Gold filled wire is available in 10 kt, 12 kt, and 14 kt which is the best quality and the most durable. In the symbol 14/20, the 14 stands for the karat of gold used, and the 20 means 20% of the wire is 14 kt gold.
*** Basically, gold-filled wire is a good metal for a good price and should never be represented as solid gold.
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Sterling Silver Wire
Silver is a natural occuring metal that is too soft in its pure form for use in jewelry. To make it adequatly hard for jewelry making another metal is added.
Sterling silver is a metal alloy containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper which increases the silver's hardness. Sterling silver is quite malleable and ductile. (Meaning to draw into wire or hammer into thin sheets.)
Tarnish on sterling silver is formed primarily by the copper reacting to chemicals in the atmosphere forming a dark almost black color.Wearing sterling silver jewelry is one of the best measures to help prevent tarnish. Allowing the sterling silver to come into contact with chlorinated water and household chemicals such as amonia and bleach should be avoided. Cared for properly, sterling silver can be worn often with a minimum of cleaning required.
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