Ivory

Ivory refers to material from not only elephant tusks, but also the teeth of whales, mammoths, boars, and other mammals. Elephant ivory is now on the endangered species list and cannot be used for new jewelry.

Platinum

Platinum was not used for jewelry in Europe and America until the 1850s and it did not become popular until the early twentieth century. Because it has a higher value than gold, it is used only for very fine jewelry. Most platinum jewelry is 950 parts per thousand pure platinum and marked 950 and Platinum, […]

Filigree

Silver filigree work has been known since ancient Egypt. Silver filigree wire was made by drawing a silver wire through successively smaller holes until a very thin wire was formed. The wire was coiled, bent, and soldered into designs with small silver balls. Gold filigree was made with gold wire. The same technique is used […]

Doublet

To create a larger or more beautiful stone, a gem may be glued to a less valuable mineral to form a doublet. A colorless piece of beryl could be glued on top of green glass to make an emerald-like doublet of little value. A third layer may be added to make a triplet. When carefully […]