More about Sterling Silver

Bali is well known for handmade sterling silver beads

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The minimum millesimal fineness is 925.

Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft for producing large functional objects, and in Sterling the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give strength whilst preserving the ductility of the silver and high precious metal content. Other metals can replace the copper, a recent sterling silver development being the use of germanium to reduce fire scale in manufacturing and to give a high resistance to tarnish. However, the germanium-containing alloy has not been widely taken up due to questions over the effectiveness of its tarnish resistance and the difficulty of working with the alloy.

The most recent sterling silver development is the production of an entirely new sterling silver alloy which has the highest resistance to tarnishing of any sterling alloy yet produced. This has been developed by Sheffield Hallam University and Carrs of Sheffield a leading silverware manufacturer. In this new alloy, known as Carrs Lustre Silver, the copper has been replaced by up to 10 other elements designed to give tarnish resistance, eliminate firescale, and have mechanical properties close to or even better than standard sterling silver.

More about Silver

Silver has been used for thousands of years for ornaments and utensils, for trade, and as the basis for many monetary systems. Its value as a precious metal was long considered second only to gold. In Ancient Egypt and Medieval Europe, it was often more valuable than gold. Associated with the moon, as well as with the sea and various lunar goddesses, the metal was referred to by alchemists by the name luna. One of the alchemical symbols for silver is a crescent moon with the open part on the left.

The metal mercury was thought of as a kind of silver, though the two elements are chemically unrelated; its Latin and English names, hydrargyrum (“watery silver”) and quicksilver, respectively, reflect this history. In heraldry, the argent, in addition to being shown as silver (this has been shown at times with real silver in official representations), can also been shown as white.

Occasionally, the word “silver” is used rather than argent; sometimes this is done across-the-board, sometimes to avoid repetition of the word “argent” in blazon. Europeans found a huge amount of silver in the New World in Zacatecas and Potosí, which triggered a period of inflation in Europe . The conquistador Pizarro was said to have resorted to having his horses shod with silver horseshoes due to the metals abundance, in contrast to the relative lack of iron in Peru . Silver, which was extremely valuable in China , became a global commodity, contributing to the rise of the Spanish Empire. The rise and fall of its value affected the world market. The Rio de la Plata was named after silver (in Spanish, Plata), and in turn lent the meaning of its name to Argentina .

Silver mining was a driving force in the settlement of western North America, with major booms for silver and associated minerals (lead, mostly) in the galena ore silver is most commonly found in. Notable “silver rushes” were in Colorado , Nevada , Cobalt, Ontario , California and the Kootenay region of British Columbia , notably in the Boundary and “Silvery Slocan”. The largest silver ore deposits in the United States were discovered at the Comstock Lode in Virginia City , Nevada , in 1859.

Designing to Mastering Process

by KBC Jewelry

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It can take anywhere from one day to a week to hand carve a wax pattern that becomes the prototype for a cast design. All of our prototypes are originally sculpted in special carving wax by Balinese artisans that have years of carving experience. In order to do this the design must be castable and we need at least one of the following per design to give our artisan:

1) A sample that can be copied to make a prototype or an exact sized sketch from all views.
2) Detailed sketches of the design from front, top and side views with dimensions in millimeters.
3) Clear pictures from at least two different views and dimensions in millimeters.

View our designers official website www.madesandiago.com for some ideas how to do this if you need custom production in medium to large quantities.

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After carving is complete, the wax prototype has a wax wire attached (known as a sprue) and is then cast to change the wax prototype into a silver prototype. See our casting process here.

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At last we have the silver prototype or “master”. The master needs to be sanded, and touched up and may need adjustment for size etc.

We need a minimum of 6 days for a normal sketched design to become a silver prototype.

Wax carving and molding cost for custom orders

by KBC Jewelry Our wax carving and molding services are only for customers who do quantity production of the carved (prototyped) design with us. Free of charge for high volume customers. $100.000,00 and up a year! The cost of wax carving and molding depend on the size and difficulty of the design. These prices are only a guideline and are accurate for normal sizes and shapes of jewelry. The charges below include making of the wax prototype, casting of the prototype and making of the rubber mold. The cost of the silver is not included and you will only be charged for this if you decide to take the silver prototype. Small $40/piece Medium $60/piece Large $100/piece Extra Large $150/piece The charges above are per component. Jewelry consisting of several different components to make one finished item are charged per component. Examples: - Linked bracelet with 3 components. The frame size is small. You will be charged 3x$40. - Ring design has 4 sizes. The frame size is small. You will be charged 4x$40.

Example design that fit on Large frame

Need your own designs produced?

KBC Jewelry do custom production for large retail stores as well as small, medium and large wholesalers who design their own jewelry. In order to do custom orders all items must be castable and we need at least one of the following per design.

1) An existing prototype that can be used to make a production mold.
2) A sample that can be copied to make a prototype.
3) Detailed sketches of your designs from front, top and side views.
4) Clear pictures from at least two different views.

No need to have your own facilities

No need to fly to Bali and see us personally. 80% of our customers have never been here. We are the right place for your production so don’t wait to get your new design ideas into actual production. Create your own ideas and sell them within weeks. Benefit from our custom order services with no increase from our regular prices. The fee you pay is only for the set up cost* for each new design. The production cost will allow the same low prices as in our wholesale online store.

* You pay wax carving and molding costs and no minimum quantity required