For many years, sterling silver has been the go-to material for creating delicate jewelry pieces, primarily due to its abundance in nature and the ability to work with it. However, the recent emergence of non-ferrous metals, such as brass and bronze, has allowed for alternative material to be featured more prominently, both in large scale projects and in consumer level products. One such material is perle en pierre naturelle pour bracelet. Its organic hues and earthy tones can be used to create unique and custom designs that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to produce using traditional methods.

The Benefits Of Natural Stone

While there are numerous benefits associated with using natural stone in jewelry designs, it is important to keep in mind the limitations that this material imposes on the craftspeople who work with it. The first and most significant is that it is not as malleable as other non-ferrous metals, such as brass and bronze. This factor alone can make working with this material more difficult, as designers must incorporate joints, pivots, and even springs into their creations. Without these elements, traditional pieces made of natural stone would be rather rigid and unable to provide the same level of fit and finish as a similar product made of other metals.

The problem with incorporating joints, pivots, and springs into a product made of natural stone is that these elements can become weak points that are highly susceptible to breakage and damage. This is largely due to the fact that natural stone is made up of small, brittle bits of mineral that are fused together. The small size of these bits makes them inherently weak and unable to provide the same degree of structural integrity as larger pieces of the same material. This is why most natural stone jewelry is worn on the same arm for the entire length of the day and why so many designs feature some sort of clasp or closure, as these elements serve to add strength and stability to the product. This, in turn, makes these pieces more prone to damage than others that are unclasped or open-ended.

The Downsides Of Natural Stone

As exciting as it is to see alternative material featured more prominently in jewelry designs, this does not mean that the material itself is without its downsides. perles en pierre naturelle is that most natural stones are quite porous, and this means that they are highly susceptible to becoming dull and dirty rather quickly. This is especially true if the product is constructed of small pieces that are worn frequently or if it is handled or worn in the rain or sea water. For this reason, many natural stone jewelry pieces are prone to rapid chipping and scratching as well as discoloration from ultraviolet light and oil spills. This is why most designers and manufacturers of natural stone products use protective coatings or claddings on their pieces to guard against these factors.

How To Best Work With It

Since most natural stones are not naturally lustrous and do not possess the same level of durability as other non-ferrous metals, designers must take great care in their use of this material. This means using fewer stones in larger pieces, as there is limited refractory force in smaller bites. Additionally, since it is not as strong as other materials, it tends to chip, scratch, and flake off easily. For all of these reasons, it is important for designers to keep the overall design of the piece in mind, as this will affect the material's ability to withstand abrasion.

While this article has emphasized the unique properties of natural stone, the emergence of this material as a viable option for designers has opened up new frontiers for jewelry making. Wherever there is a will, there is a way, and the increasing availability of this unusual, yet extremely versatile, material shows that there is certainly a place for it in today's jewelry world.