Frequently Asked Questions

Gold Filled Wire

Gold filled wire is made by forming a tube of gold and filling the tube with a base metal, usually jeweler's brass. The gold content is 5% or 1/20 of the total wire.

I use Gold Filled Wire in most of the jewelry I make for several reasons:

  • It is much more affordable than solid gold but retains the beauty and durability.
  • It contains approximately 100 times more gold than in gold plate.
  • It is considered a "life time" metal for jewelry in that it is unlikely to wear and show the base metal in a person's lifetime.
  • The gold content is approximately 5% of the total material used to make the wire.
  • I will never substitute gold plate material for gold filled or 14kt gold. I consider gold plate junk.

That said, I can and will takes orders for full 14kt gold jewelry. I would require full payment up-front and would be unlikely to accept returns except under extreme circumstances.

Sterling Silver Wire

Silver with a fineness of 925 parts per 1000 (92.5%) silver and 75 parts per thousand (7.5%) copper, which increases the silver's hardness. Sterling is quite malleable and ductile. Pure silver is generally too soft for intricate wire work.

Birthstones
I use the following chart for birthstones in all birthstone jewelry. Where costs allow I use authentic gemstones, either faceted or beads, otherwise they are laboratory made as indicated. On request, I can get authentic gemstones and beads in most cases but the cost increase is usually significant and the quality is often less.
Month
Stone
Type
 Example

January
Garnet
Laboratory made
February
Amethyst
Laboratory made
March
Aquamarine
Laboratory made
April
White Spinel
Laboratory made
May
Emerald
Laboratory made
June
Alexandrite
Laboratory made
July
Ruby
Laboratory made
August
Peridot
Laboratory made
September
Blue Spinel
Laboratory made
October
Rose Sapphire
Laboratory made
November
Golden Topaz
Laboratory made
December
Blue Zircon
Laboratory made
Please ask if you're interested in stones from other birthstone charts. I can probably get what you want.
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