Mokume Gane, meaning “wood grained metal” in Japanese, is a metalsmithing technique that joins different metals together using high pressure and heat. The result is a single brick, comprised of metals that have been stacked together in a formulated sequence to produce unique color combinations. Once the Mokume brick is created, designs and patterns of the metal can be further produced. The most common methods used are twisting, stretching, pressing, and wearing down of individual layers. At that point, the patterned Mokume is usually joined with another metal, typical silver, and made into its final form.

With continued use, and as the Mokume reacts to the wearer's body chemistry (pH/acidity levels), the metals may begin to etch over time. Certain metals are softer than others, so they will wear down at different rates. The process may be slower or faster depending on the individual. The etching of Mokume Gane really shows off the pattern, creating further contrast, and almost a topographic surface. Because this changes from person to person, the piece truly becomes one of a kind, and unique to the individual wearing it.

The metals used in your jewelry were chosen together to create a unique pattern and contrast in color. This contrast is enhanced by oxidizing the metals, therefore darkening the copper (or copper based alloys.) The patina may change in reaction to the wearer’s body chemistry, ranging in color from bright copper, to dark brown, greys, and shades in between. To clean the mokume, a mild dish soap is recommended, together with a scratch resistant cloth or sponge – a toothbrush works great also. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. Fine silver, by comparison, is 99.9% pure silver, and is generally too soft for producing lasting pieces; therefore, the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give it strength while preserving the ductility and beauty of the precious metal.

Cleaning sterling silver will help to keep its bright shine, and when it is cleaned, it can be difficult to differentiate sterling silver from white gold. The best way to clean silver is to use a non-commercial grade silver polish and a soft cloth. If your piece has a brushed finish, a 3M microfine sanding pad may be used to buff the silver, while maintaining the texture. Let us know if you have any questions about specifics regarding your jewelry.

Gold-filled materials are an excellent alternative to solid gold, offering gold's characteristic warm yellow or blushing rose tones at a fraction of the cost. At the same time, gold-filled is more durable and retains more value than gold-plated pieces. Gold-filled is made by heat- and pressure-bonding a thin layer of karat gold to a brass (or other base metal) core. The value of gold-filled is greater than gold-plated because gold-filled has an actual layer of karat gold, not just a microscopic film, as is the case with gold-plated items. We use 14/20 gold-filled material, which is made with 14-karat gold, and the gold represents 1/20th (or 5%) of the total weight of the material.