studioUBB

Solid metals last a very long time. It is best to avoid chemicals/moisture and store clean/dry but if exposed patina/tarnish is normal.

How do I clean, brighten or restore my metals?

Your metals will arrive in the chosen finish and continue to patina with wear/exposure. When you are ready to clean, brighten, or restore your metals they easily buff, brush, clean, and polish.

1)If your metal is able to be removed from other elements it is fine to clean with soap and water first.
2)When brushing please use ultra fine steel wool only and in one direction. This removes surface tarnish and leaves a brushed appearance.
3)Buff to restore lustre using a clean/dry cloth. You may add metal wax during buffing. Wax serves to slow tarnishing.

Gold Alloys

Yellow brass-is a bright, yellow gold when new/clean, an antique green-gold when chemically oxidized and an antique brown-gold when tarnished/aged naturally.

Jewelers Brass-is a warm, rich neutral gold that is most like 14K gold when new/clean. It is a bronze/brown antique gold when chemically oxidized and a reddish-gold when tarnished/aged naturally.

Bronze-there are two types of bronze in my studio. One is a red gold I view as sunset bronze. It is a reddish-gold or copper without the orange gold when new/clean. It is a brown-copper gold when chemically oxidized and an antique reddish-gold when tarnished/aged naturally.

I use a special, imported nickel silver. This nickel silver is a light antique silver when new/clean. It is an ambered-silver, candlelight silver, or silver with a gold glow when tarnished/aged naturally. The best finish for nickel silver to replace sterling silver is a light, medium, or dark chemical oxidizing. My nickel ox finish blends well with oxidized sterling silver because the oxidizing leaves the silver a cooler tone rather than an ambered-gold.

In most cases, yes. It does depend upon the piece chosen and the gauge of sheet or wire. As such each request is handled individually.

Generally light ox is oxidized metal whose oxidizing has been pulled back to reveal the original metal in lightly antiqued/satin finish. The chemical oxidizing may be well blended or have low-lights and high-lights based on the piece's surfaces.

Medium ox is oxidized metal whose oxidizing has been lightly removed to reveal a blend of oxidizing with brighter metal highlights. I have two versions of medium ox(using different oxidizing methods). Photos within the listings predominantly show what is described in the two sentences. The alternative(not pervasively shown) is a simple antiquing that does not have highlights. This method produces my metals that just "seem like older metal" without the modern oxidized appearance. Please contact me if this is the finish you prefer.

Dark ox is a dark brown oxidized finish on any metal type. It may be matte/satin or polished. The polished finish has some shine and takes a black-brown or gunmetal appearance(depending on whether it is a gold or silver metal). The matte/satin finish is dark, earthy and rich upon arrival. While working with it lighter metal tones may be revealed creating low-lights and high-lights in your finished pieces.

Oil rubbed bronze has the same characteristics as dark ox but is polished for durability. This finish can be requested medium or dark as well as rustic or refined. The rustic accent will be a mottled or speckled version of the finish while the refined will be as smooth a color as the piece will allow.

Necklace/Bracelet Sizing:

Please use a fabric tape measure or string and a ruler.

Wrist Measurement> please take the measurement at the smallest part of the wrist between the hand and wrist bone.

Standard Bracelet Chart>
Extra Small-5.5-6 Inches(14-15.5cm)
Small 6-6.5 Inches(15.2-16.5cm)
Medium -6.5-7 Inches(16.5-17.75cm)
Large-7-8 Inches (17.75cm-20.3cm)
Extra Large-8-8.5 Inches(20-21.5cm)
Anklet-9 Inches Average(22cm)

Neck Measurement>

Collar-12-13 Inches(30cm)
Choker-14-16 Inches(40cm)
Princess-17-19 Inches(45cm)
Matinee-20-24 Inches(50cm)
Opera-28-34 Inches(60cm)
Rope-Over 45 Inches(75cm)