What metals do I use and what is the difference?
I work with four main metals: Sterling Silver (925). White Bronze (Neusilber) – Alloy from: copper, tin, zinc, brass, and gold (14k/18k). By the way – all these metals are not pure metals. In latest publications I will tell you why no one use –«pure metalls».
I won’t bore you with the complex chemical composition of these materials. Essentially, you’ve known them for a long time. Silver (925 sterling silver) accounts for 99% of silver jewelry. White bronze (or often Nickel silver or Neusilber, which literally means “new silver”) is mainly used in coins in the modern world, and brass is used in old cannons, bells, monuments and coins.
They differ in color, durability, flexibility, hardness, and many other parameters. To briefly explain what this means in simple terms: 1. Silver is a fairly soft, light (white) metal that will shimmer with a soft moonlight throughout its lifetime 2. white bronze is a hard metal that tarnishes slightly more quickly and is closer in color to well-polished steel than silver. With proper care, it will also shine, but requires a little more maintenance than silver 3. Brass is a yellow metal, and when properly cleaned, it is even closer in color to gold. It will darken slightly over time, but it can always be restored to its desired shine with a little effort.
Gold in the modern world requires a separate discussion, and I won’t dwell on it now.
What do these metals have in common? They are practically eternal. They are corrosion-resistant and easy to restore to their original appearance. This means that such jewelry or accessories, unlike cheap Chinese alloys or fakes, can become family heirlooms and easily be passed down from generation to generation.