Silversmithing: the art of making Pretty Shiny Things

I first got into silversmithing years ago, but had to stop when my children came along; hot liquid metals and small children do not mix. However, three years ago I came across PMC - precious metal clay; it comprises of fine particles of precious metal - typically silver, though it is also available as gold - mixed with organic binder. It is moulded and shaped much as you do with modelling clay, left to dry (whereupon you can carve, sand and further smooth into shape) and then fired at 650°C either in a kiln, using a butane torch or on a gas hob, whereupon the organic binder burns off and the metal sinters, leaving a solid metal item. In the case of silver, this item will be fine (0.999) silver, even purer than sterling and thus slower to tarnish.

It occurred to me that PMC silver might be the ideal medium to make BJD jewellery from, and so I experimented to see what I could come up with. The PMC rings are my work; the other rings are for comparison with what BJD jewellery was around and available at the time. Note that I work with facetted gems, whilst orangebabydolly uses cabochons.


From left to right: PMC silver with simulated blue topaz, Dollmore silver ring, orangebabydolly sterling silver ring with garnet, PMC silver with arificial sapphire, PMC silver with simulated amethyst.


Side view, showing the PMC silver with blue topaz ring more clearly.




Two more views of the rings, as modelled by Perseus, my Cerberus Project Breakaway 05 vampire.
Perseus stands 60cm tall, to give you some idea of scale; the rings are 1/3 scale compared to human rings.

I've been asked about whether I'd be willing to take on commissions or open an Etsy shop on the strength of these pieces, so I've now ordered 10g of PMC silver (you'd be surprised how far this stuff goes - those original 3 rings took less than 2g of PMC silver) with a view to making some saleable pieces, which will include rings set with facetted 2mm gemstones in simple 4-prong settings.

Keep watching this space. :-)