Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is an iron alloy containing chromium, which resists scratching and corrosion. It is durable and heavy, and significantly more difficult to work with than many other metals, resulting is very strong hands and wrists. Think Superman, bending rods of steel! Stainless steel has a slightly deeper grey color than aluminum and will not tarnish, patina, or corrode with normal use.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a soft, durable lightweight metal with appearance ranging from silvery to dull grey.
Bright Aluminum is tumbled or polished to a bright shine. It resists corrosion and is an excellent metal for large pieces (especially earrings) because of its light weight and resemblance to silver.
Anodized aluminum has been heated electrically to increase corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and to provide better adhesion of color. Some of the colored, metal rings I use are anodized aluminum.
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Brass has a muted yellow color, somewhat similar to gold. It is relatively resistant to tarnishing, and is often used as decoration and for coins. In antiquity, polished brass was often used as a mirror. It’s a little harder than copper and will also oxidize to a slightly deeper, warmer color with wear.
Bronze
Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and tough, and it was so significant in antiquity that the Bronze Age was named after the metal. Throughout antiquity, many artisans used bronze to create works of high art. Bronze has a look similar to copper, and will eventually oxidize as copper does. It can be cared for the same as copper
Copper
Copper, as native copper, is one of the few metals to occur naturally as an un-compounded mineral. Copper was known to some of the oldest civilizations on record, and has a history of use that is at least 10,000 years old. Some estimates place the discovery of copper around 9000 BC in the Middle East. A copper pendant was found in what is now northern Iraq that dates to 8700 BC. It is probable that gold and meteoritic iron were the only metals used by humans before copper.
Pure copper has a pinkish or peachy color. As you wear it, and as it is exposed to air, it will oxidize to a warm, chocolate color (allowing copper to remain wet or moist for long periods is what turns it green). Copper can be “cleaned” back to some of the original color by washing in ketchup (no kidding), lemon juice or other mildly acidic media. The copper ring I wear daily has never changed color from the original bright peachy tone, probably because I wear it while washing my hands.
Copper bracelets are believed to alleviate symptoms of arthritis, and copper has historically been used in medical settings and for food preparation, because of its naturally antiseptic properties.
Enameled copper rings are made from copper wire that has been enameled. Some of the colored, metal rings I use are enameled copper.
Rubber
The non-latex "rubber" rings I use are made of silicone and are flexible, with some stretch.
Stainless steel is an iron alloy containing chromium, which resists scratching and corrosion. It is durable and heavy, and significantly more difficult to work with than many other metals, resulting is very strong hands and wrists. Think Superman, bending rods of steel! Stainless steel has a slightly deeper grey color than aluminum and will not tarnish, patina, or corrode with normal use.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a soft, durable lightweight metal with appearance ranging from silvery to dull grey.
Bright Aluminum is tumbled or polished to a bright shine. It resists corrosion and is an excellent metal for large pieces (especially earrings) because of its light weight and resemblance to silver.
Anodized aluminum has been heated electrically to increase corrosion resistance and wear resistance, and to provide better adhesion of color. Some of the colored, metal rings I use are anodized aluminum.
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Brass has a muted yellow color, somewhat similar to gold. It is relatively resistant to tarnishing, and is often used as decoration and for coins. In antiquity, polished brass was often used as a mirror. It’s a little harder than copper and will also oxidize to a slightly deeper, warmer color with wear.
Bronze
Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and tough, and it was so significant in antiquity that the Bronze Age was named after the metal. Throughout antiquity, many artisans used bronze to create works of high art. Bronze has a look similar to copper, and will eventually oxidize as copper does. It can be cared for the same as copper
Copper
Copper, as native copper, is one of the few metals to occur naturally as an un-compounded mineral. Copper was known to some of the oldest civilizations on record, and has a history of use that is at least 10,000 years old. Some estimates place the discovery of copper around 9000 BC in the Middle East. A copper pendant was found in what is now northern Iraq that dates to 8700 BC. It is probable that gold and meteoritic iron were the only metals used by humans before copper.
Pure copper has a pinkish or peachy color. As you wear it, and as it is exposed to air, it will oxidize to a warm, chocolate color (allowing copper to remain wet or moist for long periods is what turns it green). Copper can be “cleaned” back to some of the original color by washing in ketchup (no kidding), lemon juice or other mildly acidic media. The copper ring I wear daily has never changed color from the original bright peachy tone, probably because I wear it while washing my hands.
Copper bracelets are believed to alleviate symptoms of arthritis, and copper has historically been used in medical settings and for food preparation, because of its naturally antiseptic properties.
Enameled copper rings are made from copper wire that has been enameled. Some of the colored, metal rings I use are enameled copper.
Rubber
The non-latex "rubber" rings I use are made of silicone and are flexible, with some stretch.