[Jewelry making - Article 00075] - Re: [Orchid] Thickness and Weight = Value?

[Judy Willingham]

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Hello Sequoia,

>          How many of you think that the gauge thickness and weight of a
>     piece contribute significantly to it's value and retail price?...
>     I'm working on some pieces now that I've fabricated from 16 gauge
>     silver sheet and they feel rather light to me. 

    Are you making belt buckles?? 16 gauge sterling sheet is plenty
    heavy for almost anything and too heavy for many pieces of jewelry,
    unless pierced.  The weight of a large (>25mm diameter) pin in 16
    gauge would pull on most fabric to which it was pinned.  The better
    question is: will the gauge chosen be substantial enough for the
    piece to hold shape and not bend in normal use after work-hardening?
     I like 20 or 22 gauge for most sterling jewelry, but will use 26 to
    30 gauge for earrings and large pins/pendants to decrease weight. 
    The thinner gauges usually need to be reinforced with wire or some
    metal manipulation like corrugation or folds. 

    A very nice thing about 16 gauge sheet is that you can run it
    through your mill to supply thinner gauges - avoids having to stock
    so many different gauges. 

    Hope your holidays were fulfilling, Judy in Kansas, where the
    freezing drizzle is putting a crystal glaze over everything!

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