Real enamel and jewellery
Enamelled jewellery is very old, especially since antiquity for ceramics. But what is really enamel, how is it made and what makes it different from a simple resin paint also wrongly called “cold enamel”. On this page, we offer you to discover or review the advantages and properties of enamel jewellery.
Glazed ceramic earrings Christine ALLOING
A very high temperature realization.
To enamel a piece of jewelry, a mixture of minerals must be melted at a very high temperature. Once heated to a very high temperature, the enamel gives the jewel a very resistant coating which is in fact a glass.
Enamel jewellery can be made on metal, pottery (ceramics) and glass. The temperature at which the enamel must be melted varies according to the support: 500° to 600° for glass, 780° to 820° for steel or copper, 900° for ceramics.
The qualities of the enamels :
The enamel layer deposited on the jewel has several interesting properties: the first is obviously its color, deep and unalterable. Another interesting property is the hardness of the enamel layer, which is difficult to scratch and protects the support, whether it is metal or clay. It is a clean and healthy floor that is easy to clean. Enamel is resistant to various detergents, solvents and chemical aggressions, it is also resistant to corrosion, water, bad weather, salt and different temperature variations…
Triple square enamel necklace C. ALLOING
The magic of the colours of real enamel
When a piece of jewellery is enamelled, a layer of a mixture of minerals is applied, the colour of which has nothing to do with that of the heated enamel. The art of the jewellery designer lies in the control of heating temperatures, firing times and the quality of the supports. But there is always a part of mystery, the small differences of heating, composition of the enamel or handling lead to changes in the result. One thing is sure, each time the colours of the enamel that come from the depth of the material do not leave indifferent, they do not resemble any other.
Genuine enamel ring by Christine ALLOING
A classic enamel jewel : Jewelry against the evil eye
An ancient belief that is held especially around the Mediterranean says that you can attract the evil eye. That’s why Greeks, Turks, Maltese and many others often paint an eye on the front of their boats. In the same way, there is for a very long time jewels door happiness in the shape of eye that one buys and that one carries not to attract on oneself the bad luck: the bad eye. Often these amulets are made of glass or enamel.
genuine enamel : Mediterranean ring to ward off the evil eye
As you can see, enamel is a material whose manufacturing cost can be quite expensive, and whose qualities, especially for keeping a jewel over time, are very appreciable. Although it is not classified as a precious material, it deserves to be used to make beautiful jewelry.
This article was published .
Your position in the guide :
