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JEWELRY INDUSTRY GLOSSARY AND DICTIONARY TERMS
We are grateful to those that have given us the opportunity to serve and supply your jewelry part needs and hope this list is helpful.
If we have missed any terms that you may wish to share with us please do not hesitate to E-mail us. It would be a pleasure to add and publish this work-in-progress glossary and dictionary. With your additions it will surely be helpful to all our constituents and other jewelers throughout the world. Thank you.
PRECIOUS METALS AND RELATED METALS
BASE METAL: Any metal other than the precious metals, such as lead, bismuth, tin, antimony, copper, etc. Alloys of non-precious metals are also referred to as base metals. Findings made of base metal (silver or gold colored) are the cheapest to buy, and are great for practice for beginning beaders and children. For better pieces, use gold filled (a layer of gold stamped - not electroplated - over a base metal core) or sterling silver findings. Base metal findings are usually made of a nickel alloy material that can cause allergic reactions in some people, especially when used in body piercings. Those people who are sensitive to nickel alloys should use only 14 K (or higher) gold found in quality gold-filled findings. Surgical grade stainless steel findings are also available (usually referred to as Hypoallergenic). Most nickel-sensitive people can also tolerate sterling silver with no problems.
BLACK HILLS GOLD: Jewelry made in the Black Hills area of South Dakota, which frequently has a distinctive three-color (yellow, pink and green gold) vine and leaf pattern. The Black Hills Jewelry Mfg. Co. produced the original designs in three colors in Deadwood, South Dakota in the early 1900s. Many jewelers still make Black Hills jewelry today (usually in 10K gold) but by law they must use Black Hills gold. You can create a nice effect by combining rose gold filled wire, yellow gold filled wire and silver.
BLUE GOLD: 18K Gold alloyed with 25% iron (75% gold), giving a bluish tint to the metal.
BRASS WIRE: Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, sometimes including small amounts of other metals, but usually 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc. It comes in various shapes and tempers, and is a wonderful product to practice with, although generally much stiffer and more difficult to work with in wire sculpting than sterling silver or gold-filled wire. It takes on a lovely polish, but tarnishes and becomes dull very quickly. Some jewelers work exclusively with brass wire specifically because of these properties. Jewelry made from brass wire can be quite beautiful and salable. To many jewelry artists, brass wire is considered to be practice wire and the outcome is costume jewelry rather than fine jewelry.
BRONZE: An alloy containing at least 60% copper plus tin and sometimes other metals.
GERMAN SILVER: Also known as NICKEL SILVER, this alloy is actually roughly 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc. If approximately 5% of tin is present in this alloy, it is called Alpaca. As you can see, there is no silver in German Silver. German silver wire is very inexpensive and you can create a lot of jewelry for pennies. It should be noted that about 1 person in 20 has a metal allergy to nickel.
GOLD: Gold is one of the most visually attractive of all metals, and because of its unique qualities, is considered the "most precious" metal. It is one of the heaviest of all the metals, does not tarnish or corrode, and is very durable. One of the first metals to attract the attention of man, its durability has been attested to by the discovery of elaborately crafted artifacts of gold in nearly perfect condition from the ancient Egyptian, Etruscan and Assyrian cultures. Gold occurs in nature in almost pure form, and is the most malleable and ductile of the Metals. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity and in its pure state is very soft. One troy ounce of gold (the size of a sugar cube and equal to about 31 grams) can be hammered into a sheet (called gold leaf) covering 10B square feet or pulled into a thread fifty miles long.
When you buy gold jewelry, it isn't pure gold. The purity or fineness of gold in the jewelry is indicated by its karat number. 24-karat (24K or 24 Kt) gold is as pure as gold for jewelry gets. 24K gold is also called fine gold and it is greater than 99.7% pure gold. Proof gold is even finer, with over 99.95% purity, but it is only used for standardization purposes and is not available for jewelry.
When alloyed with another metal to make it harder, more durable and least costly, the amount of gold (as in parts per 24) in the alloy must be stated if it is over 10K, which is the minimum legal standard in the U.S. Anything less can not be called gold. Throughout the world, the minimum karat standard varies. In Italy and France, 1BK is the minimum; in Canada and England the minimum is only 9K and in Mexico it's only BK. Gold articles produced in the U.S. do not have to carry a karat or other quality mark. The exception occurs when a karat mark is applied, then the manufacturer's registered trademark must be stamped near the karat mark and must be accurate in accordance to federal law.
The weight of Gold and other precious metals is measured in Troy Weight, rather than the standard metric system or American pounds and ounces. See Table 3 for conversion of troy ounces to millimeters and pounds.
The various alloys of gold exhibit different colors. See Table 4 for list gold colors and the proportions of metals used in the alloy.
GOLD FILLED WIRE: Gold-filled wire, sometimes called rolled gold, is a wonderful choice for wire jewelry makers. It is appropriate for all types of jewelry. For most people, it will last their entire lifetime without showing signs of wear. It is made by forming a tube of gold and filling the tube with a base metal, usually jeweler's brass. The gold content is 5% or 1/20 of the total wire. Gold-filled wire for jewelry offers an affordable, durable choice at a fraction of the cost of solid karat gold. It is generally available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and tempers in white, yellow (traditional) and rose gold colors.
A FEW FACTS ABOUT 14KT ROLLED GOLD WIRE (GOLD-FILLED WIRE)
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14/20 Rolled Gold wire creates high fashion jewelry at a fraction of the cost of solid gold and sells extremely well because of the fascination with gold.
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There is 100 times more gold in 14 kt. Rolled Gold (gold filled) than in gold plate.
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A 14/20 Rolled Gold pendant is usually considered a lifetime piece of jewelry.
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14/20 Rolled Gold is usually used for pendants, pins, collars, bracelets, and small rings.
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Gold filled wire is available in 10k, 12k, and 14k, being the best quality and most durable. In the symbol 14/20, the 14 stands for the karat of gold used, and the 20 means 1/20.
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Basically, gold-filled wire is a good metal for a good price. It should always be represented properly and never misrepresented to your customer as solid gold. I collect old wire jewelry pieces and have several with actual dates on them. I show my customer these items to illustrate that gold-filled jewelry can stand the test of time.
GOLD PLATED WIRE: Gold-plated metal has a very thin layer of gold on the surface of a base metal, usually applied by the process of electroplating. Plating makes the layer of gold a much thinner layer than Gold Filled, and it is most commonly plated with 10K gold.
KARAT: The fineness of gold, equal to one part of 24 in gold alloys. (See Gold)
KARATCLAD: A trademark for a very thick gold electroplating process which is approximately 14 times thicker than standard electroplating.
NICKEL SILVER: Not silver at all, except in color, for this alloy contains no silver, but is mostly copper (about 60%), with approximately equal parts of nickel and zinc added. With the addition of a small percentage of tin, the alloy is then called Alpaca. This alloy was first used in the mid-1800s by the Germans as a silver substitute.
NOBLE METALS: A less-frequently used term for the precious metals gold, silver and platinum.
PALLADIUM: A durable metal related to platinum, palladium has recently been added to the short list of "precious" metals. It is less dense and more malleable than platinum, but has a lower melting point and reacts more readily to acids. Palladium will also develop tarnish when heat is applied. Palladium was first used in jewelry in 1939 as a substitute for platinum, which was being used for the war effort. After the war, it was used rarely because there were difficulties working it. When white gold is alloyed with palladium instead of nickel, a gray-white gold is produced. Because palladium has become very useful in catalytic converters, its price has risen dramatically (per ounce, more than gold or silver), making it an impractical alternative to platinum.
PATTERN WIRE: Also called Strip wire. Not wire at all, but strips of either base or precious metal that are stamped, embossed or engraved with a decorative pattern. This is a great wire to make cuff bracelets. See one of our bracelets in our free pattern section.
PLATINUM: Very strong, very dense, and 60% heavier than gold, Platinum was discovered in Russia in the 18th century. Platinum used in jewelry is usually alloyed with a small percentage of another metal of the platinum group (iridium, osmium, rhodium, ruthenium or palladium) and/or cobalt to increase its malleability. All of the platinum groups of metals are rare, with platinum and palladium only slightly more common, and of course they are all expensive.
PINCHBECK: Also known as "false gold," this is an alloy of copper that looks like gold. Pinchbeck was invented by British watchmaker Christopher Pinchbeck (1672-1732) in the early 18th century. Pinchbeck consists of 83% copper and 17% zinc. Ironically, there have been many imitations of Pinchbeck (which itself is an imitation).
PMC®: The registered abbreviation for Precious Metal Clay®. PMC® is just what its name implies, precious metal in the form of clay. It is available in pure silver mixed with water and an organic binder (80% fine silver powder, 20% water and organic binder) and in 24K gold in a similarly compounded base. It can be rolled, cut, shaped and even extruded from a pastry tube, in other words, just like sculpting clay. Once the shape is made, it is fired in a kiln or special oven at temperatures from 1,650°F for silver and to about 1,830°F for gold.
PRECIOUS METAL: The precious metals are gold, silver and most of the metals from the platinum family. They are all rare, with gold present in only 3.5 parts per billion of the Earth's crust, platinum about 45 parts per billion and silver in 73 parts per billion. All of these metals are strong and heavy because metallic bonding and their closely packed atomic structures.
RHODIUM: One white metal of the platinum family of precious metals. Rhodium is quite expensive, and is often used to plate both precious and base metals giving them a hard, platinum-like sheen.
ROLLED GOLD: A very thin sheet of gold is laminated to a lesser metal, such as brass, then heated under pressure to fuse them together. The fused metal is then rolled into a much thinner sheet and used to make jewelry or other objects, and is marked RGP for Rolled Gold Plate. Rolled gold jewelry wears very well over time.
RUTHENIUM: Another of the platinum group of precious metals, it is usually abbreviated Ru or Ruth. Ruthenium in small amounts is added to platinum alloys to strengthen and harden them.
SETTING: The base or section of a piece of jewelry that holds the stone or gem. If a setting has metal behind the stone, it is referred to as a closed setting. Where there is no metal behind the stone, the setting is considered "open." There are many different styles and types of settings, including:
SILVER WIRE: A fine, naturally-occurring precious metal with an almost white sheen that is used for many purposes, including jewelry. Pure silver is usually alloyed with other metals, such as copper, for use in jewelry and hollowware. Silver tarnishes after exposure to air, which forms a thin layer of silver-oxide on the surface. Silver often occurs near copper lodes.
SILVER 800: Silver alloy which contains 800 parts per 1000 (80%) silver and 200 parts per thousand (20%) copper, and is used primarily for casting.
SOLDER: A metal alloy used to join other metals by applying heat that melts the solder but not the metals being soldered. Available in gold and silver as well as base metal, solder also comes in different grades and required temps. Not all solder melts at the same temperature, and it is crucial that solder be of a grade that melts at lower temperature than the metals to be joined.
STERLING: Silver with a fineness of 925 parts per 1000 (92.5%) silver and 75 parts per thousand (7.5%) copper, which increases the silver's hardness. Sterling is quite malleable and ductile.
TROY WEIGHT: The system of units of mass customarily used for weighing precious metals and gemstones. It derives from the troy system of mass, which dates back to before the time of William the Conqueror. Us name comes from the city of Troyes, in France, an important trading city in the middle Ages. The system -is based on the troy pound of 5760 grains. The pound was divided into 12 ounces (480 grains) each containing 20 pennyweights (24 grains). (See Table 3)
VERMEIL: Gold-plated silver; or occasionally, gold-plated bronze. Vermeil has a very rich gold color, usually darker than high-karat gold.
WHITE GOLD: Gold that has been alloyed with a mixture of copper, manganese, nickel, tin and zinc, and sometimes palladium, giving it the look of platinum. White gold was originally developed during WW II to imitate platinum, which was at the time considered a strategic material for military applications.
YELLOW GOLD: An alloy of gold with a mixture containing 50/50 copper and silver.
Age Hardenable Alloys- Alloys that can be hardened beyond the soft state by heating.(Also called "Heat Treatable Alloys".) Britannia Metal-A composition of copper, tin and antimony.Coin Silver-An alloy containing 90% silver.Commercial Silver-Silver that is at least 999 fine.
ALUMINUM: An inexpensive, lightweight and very malleable metal that is silver-white in color. In the past, it was used for very inexpensive jewelry, but is now the metal of choice for everyday items, from kitchen foil to engine blocks. Aluminum is also used in many alloys to improve malleability.
CHROMIUM: Hard, shiny, gray-white metal that resists corrosion quite well. Sometimes used in costume jewelry as a coating over other metals.
COPPER WIRE: Reddish gold in color, this wonderfully versatile metal was the first metal used by man for tools, implements, weapons and artwork. Copper use predates recorded history, and though it was later replaced by bronze and iron for weapons and tools, its popularity and usefulness has not waned in thousands of years. Copper is malleable and easily worked by chasing, hammering, engraving and even cold-rolling (See Rolling). Copper is very malleable, but not suited for casting in its pure form, although alloys containing a high percentage of copper may be. Copper is quite inexpensive, is great for practice wire, or in two- or three-toned pieces. Copper is said to have healing properties for rheumatic or arthritic conditions. The only real drawback of copper, at least for jewelry applications, is that it oxidizes quite readily, will leave a green or black mark on the skin. To prevent that discoloration, copper jewelry is often coated with a clear protective surface, such as an acrylic, but the coating eventually wears away. Copper wire is a great way to get started in wire sculpting with very little cost.
CRAFT WIRE: A permanently color-coated copper-based wire, which is soft and very malleable. Retains its shape moderately well, particularly in the larger gauges.
IRON: This metal is very seldom used in jewelry because of its lack of luster and because it is so brittle.
NIOBIUM: A lightweight, tough, hypoallergenic refractory metal usually anodized to produce vivid colors for costume jewelry. Mars easily and cannot be soldered.
ORMOLU: An alloy of copper, zinc and tin, ormolu is used to imitate gold. The French term for ground gold, "Ormolu" was frequently used for candlesticks, furniture embellishments and picture frames during the Georgian and early Victorian eras. Today, the term is most often applied to any gold-like finish used for intricate decorations.
PEWTER: A soft metal alloy composed mostly of tin, with lead, antimony, bismuth, copper and/or silver added. Polished pewter has a silvery luster. Pewter can be easily worked by several different methods, the most popular being casting of charms, hammering of larger items, and turning on a lathe to produce candlesticks or goblet stems.
POT METAL: An inexpensive metal alloy commonly used for costume jewelry. Not used as frequently as in the past, as it nearly always contains a significant amount of lead.
ROULZ: A metal alloy consisting of copper, nickel and silver, named for the French chemist who invented it in the 1800s.
STEEL: An alloy of iron and carbon where the content of the carbon ranges up to 2%. When the alloy contains more than 2% carbon, it's defined as cast iron. Steel is very seldom used for jewelry.
SURGICAL OR SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL: Anyone of a family of low carbon alloy steels usually containing 10-30% chromium. The chromium provides exceptional resistance to corrosion and heat. Other elements may be added to increase corrosion resistance to specific environments, enhance oxidation resistance and impart special characteristics. In jewelry, which is sometimes labeled "hypoallergenic," we see it in a few findings, such as ear wires or posts.
PRECIOUS METAL TERMS
ALLOY: The combination of metals in set proportions to give the resulting alloy better or different characteristics. For example, pure gold (24K) is much too soft for most jewelry applications, so small amounts of harder metals such as copper, silver or nickel are added.
ALPACA: A silver substitute which is an alloy of approximately 60% copper, 20% nickel, 20% zinc and 5% tin.
ANNEAL: The process of heating glass or metal to a specific temperature for a set period of time (depending upon the substance and the intended application), then slowly cooling it to toughen the substance and reduce the brittleness that develops while working it. Small pieces can be heated with a torch; larger items are generally annealed in either a kiln or an annealing oven.
ANODIZE: To produce a controlled oxidation of a metal's surface by means of a chemical (acid) bath through which the positive end or "anode" of an electrical current is passed. A thin protective film is created on the surface by the resultant change in the molecular structure of the top layer only. Anodization can give the metal a lustrous sheen, or even change the coloring of the surface.
ASSAY: A test of purity for an alloy to determine the percentage of precious metal content.
BRUSHED FINISH: Created by the use of a stiff metal brush along the surface of metallic jewelry to add texture, and to produce a slightly less reflective surface.
CASTING: A process for making metal items that has been used for thousands of years. Molten metal is poured into a mold. There are different methods of casting including centrifugal (or investment), sand casting, and the lost wax process.
CHAIN MAIL OR CHAINMAILLE: A way of joining metal rings together to produce metal "fabric." Chain mail was used in medieval times for flexible armor, and is used now to make very striking jewelry.
DRAWPLATE: In metalsmithing, particularly wire jewelry applications, a drawplate is a die plate through which wire is pulled to reduce its diameter. Making your own drawplate is quite simple, using an inch-thick block of hardwood, and drilling a series of holes at least ¼” apart, from 1.5mm to 10mm in diameter in .5 increments.
DUCTILE: A substance is "ductile" if it is easily pulled into a thin wire. The most ductile metal is gold, and it is the easiest wire to pull through a drawplate to reduce the diameter.
DWT: The abbreviation for PennyWeight in the Troy System of Weights.
ELECTROPLATE: (See Plating) Rings, ear hooks or wires, and crimp beads.
FINENESS: Usually expressed in parts per thousand, it is the proportion of silver or gold in a metal alloy. For example, Sterling Silver is .925, meaning that 925 parts per 1000 are silver, and 75/1000 is another metal. Fine Silver is 99.9% pure silver. Gold fineness is measured in Karats.
GAUGE: The measurement of the thickness of an object, particularly wire and sheet metals. Wire gauges for jewelry applications will range from a very thick 4g to a very fine 34g. You must remember that the smaller the gauge, the larger the diameter of the wire. You will find a table of gauges and their corresponding diameters in both metric and standard (U.S.) units at Table 2.
HARDEN: The process of manipulating malleable wire so that it will retain its shape and design, and strengthen it so it will bear the weight of other components in a piece. The three most frequent methods of hardening jewelry wire are drawing, manipulating and striking. Simply working soft wire back and forth with the hands will impart some hardness, as will working with nylon jaw pliers. Drawing refers to pulling wire through a smaller hole in a wood plate to reduce its diameter. To harden and flatten a shaped piece at the same time, the piece is put between two pieces of leather which are then placed between two jeweler's blocks. The blocks are then struck by a hammer. You can also use a leather mallet to strike the piece when it is laid on a protected surface that will not mar the metal.
HARDNESS: A measurement of the malleability or temper of a substance. When purchasing raw materials for wire-work, you will find that wire comes in several different levels of hardness, only a few of which are commonly used by jewelers.
In jewelry wire, hardness or malleability is graded soft or dead soft, quarter hard, half-hard, hard, and spring hard. You may also encounter wire or sheet metal hardness that is designated by numbers instead of names. The numbering system, which goes from zero to 10 or more, is based on the number of times wire has been drawn though progressively smaller holes in a drawplate. Each jump in the number designates a doubling of the preceding number. Soft or dead soft has a number of zero, since it isn't drawn through a plate. Quarter hard is drawn through once, half-hard has been drawn twice and hard has been drawn through four times. Spring wire has been drawn eight times through successively smaller holes. The best hardness to use for an application will depend on the intended use of the wire, as shown below:
Dead Soft Wire is extremely malleable and can be bent easily into a myriad of shapes by using the hands. It does not hold its shape in stress situations, such as clasps, until it is hardened. You would use dead soft if the application has several loops and swirls which are more perfectly done with bare hands.
Half-Hard Wire is malleable, but most people will need to use tools or jigs to bend it into shape. Half hard will; however, maintain a fairly intricate shape under moderate stress after it has been work hardened. It is very useful for light weight-bearing parts of wire-wrapped jewelry.
Hard or Full Hard Wire holds its shape for wire-wrapping jewelry and for making clasps and other findings that will likely be stressed. Tools are recommended when bending or manipulating hard wire.
The gauge (thickness) of the wire will also have an effect on its hardness. For example, a piece of 12 gauge wire is relatively thick, and even at dead soft hardness will not bend as easily as 18 gauge wire of the same hardness.
To test for hardness of sheet metals, the Vickers Hardness test (designated HV) is very precise, calculating hardness from the size of the indentation a diamond-shaped pyramid produces under measured pressure. The Knoop Hardness test (HK) is based on the same principle as the Vickers test, but is used on brittle materials such as glass and ceramics using lower pressures. The Mohs Scale of Hardness is a rating system for minerals based on their resistance to scratching by other minerals, on a scale of one to ten. Mohs used ten minerals to determine the degree of hardness, ranking the softest (Talc) as #1 and the hardest (diamond) #10. It is not very precise.
MALLEABLE: This term indicates that a metal or alloy is easily worked by hand or other tools
MEMORY WIRE: A hardened steel wire that will retain its original shape even after repeated use. Available in a standard and "Cadmium" (silver-colored and rust proof) finish, and in diameters suitable for rings, bracelets and chokers.
MILANESE MESH: Also known as Milanese work or Milanese chain), is an intricate mesh made from spiral wires braided together and used to make necklaces and bracelets. Frequently used in Italian jewelry.
MILLING: The process of cutting metal while it is spinning, usually on a lathe, with symmetrical shapes and patterns.
MOKUME-GANE: A Japanese metalsmithing technique that results in a wood-like finish by alternating layers of thin, colored metals and laminated together. Designs or patterns are then punched, filed away or hammered into the laminate, producing unique and delicate patterns.
OXIDATION: The naturally occurring chemical process in which oxygen atoms bond to atoms of another material (such as metal) producing a different chemical compound. We are most familiar with oxidized iron ("rust") and oxidized silver, which is called "tarnish." Copper turns green when oxidized, adding an aesthetically pleasing, aged look to roofs, weathervanes and other outdoor decorations.
PATINA: A film formed naturally on metals through exposure to the elements for an extended period. Oxidation will turn copper and bronze green, silver black and gold reddish. Patina is generally thought to enrich the value of antiques, but can be artificially produced by the controlled application of acids or electrolytes to newer objects.
PLATING: The process by which one metal is coated with using electricity. Also known by the terms electroplating and Galvanotechnics - the latter named after the inventor of the process. To produce less costly jewelry components, inexpensive or base metals are coated with a thin layer of precious metal, usually gold or silver. Chromium, copper and rhodium are also electroplated, although rhodium is sometimes used as plate.
ROLLING: In metallurgy, this is the most-used method of taking metal from a cast ingot to a sheet or bar, with sheet metal being the most common product. Rolling is done by using either the hot or method. The metal produced by the cold-rolled process will have a much smoother surface and be stronger.
RUSSIAN GOLD FINISH: A finishing technique for jewelry that produces a matte, antique look.
SATIN FINISH: This method of finishing metal produces a semi-gloss finish that is between a matte finish and a brilliant one. It is done by making minute, extremely shallow parallel lines on the surface of the metal, reducing its reflectivity.
TEMPER: The temper of wire is often referred to in terms of hardness or softness. The temper or hardness of the wire indicates the malleability of the wire to hold its shape and to bend fluidly. It can range from dead soft (which bends with no resistance sort of like a wet noodle), at one end of the spectrum to extra spring hard (which is very resistant to bending) on the other. And very difficult to work with I may say.
The shape of the wire is achieved by forming the wire to the correct shape by drawing through a draw plate. The temper increases each time that the wire is drawn through the draw plate. To get dead soft wire, the wire is then fully annealed. To anneal wire is to use heat to relieve stresses in the wire, which causes a more flexible alignment of the wire molecules, thereby producing dead soft wire.
| Dead soft | Fully annealed |
| Quarter hard | 1 number hard |
| Half hard | 2 numbers hard |
| Full hard | 4 numbers hard |
| Extra hard | 6 numbers hard |
| Spring hard | 8 numbers hard |
| Extra spring hard | 10 numbers hard |
Different tempers are appropriate for different applications in making wire jewelry. The most commonly used tempers in wire jewelry are dead soft, soft, half hard and spring hard. We shall consider dead soft and soft to be the same since they are so very close in temper and can be used in many of the same ways.
Let's take a look at the best choice for the job.
Note: To sculpt anything using Master Wire Sculptor Preston Reuther's methods, you must use soft wire. And the best wire to use is gold filled - hands down
| Temper | Wire Sculpting | Border Wire Wrap | Binding Wire Bundles | Binding Wire Bundles |
| Dead Soft | X | |||
| Half Hard | X | X | ||
| Spring Hard | X |
TENSILE STRENGTH (psi): The maximum load a material can support without fracturing when it is stretched, divided by the original cross-sectional area of the material. Tensile strength is often expressed in psi, or pounds per square inch.
TORSADE: A necklace made of several strands that have been twisted together.
WELD: A process that joins two pieces of metal using very high heat. Rolled gold is formed in this method. Welding is not use in wire sculpting it's all done by hand with small hand tools and no torch is used.
TWISTING WIRE: Let me explain about twisting wire either with a pin vise or an automatic wire twister. When wire is twisted, it creates a filigree look that your customers will love. You can buy twisted wire at some supply houses or you can twist your own. I've always preferred to twist my own for several reasons:
Reason #1: Usually pre-twisted wire cost about 20% more to purchase and it never looks that great.
Reason #2: By twisting my own wire, lean put the twisted portion of wire where I want the twist and can actually do a better job than the mill does.
HARD WIRE: Twisting this hard and half hard wire, although not difficult, is much trickier than twisting soft wire. Each piece needs to be twisted only an inch or two at a time or it will twist unevenly. And it always seems that each company prepares their wire just a little different and thus the twisting will be a little different for each wire. That holds true for both gold and silver. Usually hard wire is twisted with a small pin vise.
SOFT WIRE: This wire is the easiest to twist and the twists always seems to come out uniform. Plus you can actually take 25 to 50 feet of dead soft gold filled or sterling wire, stretch it across your backyard, anchor it on something strong, start twisting with a dremel or drill on the other end, and get an even twist all the way across. Then you can roll it up into a coil and cut a section off as you need it. What a time saver!
In addition to achieving a filigree beaded look to your wire, you can increase the temper of wire by twisting it. Whether you use a small pin vise or a wire twister, the results will be the same. Twisting wire will increase the temper of the wire and make it harder. The more we twist, the more we increase the temper. If we twist too much, the wire will become brittle and break. You can do the same thing with round wire that may be too soft for the job. Simply attach one end of the wire into a pin vise and hold the other end with a pair of pliers. Twist until the wire is the desired temper or hardness you want.
Note: When you twist round wire, it will not change shape; it will stay round.
When we start sculpting with dead soft wire, it is important to realize that rubbing the wire along its length in a polishing cloth or in our fingers will also add temper or add strength to the wire. Even when sculpting, it is desirable to give the wire just a little body. The more we "rub it out", the more temper the wire will gain. As you construct a piece of jewelry, you will also add a certain amount of hardness or temper to the wire simply by handling it and manipulating it. This process is known as "work hardening". And you can actually rub it out too much and it becomes very difficult to work with.
BURNISH: cold working the metal surface to make it smooth.
CARAT: generally, a measurement of the weight of a stone. May also refer to the purity of an alloy. Each carat equals 1/24th purity. (This later usage is more frequently spelled "karat" .)
Each carat equals 1/24th purity. (This later usage is more frequently spelled "karat" .)
DAPPING: forming by hammering.
AQUA REGIA: A mixture of three parts hydrochloric acid and one part nitric acid used to test the purity of gold and platinum. The mixture is one of the few chemicals that can dissolve those metals.
ROUGE: An abrasive compound used with a buffing wheel to polish metals. Rouge is graded by the size of the abrasive, from very course to very fine (even though none of the grit is as large as any fine sandpaper), and each of the grades in between have different uses. For cutting down a rough surface (or removing heavy oxidation), Brown Rouge (also called Red Rouge) is considered a semi-aggressive primary compound because it contains large grains of abrasive (even though they are so small they can only barely be felt when rubbing the compound between your fingers). Brown Rouge is used for the first step in the polishing process for unfinished metal. Some metalsmiths only use Brown/Red rouge. Green Rouge is finer yet, and is sometimes used for a second polishing. White rouge contains the very finest abrasive and is used for the final polishing to produce a very high shine.
JEWELRY INDUSTRY TABLES, CHARTS AND MEASUREMENTS
| TABLE #1 | |||
| Fineness of Gold in Karats | |||
| United States Markings | Parts Gold | Gold % | European Markings |
| 24K | 24/24 | 100% | 1000 or 999 |
| 22K | 22/24 | 91.7% | 916 or 917 |
| 18K | 18/24 | 75% | 750 |
| 14K | 14/24 | 58.3% | 583 or 585 |
| 10K | 10/24 | 41.7% | 417 |
| TABLE #2 | |||||
| Conversion Table - Gauge to Inches and Millimeters | |||||
| Gauge Size | Diameter in inches | Diameter in mm | Gauge Size | Diameter in inches | Diameter in mm |
| 1 | .300 | 7.50 | 16 | .050 | 1.25 |
| 2 | .250 | 6.25 | 17 | .045 | 1.12 |
| 4 | .200 | 5.00 | 18 | .040 | 1.00 |
| 6 | .160 | 4.00 | 19 | .035 | 0.88 |
| 7 | .140 | 3.50 | 20 | .030 | 0.75 |
| 8 | .125 | 3.13 | 22 | .025 | 0.63 |
| 9 | .115 | 2.88 | 23 | .022 | 0.55 |
| 10 | .100 | 2.50 | 24 | .020 | 0.50 |
| 11 | .090 | 2.25 | 25 | .018 | 0.45 |
| 12 | .080 | 2.00 | 26 | .015 | 0.38 |
| 13 | .070 | 1.75 | 28 | .012 | 0.30 |
| 14 | .060 | 1.50 | 30 | .010 | 0.25 |
RELIGIOUS GLOSSARY
I. CHRISTIAN.
ALPHA OMEGA: Alpha (A) and Omega (Ω) represent the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They are Christian symbols that also represents God used in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. The phrase Alpha and Omega is derived from the quote God as being the Alpha and the Omega in Revelation 1:8, 21:6 and 22:13, and is clarified two times with the extra title “the beginning and the end”. This phrase means that God and Jesus are both eternal.
ANCHOR: The Anchor ranks among the most ancient Christian symbols found relating to the virtue of hope of salvation and holding secure in faith.
ANKH: The Ankh or key of life is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol for “Life” or “breath of life” and as the Egyptians believed that one’s journey was only part of an eternal life, the ankh symbolized both mortal existence and the afterlife. It is one of the most ancient symbols of Egypt and worn as an amulet.
ANGLICAN CROSS: The Anglican Cross is a symbol of Anglican and Episcopal Churches. It represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of human sin, and by correlation represents faith, hope, and love.
APOSTLES CROSS: The Apostles Cross with three buds at the end of each arm symbolizes the Holy Trinity, each bud represents one of the Twelve Apostles.
ARMENIAN CROSS: The Armenian cross, is also known as the Siroun Cross incorporates floral elements and has postaments symbolizing the Holy trinity. This cross design is exclusively used in the stone cross (Khachkar) prevalent in Armenian religious statuary and masonry
BAROQUE CRUCIFIX: The Baroque Crucifix features bold ornamentation and a seashell motif, which is a symbol of baptism in Christianity.
BASKET WEAVE CROSS: The Basket Weave Cross is inspired by interwoven crosses passed out on Palm Sunday. It symbolizes the ultimate victory of Christ was his sacrifice.
BONE CROSS: The Bone Cross represents one’s hope for the future. “A bone of him shall not be broken” (John 19:36).
BOTONEE CROSS: The Botonée Cross is a cross with three buttons on the ends. The buttons represent the three persons of the Godhead, namely, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
BUDDED CROSS: The Budded Cross can be fashioned in many forms depending on its spiritual significance. Three buds represent the Holy Trinity and is also known as the Apostles’ Cross, with one bud for each of the Twelve Apostles. Four buds symbolize the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
BYPASS CROSS: The Bypass Cross represents the spiritual connection between people and the Divine.
BYZANTINE CROSS: The Byzantine Cross is a more elaborate variation of the traditional cross. The origin of the Byzantine Cross date back to the fourth century Emperor Constantine the Great, who was responsible for Christianizing the Roman Empire.
CADUCEUS: The Caduceus, a staff with two snakes coiled around it, is the official insignia of the United States Medical Corps, Navy Pharmacy Division, and the Public Health Service. The Caduceus is also the magic wand carried by Hermes (the Romans knew him as Mercury), the messenger of the gods.
CALVARY CROSS: The Calvary Cross is a Latin Cross with a base of three steps, representing (from the top) faith, hope, and love.
CELTIC CROSS: The Celtic Cross, is also known as the Iona Cross. While the Celtic Cross is a Christian symbol, it has its roots in ancient pagan beliefs at the same time. Celtic crosses predate Christianity and were first used by pagans to worship the sun. According to legend, St. Patrick is said to have incorporated the ancient sun symbol and the Christian cross while converting pagans into Christians.
CLADDAGH: The Claddagh is one of Ireland’s most recognized and precious images. Two hands embracing a heart adorned with a crown symbolize the purity of a cherished relationship – friendship, love and loyalty.
CLOVER CROSS: The Clover Cross symbolizes hope, faith, love and luck that will come from the Blessed Jesus.
CHALICE SYMBOL: For Christians, the Chalice is the symbol of the Eucharist. Using it commemorates the Last Supper. It is filled with wine to symbolize the blood of Christ and bread is dipped into it to symbolize the body of Christ.
CHI RHO RHO: The Chi Rho is an ancient Christian symbol, a Christogram that is made by overlapping the first two letters (XP) of the Greek word ‘Christos’ meaning ‘Christ’.
CLASSIC CROSS: The Classic Cross also known as the Latin Cross is a Christian symbol representing the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
CONTEMPORARY CROSS: The Contemporary Cross represents the Nativity Star, which led the magi to the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
CROSSLET CROSS: The Crosslet Cross is made from four Latin Crosses arranged at right-angles to each other, with their tops pointing north, south, east and west, traditionally thought to represent the message of the cross going out to the four corners of the earth. It also represents the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
CRUCIFIX: The crucifix is a symbol which is a cross with the figure of Jesus Christ attached to it. It often has the word “INRI” written across the top. These letters are a shortened version of a phrase that translates to “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” These were the words which Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, ordered to have written on the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
DAGMAR CROSS: The Dagmar Cross is associated with Queen Dagmar of Denmark. It features several holy images: from to and the clockwise are St. Basil the Great, St. John the Baptist, St. John Chrysostom and Mary, the Mother of God. The central image is that of Christ; on the back is Christ Crucified.
ENGAGEMENT RING: The custom of presenting a prospective bride with an engagement ring dates all the way back to Ancient Rome. Roman women wore rings to signify a business contract or to affirm mutual love and obedience. Many engagement rings of today feature a diamond because its durability represents the eternal bond between two people and their commitment to each other.
ENGRAILED CROSS: The Engrailed Cross symbolizes the painful suffering of Jesus on the Cross.
ETERNITY BANDS: Rings have adorned human hands for centuries. It was the Egyptian Pharaohs who first used rings to represent eternity. That’s because a circle has no beginning and no end, and reflects the shape of the sun and moon, which the Egyptians worshiped. Ancient Egyptians believed that the ring finger, or the fourth finger of the left hand, contained a “vena amoris” or “vein of love” that led directly to the heart. The Romans adopted this belief and wore wedding rings on their ring finger.
ETERNITY CROSS: The Eternity Cross represents the Eternal Being, otherwise, known as God.
EVIL EYE: The Evil Eye talisman is an ancient protective symbol for good fortune and is believed to a protect the wearer from the power of the evil malevolent glare, usually given to a person when one is unaware.
EYE OF PROVIDENCE: The Eye of Providence represents the eye of God, the singular divine power that has created the entire universe. The symbol shows a human eye enclosed in a triangle. In Christianity, the triangle represents the Holy Trinity and as such, the Eye of Providence symbolizes the divine entity looking over humankind and providing it benevolent guidance.
FANCY CROSS: The Fancy Cross is elaborately decorative and is a symbol of both Christ himself and the faith of Christians.
FLEUR-DE-LIS CROSS: The fleur-de-Lis Cross incorporates a styled lily used as a symbol of French royalty. For Christians, the three-petaled ends represent the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In some traditions, the emblem symbolizes the Virgin Mary.
FLEURY CROSS: The Fleury Cross features a three-petal design, representing the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The distinctive lily flower shape at the ends of each of its arms symbolizes the Resurrection.
FILIGREE CROSS: The Filigree Cross features delicate ornamental work made with tiny beads or twisted wires. The art of filigree dates back to ancient history. It comes from an Italian word made from the Latin words for thread and grain.
FLORAL CROSS: The Floral Cross features a rose motif to symbolize all five of Christ’s wounds from the crucifixion.
FOUR WAY CROSS: In Catholic tradition, a four-way cross or cruciform combines four devotional images. They include the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Virgin Mother, St. Christopher and St. Joseph.
FOURCHÉE CROSS: The Fourchée Cross is also known as a Forked Cross is believed to represent the Tree of Knowledge, which brought sin into the world.
FREEFORM CRUCIFIX: The Freeform Crucifix has arms with an irregular contour shape. It is an artistic representation of Jesus on the Cross.
ETERNITY CROSS: The Eternity Cross represents the Eternal Being, otherwise, known as God.
GREEK CROSS: The Greek Cross, with arms of equal length, is the most ancient cross, predating the Latin Cross. In Christian mythology, the four equal arms point in the direction of the earth, representing the spread of the gospel or the four platonic elements (earth, air, water, and fire).
GUARDIAN ANGEL: Angels are servants and messengers of God, and God in his infinite mercy assigns each one of us a guardian angel to walk with us on our personal journey to help us avoid spiritual dangers and prepare our way to heaven. Many believe that wearing a Guardian Angel medal can protect them from danger and negativity.
HAMSA (ISLAM): The Hamsa is a popular amulet used to ward off the evil eye and bring good luck, protection, good health, and abundance. Also, know as the "Hand of Fatima" is an Islamic symbol that commemorates Fatima Zahra, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad, who founded Islam. The five fingers of hand represent the five pillars of Islam.
HAMSA (JUDAISM): The Hamsa is a popular amulet used to ward off the evil eye and bring good luck, protection, good health, and abundance. Also, known as the "Hand of Miriam" is a symbol of Judaism that commemorates Miriam, the sister of Moses who helped lead the Jewish people out of slavery from Egypt. The five fingers of the hand represent the five books of Torah; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
HEART CROSS: The Heart Cross reminds us that love and charity is central to the Christian faith and must be part of our everyday life.
HEART MOTIF: The Heart Motif is a heart pattern that is repeated all over the design of the cross and details every edge.
HOLY SPIRIT DOVE: The Dove is a symbol for the Holy Spirit inspired by Jesus’ baptism. The dove has been used among many Christian denominations as a symbol for peace, purity and new beginnings.
ICHTHYS FISH: The Ichthys fish was used by the early persecuted Christians to secretly symbolize their faith in Jesus Christ.
INFINITY CROSS: The Infinity Cross is also known as the Everlasting Cross. It symbolizes the love of God, having no beginning and no end.
ITALIAN HORN: The Italian horn, also known as cornicello is an amulet or talisman worn to protect against the evil eye and bad luck in general, and historically, to promote fertility and virility.
JERUSALEM CROSS: The Jerusalem Cross or Crusader’s Cross is a large Greek cross surrounded by four smaller versions of the Greek cross. It is a symbol of a five-fold cross and represents the four quarters of the world, Christ and his four main disciples, or the five wounds of Christ. The cross originated in the 11th century and was used in coats of arms of crusader’s, and the seals of the crusader rulers of Jerusalem.
KEY TO HEAVEN: The Key to Heaven also known as Saint Peter’s key represent the metaphorical keys to the kingdom of Heaven which were promised by Jesus Christ to Saint Peter.
LATIN CROSS: The Latin Cross is said to represent Christ’s crucifixion and was originally popularized by the Roman Catholic Church.
LATTICE CROSS: The Lattice Cross is an interwoven delicate design, describing the openwork pattern on those crosses.
LORD’S PRAYER CROSS: The Lord’s Prayer Cross is a reminder to us that we should be living in the way God wants us to everyday: In peace and love one another, the way it is in Heaven.
MADONNA: A Madonna is a representation of the Virgin Mary. The word Madonna means “My Lady” in Italian.
MADONNA AND CHILD: The Madonna and Child is often the name of a work of art which shows the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus and are central icons for both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
MALTESE CROSS: The Maltese Cross is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller. Its eight points denote the eight obligations or aspirations of the knights, namely “to live in truth, have faith, repent one’s sins, give proof of humility, love justice, be merciful, be sincere and wholehearted, and to endure persecution”.
METHODIST CROSS: The Methodist Cross was adopted shortly after the merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The insignia of The United Methodist Church is a cross linked with a dual flame, a powerful reminder of who we are in Christ. It relates the United Methodist church to God through Christ (the cross) and the Holy Spirit (the flame), a reminder of Pentecost when witnesses were unified by the power of the Holy Spirit and saw “tongues, as of fire” in Acts 2:3.
MOLINE CROSS: The Moline Cross has four double tipped arms of equal length, creating eight points. They remind us of the eight Beatitudes, given by Jesus Christ during the Sermon on the Mount.
NAIL CROSS: The Nail Cross represents Christ’s Passion: His betrayal, scourging, mocking, and the agony of the Crucifixion.
OLIVE LEAF CROSS: The Olive Leaf Cross symbolizes peace and reconciliation.
OPENWORK CROSS: The Openwork cross represents the principle symbol of Christianity. It features both simple and intricate piercings to create decorative design elements.
ORNATE CRUCIFIX: The Ornate Crucifix is elaborately adorned with angel wings to symbolize our religious freedom and/or features a Guardian Angel who serves as our protector.
ORTHODOX CROSS: The Orthodox Cross has three crossbeams, two horizontal and the third a bit slanted. The short top bar symbolizes the placard with the inscription ‘Jesus Christ, King of the Jews’ (INRI), that Pilate ordered to put up to mock the Savior. The middle bar is where the hands of Christ were nailed, and the lowest bar is the footrest and has a symbolic significance as it represents the ascension on Christ, in addition to the concept that “The Cross is the Scale of Justice”.
PAPAL CROSS: The Papal Cross is representative of the ultimate authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The three bars of the Papal Cross are generally considered to be representative of the Trinity – the Father God, the son Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
PASSION CROSS: The Passion Cross is also referred to as the Cross of Suffering, has pointed ends to represent the nails used to attached Christ to the cross during his Crucifixion. Passion, in this definition, comes from the Latin word passio, which means suffering or enduring.
PATTÉE CROSS: The Pattée has arms that are narrow at the center, and often flared in a curve or straight line shape, to be broader at the perimeter. It was sometimes used by the Teutonic Knights, a crusader order and with heraldry.
PATONCE CROSS: The Patonce cross is an intermediate between a Pattée and Fluerie Cross, and is often used in heraldry. The liliform ends of this cross remind us of the Holy Trinity.
PATRIARCHAL CROSS: The Patriarchal Cross has two horizontal arms with the upper one shorter than the lower. The top arm represents the inscription placed by Pilate on the Cross.
SAINT PETER’S CROSS: Saint Peter’s Cross is an inverted Latin cross, traditionally used as a Christian symbol and is associated with the martyrdom of Peter the Apostle.
POINTED CROSS: The Pointed Cross often used in heraldry, is also referred to as the Cross of Suffering representing the nails that Christ suffered at his Crucifixion.
POMÉE CROSS: The Pomée Cross with knobs at the end of each of its arms resemble apples, and represent the fruit of the Christian life.
POTENT CROSS: The Potent Cross has a crossbar at the end of each of its arms forming four separate tau crosses. “Potent” is an old word for a crutch, and is used in heraldic terminology to describe a T shape.
PRAYING CHILD: The Praying child is inspired by the Biblical verse from Samuel 1:27, “For this Child I have prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him”.
QUADRATE CROSS: The Quadrate Cross has a square at the intersection point, which reminds us of the four Gospels going out to the four corners of the earth. The number four also represents earth, so this cross can signify the fact that Christ died on the cross to save this world from its sins.
RECERELEE CROSS: The Recerelee Cross has a design that goes back to the Middle Ages and was used in religious pageantry and heraldic spectacles.
RESURRECTION: After Jesus was crucified, he came back from the dead and rose to Heaven to sit with God. These images show his Ascension; he has defeated death and his Spirit is alive on Earth.
ROMAN CROSS: The Roman Cross is also known the Latin cross, is said to represent Christ’s crucifixion.
ROSARY: The Rosary is a tool used to aid prayer and Meditation in Catholicism. The beads of a rosary count the prayers as they are recited out loud or in the mind. Relying on the rosary beads to keep track of how many times you’ve said a prayer allows you to clear your mind and meditate on your invocation more effectively.
SALTIRE CROSS: The Saltire Cross is a diagonal cross that is also known as the Saint Andrew's Cross. It has become a symbol of Scotland where Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint.
SCROLL CROSS: The Scroll Cross features spirals and rolling incomplete circle motifs, some which resemble either a document in scroll form or loosely represented vines.
SIGNET RING: Signet rings or seal rings were originally used as a signature to authenticate official documents before widespread literacy. Currently, signet rings are worn as a fashion or personal statement, rather than as a means of identification. They can be engraved with a family crest, monogram, initials or custom design.
TAPERED CROSS: The Tapered Cross has arms that are narrow at the center, and often flared in a curve or straight line shape, to be broader at the perimeter.
TAU CROSS: The Tau cross also known as St. Anthony’s cross is based on the Greek letter T. It is associated with the most prominent saints in the Catholic faith. St. Anthony wore a tau-shaped cross on his cloak. St. Francis of Assisi adopted it as a personal emblem and used the tau to decorate the door and wall of whatever home he was staying at.
TAU RHO CROSS: The Tau Rho Cross, is also known as the Monogrammatic Cross, symbolizes Christ upon the cross. It is shaped like the letter P with a long vertical bar, crossed by a short horizontal bar.
TEN COMMANDMENTS TABLET: The Ten Commandments tablet, is also known as the Tablets of the Law, were the two pieces of stone inscribed with rules handed down to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.
THIEVES CROSS: The Thieves Cross is also known as the crucifix dolorosus, and occasionally the ‘robber’s cross’, because it was said to be the cross used for the two thieves who were crucified together with Jesus Christ.
THREE-BAR CROSS: The Three-Bar cross in which the short top bar symbolizes the placard with the written charge against Christ. The middle bar is where the hands of Christ were nailed, and the lowest bar represents the footrest.
TREFOIL CROSS: Trefoil (from Latin trifolium, “three-leaved plant”) in Christian symbolism represents the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
TRINITY CROSS: The Trinity Cross represents the unity of Father, Son, and Holy spirit as three persons in one Godhead.
TUBULAR CROSS/CRUCIFIX: The Tubular Cross/Crucifix is a symbol of the Christian faith, recalling the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the redeeming benefits of his Passion and Death. Its design is inspired by the pipe organs installed in Churches to symbolize the “Voice of God”.
TWISTED CROSS: The Twisted Cross represents the tightly woven relationship that we have with God and his infinite love for all.
VENETIAN CROSS: The Venetian Cross is a highly decorative Cross that incorporates both precious stones and detailed, intricate metal work.
VINE CROSS: The Vine Cross features an intricate design of plant life intertwining with the traditional cross. The vine imagery is a reference to a Bible verse; “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
VIRGIN MARY: Mary was the woman chosen to be the Mother of God, that is to be the mother of Jesus. She has made appearances throughout history, is known as Notre Dame (Our Lady of..), and has been witnessed in locations around the world. The Virgin Mary symbolizes peace, loving protection, and the infinite Spirit of forgiveness.
VOIDED CROSS: The Voided Cross is a reminder that Christ rose from death on the cross to proclaim victory over sin, death, and the Devil.
WEDDING BANDS: Rings have adorned human hands for centuries. It was the Egyptian Pharaohs who first used rings to represent eternity. That’s because a circle has no beginning and no end, and reflects the shape of the sun and moon, which the Egyptians worshiped. Ancient Egyptians believed that the ring finger, or the fourth finger of the left hand, contained a “vena amoris” or “vein of love” that led directly to the heart. The Romans adopted this belief and wore wedding rings on their ring finger.
WHEAT CROSS: The Wheat Cross has a wheat motif which is symbolic of Christ as the bread of life and represents the spreading of the word of God and the Kingdom of Heaven.
WINGED HEART: The Winged Heart symbolizes love for freedom to maintain one’s will and individuality.
WRAP CROSS: The Wrap Cross typically features an “X” design in the center, representing rope that held together the cross upon which Christ was crucified. This design symbolizes Christ’s voluntary Passion: His betrayal, scourging, mocking and the agony of the Crucifixion.
WOODED CRUCIFIX: The Wooded Crucifix has an image of Jesus on a woodgrain cross. This crucifix emphasizes Jesus’ sacrifice – his death by crucifixion, which Christians believe brought about the redemption of mankind.
YIN YANG: The Yin Yang is the Taoist symbol of the interplay of forces in the universe. In Chinese Philosophy, yin and yang represent the two primal cosmic forces in the universe. Yin (moon) is the receptive, passive, cold female force. Yang (sun) is the masculine force, movement, heat. The Ying Yang symbol represents the idealized harmony of these forces; equilibrium in the universe.
II. CHRISTIAN SAINTS.
OUR LADY OF ASSUMPTION | NUESTRA SEŃORA DE LA ASUNCIÓN: The Assumption of Mary is the belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into Heaven following her death.
SAINT ANDREW: St. Andrew the Apostle was one of the disciples closest to Jesus. He is called the first Apostle. According to Scripture, St. Andrew was the disciple who told Jesus about the boy with the loaves and fishes (John 6:8). He was also in Simon Peter’s boat and attended the last supper. He was crucified for baptizing the wife of a Roman governor. As a patron saint, St. Andrew offers protections to fisherman and singers. Wearing a St. Andrew medal can bring you luck and safety.
SAINT ANNE | ANNE DE BEAUPRE | SANTA ANA: St. Anne is the Blessed Virgin Mary’s mother and Jesus’ grandmother. Although the Bible doesn’t mention Anne, other religious books acknowledge her as Mary’s mother and say she’s and Mary’s father, Joachim, had trouble bearing children until the angel Gabriel appeared and said they would have a child who they must dedicate to God. Saint Anne is the patroness of childless couples, unmarried women, housewives, women in labor or who want to be pregnant, grandmothers and educators.
SAINT ANTHONY | SAN ANTONIO: St. Anthony of Padua, a Portuguese priest and Franciscan friar who was renowned as a teacher and preacher. St. Anthony is the benefactor of lost people and objects, based on a story where a Franciscan novice stole his psalter and left. After Anthony prayed for its return, both the thief and the psalter returned to the Order. St. Anthony is the patron of finding lost items.
HOLY INFANT OF ATOCHA | SANTO NIŃO DE ATOCHA: The Holy infant of Atocha is the patron saint of those unjustly imprisoned, protector of travelers, and rescuer of those in peril. According to legend, in the Spanish city of Atocha, the Moors only allowed children to perform acts of mercy for their Christian captives, and a child appeared wearing pilgrim’s clothing and carrying a basket of food and a gourd of water. After the child gave food and water to the prisoners, his basket and gourd miraculously remained full.
SAINT AUGUSTINE | SAN AGUSTÍN: Augustine of Hippo was an Algerian-Roman philosopher and theologian of the late Roman/early Medieval period. He was a major figure in bringing Christianity to dominance in the previously pagan Roman Empire. St. Augustine is the patron of theologians, printers, brewers, and many cities and dioceses.
BAPTISM | EL BAUTISMO: In Christianity, Baptism is the sacrament of spiritual rebirth through which we are made children of God and heirs of Heaven. Water in baptism symbolizes the washing away of sin and the rising to newness in life.
SAINT BARBARA | SANTA BÁRBARA: St. Barbara is the patroness for miners and field artillerymen. She was a Christian martyr, and the extremely beautiful daughter of a pagan named Dioscorus. Dioscorus protected her by locking her up in a tower, where she spent her days admiring God’s creations. She secretly became a Christian and dedicated her life to God. Ultimately, Barbara was tortured and beheaded for her faith. She offers protection (especially from lightning and fire) and the hope of a “good death” to those who wear her medallion.
SAINT BENEDICT | SAN BENITO: St. Benedict is the patron of Europe, farmers, engineers and architects. The Saint Benedict medal is a Christian sacramental medal containing symbols and text related to the life of Saint Benedict and many believe that wearing his medal invokes protection against evil forces and illness.
SAINT BERNADETTE: St. Bernadette of Lourdes was best known for receiving visions from the Virgin Mary in a cave near Lourdes. Pope Pius XI canonized her as a saint in 1933. Saint Bernadette is the patroness of the ill, poor, shepherds and those ridiculed for their piety.
SAINT BRIGID | SANTA BRÍGIDA: Saint Brigid is the patroness for newborn babies, blacksmiths, boatman, chicken farmers, dairy farmers, midwives, children whose parents are not married and fugitives. Brigid is Ireland’s second most famous patron saint and known for her generosity to the poor.
CARIDAD DEL COBRE: Caridad del Cobre, also known as Our Lady of Charity is a popular Marian title of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to legend, she saved three boys during a storm and is one of Cuba’s most treasured figures, representing hope and salvation in the face of misfortune. Caridad del Cobre is the patroness of Cuba.
SAINT CATHERINE | SANTA CATALINA: Catherine of Sienna, a lay member of the Dominican Order, was a mystic, activist, and author who had a great influence on Italian Literature and the Catholic Church. Canonized in 1461, she is also one of the few women who hold the title of Doctor of the Church. St. Catherine is the patroness of nurses, breast cancer, and Italy.
SAINT CECILlA | SANTA CECILLIA: St. Cecilia is the patroness of musicians, composers, and poets. She is one of the most venerated martyrs of Christian antiquity and gives inspiration to all who keep music close to their heart.
SAINT CHARLES | SAN CARLOS: St. Charles Borromeo was the Latin archbishop of Milan from 1564 to 1584 and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was a leading figure of the Counter- Reformation combat against the Protestant Reformation together with St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Philip Neri. In that role, he was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests. St. Charles is the patron of bishops, cardinals, seminarians, and spiritual leaders.
SAINT CHRISTOPHER | SAN CRISTÓBAL: St. Christopher is the subject of numerous legends and stories. Originally the man who would become Christopher was ferryman named Offerus. He was a large, strong man who carried people across a river. One day a child asked for transportation to the other side of the waterway. Offerus completed the request, even as the child grew heavier and heavier. The child later revealed himself to be Jesus, who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Offerus became known as “Christopher” which beans “Christ-bearer”, as a result. St. Christopher is the patron of travelers and transportation.
SAINT CLARE | SANTA CLARA: St. Clare was one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of the Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition, and wrote their Rule of Life, the first set of monastic guidelines known to have been written by a woman. Saint Clare is the patroness of those with eye disease, embroiderers, television, laundry workers and extrasensory perception.
CONFIRMATION | CONFIRMACIÓN: The sacrament of Confirmation is that sacrament by which we receive the Holy Spirit, to make us strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.
SAINT DANIEL | SAN DANIEL: St. Daniel whose name means “God is my Judge”. The canon of Catholic scripture contains the Book of Daniel as part of the Old testament. In it we hear the tale of Daniel and his three companions carried off to Babylon following the capture of the city by Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel became famous for interpreting dreams and rose to become one of the most important figures in the court and lived well into the reign of the Persian conquerors. St. Daniel is the patron of courage, fortitude and strength.
DIVINE CHILD | DIVINO NIŃO: The Divino Niño, also known as Divine Child Jesus is the patron of good luck, healing and blessings. It is one of the most popular religious images in Columbia, especially among Roman Catholics and it is claimed to have miraculous powers.
SAINT DOMINIC | SANTO DOMINGO: Saint Dominic was a Castilian Catholic priest and founder of the Dominican Order. St. Dominic is the patron of astronomers and the Dominican Republic.
ECCE HOMO: “Ecce Homo” – “Behold the Man”- from the words of Pontius Pilate when he presented Jesus, crowned with thorns, to the crowd before his crucifixion. Mocked by Roman soldiers, Jesus is wearing a crown of thorns, his features expressing compassion towards his persecutors.
SAINT EDMUND | SANTO EDMUNDO: St. Edmund is the patron of pandemics as well as kings, the Roman Catholic diocese of East Anglia, and Douai Abbey in Berkshire. Martyred king of the East Angles, he was elected king in 855 at the age of fourteen and began ruling Suffolk, England the following year. After extreme torture, Edmund was beheaded and died calling upon Jesus.
SAINT EDWARD | SAN EDUARDO: St. Edward also known as Edward the Confessor was among the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England. Usually considered the last king of the House of Wessex. Saint Edward is the patron of difficult marriages and separated spouses.
OUR LADY OF FATIMA | NUESTRA SEŃORA DE FÁTIMA: Our Lady of Fátima, is a Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary based on the Marian apparitions reported on May 13, 1917 by three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal. The three children were Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Many believe wearing her medallion will bring special graces from the Virgin Mary.
SAINT FLORIAN: St. Florian is the patron of firefighters. A St. Florian medal is a great gift for firefighters, said to give them courage and protect them even in the most dangerous situations. St. Florian became a saint for refusing to obey commands to persecute Christians. St. Florian was tortured and put to death by drowning, but did so calmly as a child of God. He became the patron saint of firefighters because he was the leader of a Roman fire brigade.
SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI | SAINT FRANCIS | SAN FRANCISCO DE ASÍS: St. Francis of Assisi is the patron of animals, the environment, and traders. He is a popular patron saint for pet owners, who pray to St. Francis of Assisi for protection over their pets. St. Francis of Assisi could allegedly speak to animals, and saved a town from a vicious wolf. Wearing a St. Francis of Assisi Medal is believed to offer protection for animals and the natural environment.
SAINT GABRIEL | SAN GABRIEL: Saint Gabriel is the patron of messengers, communication workers, and postal workers. The name Gabriel is translated to mean “man of God” and first mention of him appears in the Old Testament with the prophecies of Daniel. The Angel Gabriel served as God's messenger in several places throughout the Old and New Testament. Gabriel was also the angel who showed himself to Zachariah to announce the birth of Saint John. He was also present at the Annunciation telling Mary that she would have a son that would become the savior of the world.
SAINT GEORGE | SAN JORGE: St. George was a Palestinian soldier under Roman emperor Diocletian. He was put to death for refusing to give up his Christian faith. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and the patron saint of England as well soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry, farmers and field workers, riders and saddlers, and he helps those suffering from leprosy, plague and syphilis. St. George is known for his strength and courage, even in the face of death. Wearers can evoke St. George’s name in battles – both physical and otherwise – for protection.
SAINT GERARD | SAN GERARDO: St. Gerard is the patron of expectant mothers, children, and safe childbirth. His reputation comes from a story where, after departing from a visit to the Pirofalo family, one of the daughters noticed he left behind a handkerchief and tried to return it. Gerard told her to keep it, since it could be useful to her one day. During a dangerous delivery years later, she held the handkerchief, which kept the child safe throughout the process.
SAINT GRACE | SANTA GRACIA: St. Grace was born in Catalonia, Spain into a Muslim family during the time of the Moors. She was converted to Christianity by her brother St. Bernard and sister St. Maria. Sadly, the Remaining brother, Almanzor, never converted to Christianity but instead reported his siblings to the authorities. She was martyred in 1180. St. Grace is the patroness of Valencia, Spain.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE | NUESTRA SEŃORA DE GUADALUPE: Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe and “La Virgen Morena”, which means “The brown-skinned Virgin” is the patroness of Mexico and the Americas. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to an indigenous man named Juan Diego, who relayed the Holy Mother’s desire to have a church built in her honor on Tepayac Hill.
GUARDIAN ANGEL | ÁNGEL DE LA GUARDA: Angels are servants and messengers of God, and God in his infinite mercy assigns each one of us a guardian angel to walk with us on our personal journey to help us avoid spiritual dangers and prepare our way to heaven. Many believe that wearing a Guardian Angel medal can protect them from danger and negativity.
HOLY COMMUNION | SAGRADA COMUNIÓN: Of all seven sacraments, the Eucharist also known as Holy Communion is greatest. In all the sacraments we receive grace, but only in the Eucharist do we receive Christ himself- Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
HOLY FAMILY | SAGRADA FAMILIA: The Holy Family consists of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his foster father Saint Joseph. Family is the first place where you learn about love, companionship and forgiveness.
HOLY SPIRIT | ESPRITU SANTO: The Dove is a symbol for the Holy Spirit inspired by Jesus’ baptism. The dove has been used among many Christian denominations as a symbol for peace, purity and new beginnings.
HOLY TRINITY | SANTAÍSIMA TRINIDAD: The Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity affirms that God is one being in three persons: Father, son and Holy Spirit. These three persons have equal status and are equally divine.
INFANT JESUS | NIŃO JESÚS: Infant Jesus, also known as Divine Infant, the Christ Child, the Holy Child, and Child Jesus, refers to Jesus Christ from his nativity to age 12. He is the patron of good luck, healing and blessings.
INFANT OF PRAGUE | INFANTE DE PRAGA: The Infant of Prague reflects God’s incarnation, spiritual childhood and the dignity of both Christ’s and our own humanity. He is the patron of financial distress, abundance, family life, and children.
SAINT JAMES: St. James also known as Saint James the Greater was one of the Twelve Apostles and brother of St. John the Apostle. James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus and the first Apostle martyred by sword. St. James is the patron of fishermen, pilgrims, Spain, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
JESUS | JESÚS: Jesus, also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ, was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the central figure of Christianity, the world’s largest religion. Most Christians believe he is the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament.
JESUS HAVE MERCY | JESÚS TEN PIEDAD: The Jesus Prayer, also known as The Prayer, is a short formulaic prayer esteemed and advocated especially within the Eastern churches: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." The prayer has been widely taught and discussed throughout the history of the Orthodox Church.
SAINT JOHN | SAN JUAN: St. John is the patron of baptism, conversions, innkeepers and tailors. St. John is revered in the Christian Church as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. After a period of desert solitude, John the Baptist emerged as a prophet in the region of the lower Jordan River valley. He had a circle of disciples, and Jesus was among the recipients of his rite of baptism.
SAINT JOSEPH | SAN JOSE: St. Joseph is the foster father of Jesus and the Virgin Mary’s husband. He initially sent Mary away after finding out she was pregnant with someone else’s child, before an angel instructed him to raise and protect God’s child. Joseph is the patron of fathers, workers, immigrants, travelers and several countries. Someone wearing a St. Joseph medal seeks protection for these people as well as fatherly care in general.
SAINT JUDE THADDEUS | SAN JUDAS THADEO: St. Jude Thaddeus was one of the original Twelve Apostles to Jesus, and not to be confused with Judas Iscariot. St. Jude is known for his preaching of the Gospel during hopeless situations. As, such he is known as the patron of people with lost causes. Catholics seek him for guidance and hope during difficult times.
SAINT LAZARUS | SAN LÀZARO: St. Lazarus is the patron of the poor and sick. In Cuban Catholicism, he is represented as a homeless beggar surrounded by dogs. Some say he was a fourth-century bishop, but most Cubans imagine him as Biblical Lazarus-the poor man who cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven, who Jesus raises from the dead.
SAINT KATERI: St. Kateri Tekakwitha is informally known as Lily of the Mohawks. She is the first Native American to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. Kateri Tekakwitha is known as the patroness of Native Americans and First Nations Peoples, integral ecology and the environment.
OUR LADY OF LORETO | NUESTRA SEŃORA DE LORETO: The Marian title of Our Lady of Loreto refers to the house in which the Virgin Mary was born and raised, and in which the angel Gabriel visited her in the Annunciation. Tradition holds that angels miraculously transported the house from Palestine to Loreto, Italy, in the 13th century. Our Lady of Loreto is the patroness of aviators, flight attendants, and air travelers.
OUR LADY OF LOURDED | NUESTRA SEŃORA DE LOURDES: Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in honor of the Marian apparitions that occurred in 1858 near Lourdes in France. Our Lady of Lourdes is the patroness of illness and healing.
SAINT LUCY | SANTA LUCÍA: St. Lucy whose name is associated with light, lived and perished as a martyr during the Great Persecution of Christians initiated by Diocletian. She showed incredible bravery and stood up for faith at the cost of her life. St. Lucy is the patroness of sight, virgins and the city of Syracuse (Italy).
SAINT LUKE | SAN LUCAS: St. Luke was one of the authors of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. He was a Greek and a Gentile, who wrote about Jesus’ praise of the Gentiles. He followed St. Paul and was a physician (Colossians 4:14). St. Luke is the patron of doctors, surgeons and artists.
SAINT MARIA GORETTI | SANTA MARÍA GORETTI: Maria Teresa Goretti is an Italian virgin-martyr of the Catholic Church, and one of the youngest saints to be canonized. St. Maria Goretti is the patroness of chastity, rape victims, girls, youth, poverty, purity, and forgiveness.
SAINT MARK | SAN MARCOS: St. Mark or Mark the Evangelist, one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus, is traditionally considered the author of the second Gospel. He founded the Church of Alexandria and died a martyr after persecutors dragged him through the streets of Alexandria. St. Mark is the patron of Venice, attorneys and barristers.
SAINT MARTHA | SANTA MARTA: St. Martha is best known as being the sister of Lazarus, whom Jesus awaked from the dead. She is the patroness of cooks, housewives, homemakers, and hospitality workers
SAINT MARTIN | SAN MARTÍN: St. Martin is the patron of mixed-raced people, barbers, innkeepers, public health workers, and all those seeking racial harmony. He was noted for his work on behalf of the poor, establishing and orphanage and a children’s hospital.
MATKA BOSKA: Makta Boska also known as Mother of God, the Black Madonna and Our Lady of Częstochowa, is a national heroine and patron saint of Poland. She is a symbol of protection.
SAINT MATTHEW | SAN MATEO: Saint Matthew is the patron of accountants and bankers. He was one of the Twelve Apostles, a key figure in the development of Christianity. He was an odd convert to the cause of Jesus and Christianity. A Roman tax collector who was called into service as Apostle while conducting business at Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. Matthew found his life’s calling in spreading the Gospel across Palestine.
SAINT MARY MAGDALENE | SANTA MARÍA MAGDALENA: St. Mary Magdalene was a Jewish woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion and its aftermath. She is one of the greatest saints in the Bible and a legendary example of God’s mercy and grace.
MARY WITHOUT SIN | MARÍA SIN PECADO: The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception teaches that Mary, the mother of Christ, was conceived without sin and her conception was thus immaculate. Mary’s sinless conception is the reason why Catholics refer to Mary as “full of grace”.
SAINT MICHAEL | SAN MIGUEL: Saint Michael the Archangel is honored as the angel who fought Satan in the battle described in the book of Revelation. He symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is the patron saint of protection, police officers, firemen and military.
MILITARY MEDALS: Military medals honor and protect the soldiers who serve our country and risk their lives for our freedom. These medals will bring a sense of comfort to those who wear them.
MIRACULOUS MEDAL | MEDALLA MILAGROSA: The Miraculous Medal, also known as the Medal of Immaculate Conception, is a devotional medal, the design of which was originated by Saint Catherine Labouré following her apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Wearing the medal with faith and devotion reminds us of the love and protection that Our Lady offers to all of God’s children.
OUR LADY OF MONTSERRAT: Our Lady of Montserrat is a Marian title associated with a statue of the Madonna and Child venerated at the Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery on the Montserrat Mountain in Catalonia, Spain. She is the Patron Saint of Catalonia, an honor she shares with St. George. The famed image one bore the inscription “Nigra Sum Sed Formosa” (Latin: I am black, but Beautiful).
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL | NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL MONTE CARMELO: Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the 12th and early to mid 13th century. Our Lady of Mount Carmel was adopted in the 19th century as the patron saint of Chile, in South America.
OTHER CABRINI | MADRW CABRINI: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini MSC, also called Mother Cabrini, was an Italian-American Roman Catholic nun. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a Catholic religious institute that was a major support to her fellow Italian immigrants to the United States. Mother Cabrini is the patron saint of immigrants and missionaries.
MOTHER TERESA | MADRE TERESA: Mother Teresa was the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic congregation of women dedicated to helping the poor. Considered on the 20th Century’s greatest humanitarians, she was canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta in 2016. Wearing her medal brings comfort for those who feel abandoned and struggle to remain committed to their faith. Mother Teresa is the Patron saint of missionaries, Aids sufferers, florists, the sick, and the Archdiocese of Calcutta.
SAINT NEUMANN | SAN NEUMANN: John Nepomucene Neumann was a Catholic priest from Bohemia. He immigrated to the United States in 1836, where he was ordained and later joined the Redemptorists and became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia. He is the first U.S. Bishop to be canonized. St. Neumann is the patron of immigrants.
SAINT NICHOLAS | SAN NICOLÀS: Saint Nicholas is the patron of newlyweds, children, druggists, repentant thieves, paupers, students, archers, merchants and sailors. He was a bishop and abbot whom was especially generous to the poor and a protector of the wronged. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nicholas the wonderworker.
SAINT PATRICK | SAN PATRICIO: St. Patrick is the patron and “National Apostle” of Ireland. As a teenager, he was kidnapped by pirates and forced into slavery as a sheep herder. Legend has it that he received a dream from God guiding him to escape. He continued his life becoming a priest then a bishop and returned to Ireland to convert the pagans there to Christianity. He used a shamrock to preach about the Holy Trinity.
SAINT PAUL | SAN PABLO: St. Paul influenced the development of the Church. He is an incredibly important saint who started as a persecutor, but had a powerful vision that resulted in his conversion to Christianity. He was baptized and changed his name from Saul to Paul. He traveled the world while preaching about Christianity. St. Paul is revered for his advice on how good Christians should live. He became a martyr after his beading by Roman emperor Nero. St. Paul is the patron of writers, journalists, authors, missionaries and evangelists.
PADRE PIO: Padre Pio, also known as Saint Pio of Pietrecina, was an Italian friar, priest, stigmatist and mystic, now venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. Padre Pio is known as the patron saint of civil defense volunteers, adolescents and stress relief.
SAINT PEREGRINE | SAN PEREGRINO: St. Peregrine Laziosi started as a rebel and enemy of the church in his hometown of Forli, Italy. The pope sent Philip Benizi to the city as a peace ambassador, but Peregrine assaulted him. The rebel became remorseful afterward and asked for his forgiveness. He renounced his ways and became a priest. St. Peregrine is known as the patron of people with cancer, foot conditions, and other incurable disease after a cancerous growth in his foot disappeared overnight after prayer. He reportedly cured other people throughout Forli after that.
SAINT PETER | SAN PEDRO: St. Peter also known as Peter the Apostle, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and one of the first leaders of the early Church. He was a fisherman by trade and is the patron saint of net makers, shipbuilders, and fisherman, and because he holds the “keys to heaven”, he is also the patron saint of locksmiths.
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP | NUESTRA SEŃORA DEL PERPETUO SOCORRO: Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Byzantine icon that is believed to have its origin sometime during the 13th-15th century. The image is also known as “Our Lady of Perpetual Succour”. The icon is known for being miraculous; over the centuries countless healings and special graces have been attributed to it, so much so that the image has been honored and venerated by many Popes. Our lady of Perpetual Help is the patroness of the Redemptorist Order, Haiti, Almoradi, Spain, Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabanatuan, Philippines, and Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds.
POPE FRANCIS: Pope Francis is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City. When he was elected Pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio decided to assume Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Wearing a Pope Francis medal will help inspire you in your everyday life.
POPE JOHN PAUL II: Pope John Paul II was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his death in 2005. He is the only Polish pope to date and was instrumental in bringing the fall of Communism in Europe and Poland especially.
OUR LADY OF PROVIDENCE | NUESTRA SEŃORA DE LA PROVIDENCIA: Our Lady of Providence is sometimes also identified as Queen of the Home. Devotion to Our Lady of Divine Providence originated in Italy, and spread to France and Spain. The devotion was brought to Puerto Rico in the early 1850’s by the Servite Fathers. She is the patroness of Puerto Rico.
QUEEN OF THE HOLY SCAPULAR | REINA DE LA SANTA ESCPULA: The Queen of the Holy Scapular is inspired by the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. The Virgin Mary offered her holy scapular in an apparition to the English presbyter, Simon Stock, as an instrument of personal conversion and eternal salvation.
SAINT RAPHAEL: St. Raphael is known as the patron of medical workers, nurses, physicians, matchmakers, and travelers. He is one of the seven Archangels who stand before the throne of God. He is known as the healer. Raphael’s name, in fact means “God’s Healing”.
SAINT RITA | SANTA RITA: St. Rita is the patron of impossible causes, marital problems, spousal abuse, infertility and parenthood. Rita of Cascia was an Italian widow and Augustinian nun venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Wearing her medal will comfort those seeking balance in their family lives.
SAINT ROCH | SAINT ROCCO | SAN ROQUE: St. Roch, a French orphan whose wealthy uncle cared for him, rejected the luxe life, and as a young adult, donated his sizeable inheritance to the poor and sought a life as a pilgrim. While traveling on pilgrimage, he often cured the sick and helped the unfortunate, until he himself contracted the plague, which rendered him sick, feeble and an outcast from society. Roch found a safe place to live in a deserted cave, where a local dog brought him bread daily, and this was how he survived until he recovered. St. Roch is the patron of the sick, invalids and dogs.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS | SAGRADO CORAZON DE JESÚS: The Sacred Heart of Jesus has one of the deepest meanings in the Roman Catholic practice. The heart of Jesus is viewed as a symbol of “God’s boundless and passionate love for mankind”.
SACRED HEART OF MARY | SAGRADO CORAZÓN DE MARÍA: The sacred Heart of Mary also known as The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a devotional name used to refer to the interior life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her joys, her sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections, and above all her virginal love for God the father, her maternal love for her son Jesus, and her compassionate love for all people.
SAINT SEBASTIAN | SAN SEBASTIÀN: St. Sebastian is the patron of athletes and archers. Medals with St. Sebastian often depict him as a martyr, tied to a tree and getting shot with arrows during Diocletian’s (the Roman Emperor) persecution of Christians. He is a “champion of Christ and guardian of the heavens”, or an athlete Christi. St. Sebastian is a symbol of strength and courage in the face of adversity. The Catholic faith attributes protection of athletes to St. Sebastian as well as the gifts of stamina and perseverance.
OUR LADY OF SORROWS: Our lady of Sorrows, the Sorrowful Mother, and Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows are the names by which the Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to the sorrows in her life. She is the patron saint of Slovakia, the state of Mississippi, the Congregation of Holy Cross, and Mola di Bari, Italy. Wearing her medal will comfort those in suffering to find hope, happiness and faith that God has always given us.
SAINT THRESA | SANTA TERESA: St. Thérèse Lisieux Little Flower is credited with remarkable spiritual accomplishments during her 24 years of life. Born in Alençon, France, St. Theresa was a Carmelite nun who lived a pious life before passing away from tuberculosis. She had visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and baby Jesus and was the youngest person the Pope has ever designated a doctor of the church. Wearing a St. Theresa medal reminds people to live a life of simplicity and to bloom wherever God has planted them. St. Theresa is the patroness of aviators, florists, missionaries, and the protector of many causes, including protection against sickness.
SAINT THOMAS | SANTO TOMAS: Saint Thomas is one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Thomas is commonly known as “Doubting Thomas” because he doubted Jesus’ resurrection when first told of it; later, he confessed his faith, “My Lord and my God”, on seeing Jesus’ crucifixion wounds. Saint Thomas is the patron of doubt, architects, builders, construction workers, surveyors and India.
SAINT VALENTINE | SAN VALENTIN: St. Valentine was a Roman priest martyred during the third century in Rome. According to legend, Emperor Claudius Gothicus decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied the Emperor and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. St. Valentine is the patron of lovers, romance, epileptics and beekeepers.
SAINT VINCENT | SAN VICENTE: St. Vincent is the patron of Charitable societies. He is primarily recognized for his charity and compassion for the poor, though he is also known for his reform of the clergy and for his early role opposing Jansenism.
III. OTHER RELIGIOUS FAITHS.
ALLAH: Allah is the standard Arabic word for God and is used by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews as well as by Muslims.
ALLAH/MUHAMMAD: Islam is a monotheistic religion teaching that there is only one God (Allah), and that Muhammad is a messenger of God.
Al-KARIM: Al-Karim means “the most generous”. In Islamic tradition, Al-Karim is one of the 99 names of Allah.
ALIF WAW: The Alif represents the number one and belongs to the element of fire. The Waw is the twenty-seventh letter of the Arab alphabet. It represents the number six and belongs to the element of air.
AYAT AL-KURSI: Ayat Al-Kursi is regarded as one of the most powerful ayahs in the Quran because when it is recited, the greatness of God is believed to be confirmed.
BISMILLAH: The Bismillah saying, “in the name of Allah”, invokes a blessing upon an action or undertaking of a Muslim. The full form is Bismillah al Rahim, “in the name of Allah the merciful the compassionate”.
BISMILLAH TUGHRA: Bismillah: “In the name of God” or “In the name of Allah”. Tughra script is a famous style that was originally developed by the Ottoman Sultans for their official seal.
BUDDHA: The Buddha symbolizes spiritual awareness of the supreme or divine power of the universe. Messages of peace, generosity, wisdom and kindness are attributed to him.
CHAI: One of the most well-known symbols of Judaism, Chai is a Hebrew word that means ‘life’ or ‘living’. The word is spelled with two Hebrew letters – ‘Chet’ and ‘Yud’. Traditionally, every Hebrew letter has been assigned a numerical value. ‘Chet’ has been given the number 8 and ‘Yud’ has got a value of 10. Together, they make 18, which has become the number of Chai.
CRESCENT MOON: The Crescent Moon represents progress is the appointed sign of times, seasons, fast and feast, and governs the Islamic calendar.
DHARMA WHEEL: The Dharma Wheel also known as the Dharma chakra is often used to represent Buddha himself. It has become the universal symbol for Buddhism. The Dharma Wheel has eight spokes, which represent Buddha’s Eightfold Path.
HAMSA: The Hamsa known as the Hand of Fatima is an Islamic symbol that commemorates Fatima Zahra, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad and the wife of Hazrat Ali. Since ages, it has been a popular amulet used to ward off the evil eye and bring good luck, protection, good health, and abundance.
ISLAMIC BLESSING: The Islamic Blessing is a Benediction taken from the Quran.
LOTUS: The Lotus flower is regarded in many different cultures, especially in eastern religions, as a symbol of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth.
MAP OF ISRAEL: The Map of Israel represents the land where Jewish religious law prevailed. It holds that the area is a God-given inheritance of the Jewish people based on the Torah, particularly the books of Genesis and Exodus, as well as on the later Prophets.
MASHALLAH: Mashallah is an Arabic phrase that means “what God has willed” and is used to express appreciation, joy, praise, or thankfulness for an event or person that was just mentioned.
MEZUZAH: A Mezuzah is a symbol of God, the Torah, and protection. It is a piece of parchment called a klaf contained in a decorative case and inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Torah. These verses consist of the Jewish prayer Shema Yisrael, beginning with the phrase: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One”.
MIZPAH BREAKAWAY HEART: Mizpah is the Hebrew word for Watchtower and has come to connote an emotional bond between two people. Mizpah jewelry generally was exchanged between two people who were lovers or close friends and might be separated from each other for some amount of time. The Mizpah breakaway heart is engraved with the phrase, “The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another”, which immediately follows the mention of Mizpah in the book of Genesis.
MUHAMMAD: Throughout the Quran, Muhammad is referred to as “Messenger”, “Messenger of God”, and “Prophet”.
OM: The Om is the most universal Hindu Symbol and its sound is used in meditation. In Hinduism, the word “Om” is the first syllable in any prayer. Om is used to symbolize the universe and the ultimate reality. Some people say that it represents the three aspects of God: The Brahma, the Vishnu and the Shiva.
QURAN VERSE: The Quran verse is also known as an Ayah, is one of the statements of varying length that make up the Surahs (chapters) of the Quran and are marked by a number.
ROSETTE: The Rosette represents the six articles of faith in Islam: The oneness of God, the Angels of God, the Divine Revelations (Books), the Prophets of God, resurrection after death and the day of judgment, and preordainment (Qadar)
SEAL OF MUHAMMAD: The seal of Muhammad was the seal that was used to sign of letters sent to foreign dignitaries, and was reportedly on a ring of the prophet’s. It says, “Muhammad prophet of God” in Arabic.
STAR CRESCENT: The crescent represents progress and the five-pointed star, light and knowledge. The moon is the appointed sign of the times, seasons, fast and feast, and governs the Islamic calendar. The five points of the star represent the five pillars of Islam, the essential elements of the Muslim faith.
STAR OF DAVID: The Star of David symbol originated in ancient Jewish tradition. History books record that the earliest uses of this symbol were seen in the form of a hexagram or the joining together of two equilateral triangles. This symbol has a deep mystical meaning. Some believe that the six points of the star represent God’s rule over the universe in all directions: north, south, east, west, up and down. Others believe that the two triangles, which point in opposite directions, are symbolsof the duality of human nature or the relationship between God and man.
TORAH: The Torah is the first part of the Jewish bible. It is the central and most important document of Judaism. Torah refers to the five books of Moses, the recipient of the original revelation from God on Mount Sinai.
TORII GATE: The gate to a Shinto shrine, the Torii designates holy ground. The gate marks the boundary between the physical and spiritual world.
TURKISH COIN: The Turkish coin is worn as an amulet to bring luck and good fortune.
WAW: According to Sufism, each letter of the Arabic alphabet is assigned a relationship between the divine realm and the human world. The letter ‘waw’, is the twenty-seventh letter of the Arab alphabet. It represents number six and belongs to the element of air.
ZULFIQAR SWORD: Zulfiqar is the legendary sword with which Hazrat Ali was blessed by Hazrat Muhammad PBUH (peace be upon him) during a war.
CASTING GRAIN TECHNICAL INFORMATION
SPRUING: The most effective sprues are the type that are flared and round. A “Channel” must be made in the investment that will allow metal to flow easily without restriction. Sprues should be attached to the heaviest section of the piece. When the molten gold solidifies and shrinkage begins, the area can draw from the tree and button and porosity can be prevented.
TREEING: The main sprue or tree (trunk) should be at least five times the size of the individual sprues. Size can vary, but by creating an undersized tree, you will choke and restrict proper flow. Start spruing at least 20% above the base. Leave a perimeter of approximately ¾ of an inch between the pieces and the flask (and the top). Inappropriate size sprues and tree can cause casting defects. A “Rule of Thumb” to go by would be that the “pieces cast should be equal in weight to the sprues, tree and button combined.” Remember it as the 50-50 rule (pieces=tree+button)
ASSEMBLY: Separate casts should be made for different sized pieces. Light, medium, and heavy pieces should not be placed on the same tree. The recommended flask temperatures will vary up to 500°F between light and heavy pieces. Casting with the incorrect temperature can cause all sorts of defaults. A cool cast of small pieces can cause incompletes. A too-hot a cast of large pieces causes porosity. Always check our “Recommended Flask Temperatures Chart” as listed.
TYPE OF WAX: To allow a proper burn-out, without trapping potential gases, the pieces employed in the tree must be free to melt out cleanly. The sprues, tree and button wax should be of the type with a lower melting temperature. This will allow them to burn-out first and leave a clear channel for the pieces to do the same. Trapped gases can otherwise cause mold erosion and ruin the pieces.
BURN-OUT: For a proper Burn-out of wax from the investment flask, all the wax must flow out and be substituted with air. Heat to at least 1350°F. Make sure you have “Grooves” on the base plate or space under the flasks to allow the wax to flow out. Elevate the flask 1-2 inches if these grooves do not exist in your Burn-out oven. Proper air supply and exhaust is essential to avoid problems that will arise due to insufficient atmosphere and trapped gases. Always follow Burn-out procedures as instructed by the investment manufacturer. After Burn-out, allow the flask to cool down to the correct “Recommended Flask Temperature” as listed below. You are now ready to introduce metal into the flask.
| RECOMMENDED FLASK TEMPERATURE | |||||
|
Karat / Metal |
Sizes of Pieces |
Yellow Pink Green |
White | ||
| Temp (°F) | Temp (°C) | Temp (°F) | Temp (°C) | ||
| 10K | LIGHT | 1200° - 1300° | 649° - 704° | 1000° - 1100° | 538° - 593° |
| MEDIUM | 1000° - 1200° | 538° - 649° | 900° - 1000° | 482° - 538° | |
| HEAVY | 800° - 1000° | 427° - 538° | 800° - 900° | 427° - 482° | |
| 14K | LIGHT | 1200° - 1300° | 649° - 704° | 1000° - 1100° | 538° - 593° |
| MEDIUM | 1000° - 1200° | 538° - 649° | 900° - 1000° | 482° - 538° | |
| HEAVY | 800° - 1000° | 427° - 538° | 800° - 900° | 427° - 482° | |
| 18K | LIGHT | 1050° - 1200° | 566° - 649° | 1000° - 1100° | 538° - 593° |
| MEDIUM | 950° - 1150° | 510° - 621° | 900° - 1000° | 482° - 538° | |
| HEAVY | 750° - 1000° | 399° - 538° | 800° - 900° | 427° - 482° | |
| 22K YELLOW | LIGHT | 1050° | 566° | N/A | N/A |
| MEDIUM | 1025° | 552° | N/A | N/A | |
| HEAVY | 1000° | 538° | N/A | N/A | |
| 24K PURE | LIGHT | 1050° | 566° | N/A | N/A |
| MEDIUM | 1025° | 552° | N/A | N/A | |
| HEAVY | 1000° | 538° | N/A | N/A | |
| PLATINUM | LIGHT | N/A | N/A | 1700° | 927° |
| MEDIUM | N/A | N/A | 1600° | 871° | |
| HEAVY | N/A | N/A | 1500° | 816° | |
| PALLADIUM | LIGHT | N/A | N/A | 1450° | 788° |
| MEDIUM | N/A | N/A | 1425° | 774° | |
| HEAVY | N/A | N/A | 1400° | 760° | |
WARRANTY CLAUSE: Ross Metals believes that the above data is accurate and reliable. However, they are only recommendations given to you free of charge, and should be employed by you with discretion and risk. Ross Metals assumes no responsibility for difficulties or damages incurred by adhering to this information.