Abstract: An improved sterling silver alloy. Like all sterlings, the improved alloy is at least 92.5 percent silver by weight. It has less copper than traditional sterlings: 3.0 percent versus the traditional 7.5 percent. Additionally, the improved alloy includes about 2.75 percent palladium, about 1.0 percent tin, and about 0.75 percent zinc, all by weight. A grain refiner, such as ruthenium, may also be provided. The components of the preferred alloy are melted, degassed, remelted, and then formed into casting grains, wire, and etc. The resulting alloy is significantly harder, as cast, than traditional sterlings: 95-120 Vickers versus 65 Vickers for traditional sterlings. The improved alloy also exhibits improved corrosion resistance. Other than a slightly higher (<200° F.) liquidus temperature, the improved alloy may be worked in substantially the same manner as traditional sterlings. Pieces cast from the improved alloy may be age hardened to about 160 Vickers, if desired.

Abstract: An improved sterling silver alloy. Like all sterlings, the improved alloy is at least 92.5 percent silver by weight. It has less copper than traditional sterlings: 3.0 percent versus the traditional 7.5 percent. Additionally, the improved alloy includes about 2.75 percent palladium, about 1.0 percent tin, and about 0.75 percent zinc, all by weight. A grain refiner, such as ruthenium, may also be provided. The components of the preferred alloy are melted, degassed, remelted, and then formed into casting grains, wire, and etc. The resulting alloy is significantly harder, as cast, than traditional sterlings: 95-120 Vickers versus 65 Vickers for traditional sterlings. The improved alloy also exhibits improved corrosion resistance. Other than a slightly higher (<200° F.) liquidus temperature, the improved alloy may be worked in substantially the same manner as traditional sterlings. Pieces cast from the improved alloy may be age hardened to about 160 Vickers, if desired.

Abstract: An improved sterling silver alloy. Like all sterlings, the improved alloy is at least 92.5 percent silver by weight. It has less copper than traditional sterlings: 3.0 percent versus the traditional 7.5 percent. Additionally, the improved alloy includes about 2.75 percent palladium, about 1.0 percent tin, and about 0.75 percent zinc, all by weight. A grain refiner, such as ruthenium, may also be provided. The components of the preferred alloy are melted, degassed, remelted, and then formed into casting grains, wire, and etc. The resulting alloy is significantly harder, as cast, than traditional sterlings: 95-120 Vickers versus 65 Vickers for traditional sterlings. The improved alloy also exhibits improved corrosion resistance. Other than a slightly higher (<200° F.) liquidus temperature, the improved alloy may be worked in substantially the same manner as traditional sterlings. Pieces cast from the improved alloy may be age hardened to about 160 Vickers, if desired.

Abstract: Jewelry articles made from a precious metal alloy having a color that is substantially white and comparable to that of platinum alloys, having liquidus and solidus temperatures comparable to that of white gold alloys, having a relatively slow solidification time when poured from a molten state, having substantial resistance to tarnishing under conditions normally encountered during ordinary human wear, having a cast hardness of about 140 Vickers, and that can be age hardened to at least about 240 Vickers, and whose yield point can be substantially strengthened via age hardening. The preferred composition of the alloy is about forty to fifty-five percent by weight silver; about fifteen to thirty-five percent by weight palladium; about fifteen to twenty-five percent by weight copper; and up to about three percent by weight zinc and/or silicon and up to about one percent by weight of a grain refiner such as iridium and/or ruthenium.

Abstract: An improved sterling silver alloy. Like all sterlings, the improved alloy is at least 92.5 percent silver by weight. It has less copper than traditional sterlings: 3.0 percent versus the traditional 7.5 percent. Additionally, the improved alloy includes about 2.75 percent palladium, about 1.0 percent tin, and about 0.75 percent zinc, all by weight. A grain refiner, such as ruthenium, may also be provided. The components of the preferred alloy are melted, degassed, remelted, and then formed into casting grains, wire, and etc. The resulting alloy is significantly harder, as cast, than traditional sterlings: 95-120 Vickers versus 65 Vickers for traditional sterlings. The improved alloy also exhibits improved corrosion resistance. Other than a slightly higher (<200° F.) liquidus temperature, the improved alloy may be worked in substantially the same manner as traditional sterlings. Pieces cast from the improved alloy may be age hardened to about 160 Vickers, if desired.

Abstract: An improved jewelry article with a brilliant, preferably white, coating securely bonded to a substrate. The coating comprises predominantly chromium and, where a white finish is desired, a platinum group metal, preferably platinum. The substrate comprises predominantly tungsten carbide and a substantial amount of metal, preferably nickel. The coating is applied to the substrate using vapor deposition, such as physical vapor deposition. The metal and especially nickel will facilitate adhesion between the chromium in the coating and the substrate. The vapor deposition will further provide for superior adhesion as compared to traditional plating techniques. The improved jewelry article will maintain the brilliant, preferably white, finish of the coating due to the hard scratch resistant predominantly chromium coating and the improved adhesion between the coating and substrate.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to a method for making an article of jewelry, the method may comprise, but is not limited to, mixing zirconia and a binder to form a mixture, heating the mixture, applying a pressure to the mixture to place the mixture in a mold to form a molded body, and applying heat to the molded body in a controlled atmosphere to at least partially remove the binder from the molded body. The method may further comprise forming at least one hole extending completely through the molded body, the at least one hole for inserting at least one stone setting or a housing for the stone setting.

Abstract: A method of enlarging a ring. A ring to be enlarged is severed, preferably with an end mill, and then expanded. The end mill will preferably cut a circular section from the ring, so that the ends of the now severed ring are concave. A plurality of preformed bars are also provided. The bars will have curved ends that match the curvature of the ring ends. The curvature of the bars and the ring will also match. The width of the various bars, between the ends, will be selected to correspond to desired increases in the ring circumference. A cross-sectional slice will be cut from a bar of the appropriate width and inserted into the severed ring. The ring and the cross-section will then be joined together, preferably with an induction welder, which can be used to quickly heat only a limited portion of the ring and insert.