ATOMIC #  •  DENSITY g/cm3  •  HARDNESS mohs  •  MELTING PT
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  • PRECIOUS METALS
  • GOLD               (Au)                      79  •   19.3  •   2.5  •  1947° F
  • SILVER              (Ag)                      47  •  10.5   •  2.5   •  1763° F
  • PLATINUM       (Pt)                      78  •   21.5   •  4.5  •  3215° F
  • PALLADIUM   (Pd)                      46  •  11.5   •   4.5  •   2830° F
  • RHODIUM       (Rh)                       45  •  12.4   •  6.0  •   3567° F
  • RUTHENIUM   (Ru)                      44   •  12.4   •  6.5  •   4233° F
  • OSMIUM          (Os)                      76  •   22.6  •  7.0  •   5491° F
  • IRIDIUM            (Ir)                         77  •  22.6   •  6.5  •  4 435° F
  • BASE METALS
  • COPPER          (Cu)                       29  •      8.9  •  3,0  •   1984° F
  • NICKEL            (Ni)                        28  •      8.0  •  4.5  •   2651° F
  • TUNGSTEN     (W)                         74  •   19.3  •  7.5  •  6192° F
  • TITANIUM       (Ti)                         22  •      4.5  •   4.0  •  3034° F
  • COBALT         (Co)                       27  •      8.9  •   5.0  •  2723° F
  • LEAD               (Pb)                        82  •   11.3  •   1.5  •    621° F
  • TIN                    (Sn)                        50  •     7.4  •   1.5  •     449° F
  • ANTIMONY    (Sb)                        51  •     6.7  •    3.0  •  1167° F
  • BISMUTH         (Bi)                        83  •     9.8  •    2.2  •     521° F
  • ZINC                 (Zn)                       30   •     7.8  •    2.5  •    787° F
  • NIOBIUM        (Nb)                        41  •     8.6 •    6.0  •  4491° F
  • CHROMIUM   (Cr)                        24  •     7.2  •   8.5  •  3430° F 
  • IRON                (Fe)                        26  •    7.9  •    4.0  •   2800° F
  • ALUMINUM   (Al)                         13  •     2.7  •    2.7  •     220° F
  • BASE METAL ALLOYS
  • BRONZE  (Cu & Sn)                     n/a  •    7.7   •   3.0   • 1742° F
  • BRASS      (Cu & Zn)                    n/a  •    8.4   •   4.5   •  1700° F
  • PEWTER   (Cu, Sn, Sb, Bi, Pb)  n/a  •    7.3   •   4.5    •    340° F
  • STEEL & STAINLESS STEEL      n/a  •   7.9    •   6.5    • 2500°F 
  • NICKEL SILVER (Cu, Ni, Zn)     n/a   •   8.6    •   4.0   • 2550° F
  • TUNGSTEN CARBIDE (W. C)   n/a   •  15.6  •    9.5  • 5198° F

METALS

COMMONLY

USED

IN

JEWELRY

ALL VALUES ARE APPROXIMATE PARTICULARLY FOR ALLOYS HAVING A VARIABLE MAKEUP

KARAT GOLD ALLOYS, such as 9k, 10k, 14k, 18k, 22k become MORE dense (heavier) as the karat increases.  Also, as the karat increases, the gold alloys become SOFTER.  For example, an 18k ring is heavier, and softer, than the same ring in 14k.

COSTUME / FASHION JEWELRY REPAIRS

 WHY ARE THEY FREQUENTLY DIFFICULT OR IMPRACTICAL?

(BUT NOT ALWAYS, SO IT'S WORTH CHECKING!)

  • Fashion jewelry uses mixed metals, materials & glue.
  • Often impossible to identify the metal or material.
  • Soldering can present a major risk to the jewelry.
  • Heating may melt, burn or damage some metals, materials, colorations, gems, platings, and glues.
  • Ring sizing may not be possible.
  • Jewelry is frequently thinly plated.
  • When bending & cleaning, platings may flake off.
  • Some metals do not tolerate bending and may break.
  • Most fashion jewelry is machine made and some repairs cannot duplicate the original.
  • Replacing gems having special shapes & colors can be difficult.
  • The cost to repair a fashion jewelry item can exceed the original price of the jewelry.