Our Metals & Materials
Below are a few excerpts concerning our fine metal jump rings from our supplier’s website.
ARGENTIUM® Sterling Silver
“Argentium sterling is a proprietary sterling alloy in which a small amount of the copper has been replaced with germanium, a member of the silicon family. It has all the desirable properties of fine silver but with the strength and hardness of traditional sterling.”
For more information on Argentium Silver directly from Argentium® International Ltd. visit ARGENTIUM® The Finest Silver.
Gold-Filled
“Our Gold-Filled rings are 14/20 Gold-Fill, which means that 14k Gold composes 1/20th of the weight of the material. The 14k Gold is bonded to a red brass alloy (CD 220) core. The value of our Gold-Filled materials is greater than plated materials because there is an actual layer of precious metal versus the microscopic layer of plating.
Our gold-filled material is not guaranteed to be 100% nickel free but the content is very low. Gold-filled, or gold overlay, is made by heat- and pressure-bonding a thin layer of 14K gold to a brass core. This is the global standard practice for the manufacture of gold-filled and silver-filled materials.
The brass core in our material is CDA 220. The Materials Safety Data Sheet for CDA (Copper Development Association) 220 designates that the alloy must contain less than 0.05% (one half of one percent) nickle [Ni] and is compliant with European Union nickel content laws.”
Anodized Niobium
Niobium, in its natural state is a simple, unassuming, “reactive” gray metal. This means that the metal ‘reacts’ to its environment by acquiring a very thin layer of Niobium Oxide when introduced to a ‘shocking’ bath of electrical current through a special soap-water solution. (Don’t try this at home kids, leave it to the professionals!)
This Niobium Oxide layer refracts light on the metal causing the surface to change color. The thickness of the layer of oxide is what determines the color we see.
Because the color is only ‘skin deep’, care should be taken to keep Anodized Niobium from being scratched as much as possible, as this will remove the beautiful colors.
Visit our Caring For Your Jewelry Creations page to learn more!
Swarovski® Crystals
Swarovski is the leading manufacturer of top quality crystal beads. At AGTG Creations we use Swarovski® Crystals exclusively for our Jewelry Creations that we use crystals in.
You can buy with confidence knowing we only purchase our Swarovski crystals from suppliers who sell certified Genuine Swarovski® Crystals.
There are numerous similar crystal types on the market right now, much cheaper and lower quality. Don’t be fooled by someone selling ‘cheap’ Swarovski Crystals. If they’re cheap, they’re not Genuine Swarovski® Crystals!
So, why only Genuine Swarovski® Crystals? Only Swarovski manufactures their crystals in Austria, using the technologically advanced cutting tools that have evolved from tools originally designed in the late 1800’s by founder and creat0r (and namesake) Daniel Swarovski.
In addition to being the most beautiful, high quality, precision cut crystals available, they are also the safest crystals to wear.
As a rule, crystals are cut during a process that uses a decent amount of lead. Lead is toxic to the body and poisoning from lead is dangerous. Swarovski® Crystals are cut using a process that is incredibly close to zero lead.
Excerpt from official Swarovski® Crystal packaging “Made in Austria LEAD-FREE*
*Crystal glass and all other materials contain 0.009% lead or less.
Until we at AGTG Creations discovered that Swarovski has drastically reduced and nearly completely obliterated the amount of lead in their crystals’ creation we had planned on merely avoiding the use of crystals altogether.
We are happy to present fine jewelry creations to our customers knowing we are offering the best and safest product possible.