Soldering

Soldering is part of the creation process for most of La Colochina earrings, necklaces, rings and cuffs. It is the process of permanently joining pieces of metal using solder (a molten silver alloy) that has a lower melting point than the metal itself. Soldering requires an open flame torch, flux to prevent oxidation and precise heat control.

You might notice a small darkish spot appears at the solder point after some wear, which is a result of the soldering process. 

Temperature

Solder flows between 1205° and 1450° degrees depending on its type of easy, medium or hard. My heat source to join silver pieces is a small crème brûlée torch, but I’m working towards incorporating a bigger torch to be able to make bigger pieces. 

Patina

La Colochina jewelry typically has a liver of sulfur patina to give an antique, worn look to the metal. Patina accelerates the natural oxidization process that occurs when metals are exposed to sulfurs in the air.

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is an alloy composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (like copper) for durability. Pure silver is too soft for everyday wear, so the 7.5% alloy is added to prevent bending.

Brass

Brass is a metallic alloy composed primarily of copper and then zinc. Brass will naturally oxidize when exposed to moisture, air, or skin oils, forming a patina. Regular polishing or a protective coating is needed to maintain its shine.

Stones

Deposits of turquoise are found across the world. In the United States, the most significant deposits are found in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado, but many of these historic sites are now depleted or closed.