A Feast for the Eyes: Color Fun for Jewelry Making!

I’m an artist and am lucky enough to work here at Rio Grande, with a catalog full of beautiful gemstones, metals, findings, and more. I make jewelry here and there, and I mostly create collage. (I’m working on combining my collage with my jewelry making, but that’s a story for another day.) One of my true sources of inspiration in any of my creations is color, so I’m going to bring my fine arts experience into this blog post today and make it almost completely visual. Following are nine possible combinations of stone + metal + stone (or glass). These combinations are mere suggestions of colors you might put side by side—I  hope they can be a jumping off place for you and your own inspiring palettes!

There are myriad ways to add color to your work, including finishing your metals, and there are so many metals and textured finishes to choose from, such as PMC in silver, bronze, copper, and gold. Following is a list of great links to posts from our archive here on The Studio, all of which touch upon metal finishing options and I've also thrown in some PMC inspiration for fun:

For the Blackest Black: Kliar E-Coating Extreme Black
Show Your True Colors: The Stunning Palette of Kliar E-Coating
In The Spotlight: Steve Joslin Shares The Joy of Gilders Paste
Electroplating: Add Flash AND Combat High Metals Prices
Blogs We Love: PMC Sterling Grab Bag  (See the many looks of PMC Sterling!)

Also, you might enjoy a few color resources, including our 2013 Color Trends resource on Rio's website, and SwatchMatic, a free app for Androids from Google. You can use SwatchMatic to make color swatches of objects in your environment for play and inspiration.

Consider these combinations, and tell us what inspires you!

Black Mother-of-Pearl  + Sterling Silver + London Topaz

Almandine Garnet + MIDAS Black-Brown Patina + Amethyst

 

  White Mother-of-Pearl + Silver and Copper Mokume Gane + Wood

 

Onyx and Crystals + Kliar E-Coating Extreme Black + Pink Druzy Quartz

Red Amber + Sterling Silver + Green Aventurine

Anastasia Topaz + 14K Yellow Gold + Peridot

 

Bronze Simulated Pearl + Bronze (in Urchin Pattern) + Lemon Quartz

 

Created Opal + Silver Filled Sheet + Green-Gold Murano Glass

Grey Pearl  +  White Gold and Argentium Silver Mokume Gane + Champagne CZ

So, what are some tried and true color combinations that you like to use in your jewelry? How have your favorite colors evolved over time? Do they reflect your environment? What’s the wildest color combination that has worked well in your creations? Share your color inspiration with us!

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For the Blackest Black: Kliar E-Coating Extreme Black

It’s finally here, Kliar Extreme Black E-Coating! Now you can achieve a really dark jet-black finish on your pieces. If Kliar Black is the little black dress of jewelry, this Kliar Extreme Black is the black leather catsuit of jewelry!

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In the Spotlight: Steve Joslyn Shares the Joy of Gilders Paste

Master blacksmith, Steve Joslyn, has been creating unique works of functional art for more than 25 years. Recently he let us in on one of his favorite tools: Gilders Paste! Steve incorporates Gilders Paste into his detailed, whimsical, nature-inspired designs and he generously shared some of his tips and techniques with us.

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Clever Fixturing Methods to Achieve a Flawless E-Coat

Kliar E-Coating is a great way to protect your jewelry with a transparent protective coat, or an easy way to add a splash of color. In today’s post, Ashli Brooke Taylor from Rio’s Tech Team shares quick and easy tricks to give you professional results.

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The Answer is Clear: Kliar Transparent E-Coating Will Protect and Improve Your Work

In today’s post on The Studio, Ashli Brooke Taylor introduces us to Kliar’s Transparent E-Coating solution. This transparent e-coating is a nano-ceramic solution that is tarnish-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and non-yellowing. Kliar Transparent E-Coating will improve the durability of your plated pieces and help maintain their quality.

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The Little Black Dress of Jewelry: Using Kliar E-Coating Black Finish

Are common metal patinas not giving you a deep enough black or wearing off too quickly? Well, here’s the answer to your problems: Kliar E-Coating! By using the electroplating process followed by E-Coating, you now can achieve a dark jet black that is abrasion-resistant and will keep your jewelry painted black for a long time to come.

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Renaissance Wax is Here!

You asked for it…we’ve got it! Renaissance Wax is here and it’s flying off the shelf. Yvonne M. Padilla loves using Renaissance Wax on her finished BRONZclay™ pieces to seal in the rich color of the bronze. But it’s not limited to just bronze, the wax works on any metal, as well as other materials that need enhanced luster and protection. Check out The Studio today to learn more about this wonderful, versatile stuff!

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Covered with Color: Introducing Kliar E-Coating

Have you been looking for a unique way to bring color to your jewelry pieces? On The Studio today, Ashli Brooke Taylor, of Rio’s Tech Support Team, demonstrates one simple way to use the Kliar E-Coating system to add a great punch of color to your jewelry. Kliar E-Coating is a type of nano-ceramic electro coating that is abrasive-resistant and hypoallergenic. Check it out!

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Shibuichi: Traditional Japanese Copper/Silver Alloy

Shibuichi is a low-silver alloy that’s getting some buzz in the metalsmithing community. As you might guess from the name, it is a Japanese term. It translates to “one fourth,” which is a reference to the traditional Japanese alloy mixture that historically has been composed of 25% silver and 75% copper. Back in the days of the Samurai, Shibuichi was used to make ornaments for the katana (Samurai sword). . .

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