Magento Commerce

Pewter is a silver white alloy of several metals. The main factor that is always present is that it has a larger quantity of tin, with smaller quantities of other metals such as copper, lead, zinc, and bismuth as well as other hard metals. It is a very versatile alloy which is quite soft and was often used to make utensils and other ornaments, as well as jewelry, in times past. It was often used by Celts to make knot work patterns in jewelry.

I am a huge fan of pewter jewelry. It gives the appearance of a silver look, but doesn't tarnish when exposed to air and moisture, so it is low maintenance material for jewelry. It also has a very earthy feel that I like very much.

Pewter is an inexpensive metal and this makes it idea to use for whimsical jewelry designs. One designer who used pewter extensively was the Jonette Jewelry Company (JJ Jewelry). They used it in their figural designs, particularly those of cats and dogs, and also in their "artifacts" series.

Originally, pewter was cast with lead, which made it somewhat unsafe to have around children and pets, but this is no longer the case. Today, it is generally cast without lead, although imports from China can still contain lead.

Collectors of Celtic jewelry will find that many designs of this genre use pewter as the metal of choice. It is also very popular with those who like twentieth century neo-Gothic and Wiccan designs. Pewter gives jewelry the look of silver, but at a lower price point. It is often found unadorned, but gemstones, crystals and other metals like silver, gold and leather can be used to make the designs more decorative.

One problem with pewter is that it has an extremely low melting point and is very soft, so it can scratch easily. However, this factor also makes it a good medium which lends itself to great detail in the production of jewelry. It was commonly used during the middle ages, not just for jewelry, but for everything from etchings, hand engravings, cutlery, and dinnerware. It was also widely used in the American colonies, in especially large quantities around 1700 to the mid 1800s. The 20th century saw a resurgence of pewter popularity. It's also currently enjoying a new phase in popularity.

For those that believe in metaphysics, there are many qualities associated with pewter. It is thought that if you place pewter on the head, it will relieve headaches, or directly on the chest, it will help with certain lung ailments. Some believe that pewter is very grounding and brings the wearer back to reality.

Caring for pewter jewelry is relatively easy. Mild soap and water is enough to clean it , and one should use soft cloths to avoid bending or distorting the articles since pewter is a very soft metal. Polishing the pieces made of pewter is also very easy, since it doesn't tarnish the way silver does. It's a perfect low maintenance choice with great detail and appeal.