History

• Metal casting for jewelry is an ancient practice that has been around for as long as jewelry has existed. Ancient Egyptians are often credited with perfecting the process of metal casting for jewelry, but metal casting was also practiced by cultures located in the Middle East and Asia as well as Meso-American societies. The jewelry casting process is also called lost-wax or investment casting and remains popular today with crafters who enjoy making handmade jewelry.
  
  

Function

• Casting jewelry designs in metal requires a wax mold called a pattern. The mold is attached to a base with a flask used to slip over the base. A plaster material called investment is prepared and poured into the mold via the flask and left to dry. Once the plaster is hardened, the piece is placed into an oven to burn out the wax. Melted metal can now be poured into the investment mold to create the jewelry design. Once hardened, the jewelry piece is filed and polished. There are several variations of this technique, but they all require some kind of mold, melting and pouring the metal, then filing and polishing the finished piece.
  
  

Benefits

• The lost-wax metal casting process for jewelry has several benefits. Crafters using this method will be able to make identical pieces of jewelry quickly and efficiently. Once a jewelry crafter has a mold, they can make multiple pieces of jewelry, but it is not necessary to create your own mold. Jewelry supply companies offer ready-made jewelry molds, making home casting easier than ever. The drawback is that you are using someone else's design. But if you're new to casting, then a ready-made mold may be right for you.
  
  

Considerations

• Casting your own metal jewelry at home is a technique that will add a new level to your creativity. Melting gold, silver and even platinum for your own jewelry designs is both a practiced art and a skill. Once you've perfected your technique, you can offer your services to other designers who do not have the tools or the ability to cast their own jewelry.
  
  

Effects

• Wearing a beautiful piece of jewelry that you envisioned, designed and then created is a feeling you can only experience if you practice the art of jewelry casting. Classes are offered locally and there are many how-to videos available online for your education in the art of metal casting.