Prêt-à-Porter

06 March 2010 — Newest Photos: Japanese Lace Child’s Bracelet in Silver & Blue Aluminum, Birdcages Child’s Bracelet in Silver Aluminum

Crescent Maille has a second shop on Etsy, cMaille “Prêt-à-Porter” — Ready-to-Ship, Ready-to-Wear Jewelry. These items differ in that they are made in advance rather than custom made-to-order; I also use materials other than sterling silver such as jewelry brass, copper, and niobium. Jewelry brass is an alloy of brass that was created for its beauty; it’s made from 85% copper and 15% zinc (yellow brass has a lower copper content, sometimes as little as 60%). It’s warm, not “brassy,” and looks very similar to gold fill. Niobium (element no. 41) is a strong metal, with a weight similar sterling or jewelry brass — not light like aluminum, which is the colored metal more often seen. Niobium is colored by passing an electrical current through it — no dyes are involved. Colors are rich, deep, intense and metallic.

Items for sale at the Prêt-à-Porter shop ship the next business day in the U.S., and within 1–3 days internationally.