Reticulated & Fused Heart Earrings

Reticulation is a technique that gives very organic finishes and you never know what you will end up with. Sterling silver is an alloy of silver (92.5%) and copper (7.5%) The metal is repeatedly heated, quenched in water then pickled in a solution which helps to clean off the surface impurities. This process is repeated around seven times, the copper eventually becomes concentrated at the core of the metal and is surrounded by a rippling skin of fine silver (99.999%). As copper has a higher melting point than silver a very hot flame is required and aimed in various areas of the silver. This is the tricky stage as it is so easy to burn holes through the silver, control is required throughout this process. No two pieces of reticulation are the same.