Color, Texture and Casting for Jewelers

Color, Texture and Casting for Jewelers: Hands-on Demonstrations and Practical Applications (published by Lark Jewelry and Beading; US $29.95; Canada $35.95) by Carles Codina provides a visual "how to" approach to many fine jewelry making techniques. Some of these jewelry methods include keum boo, metal plating, mokume gane, patinas, and various types of metal casting.

You may be familiar with some other jewelry making titles by Carles Codina: The Complete Book of Jewelry Making, Goldsmithing and Silver Work, and The New Jewelry.

The book is organized in two parts. Part 1 covers color, texture, and finishes. This includes metal combinations such as keum boo, plating, melted filings, mokume gane, and granulation. The textures and patina subsection covers textures, finishes, and patinas. Finally the practical application subsection provided four projects: Keum Boo Pendants, Granulated Brooch, Mokum Gane Ring, and Stamped and Granulated Rings. Some of the projects are provided by guest artists.

Part 2 discusses modeling and casting. The first subsection covers microcasting and working with waxes. Subsection number 2 in this part of the book explains an array of casting techniques such as sand casting, cuttlebone casting, ceramic coatings, and casting in a closed crucible. Finally, as with the first part, there is a practical application subsection. This one includes five projects: cast bronze bracelet, sand cast silver rings, cast leaf bracelet, cast orange-peel pendant, and pendant cast from polyurethane foam.

According to the author's introduction, the concept of the book is to take ancient techniques, many of which are still used to today, and show not only how to replicate them but also how to then take these methods and use them to make modern and elegant jewelry. The 128 page book is packed with full color photographs that show many step by step processes, some awesome finished jewelry using the methods explains, as well photographs of materials and supplies used during the processes. While I am familiar with many of the techniques and have experience with some of them, such as lost wax casting, it was a real treat to see how some of these are done, step by step, with so many wonderful photographs to really show the detail of each procedure.

This book is not for a newbie to jewelry making, but it does not pretend to be. In fact, just by the title alone it is obvious that this book covers some complex jewelry methodology. Anyone who thinks it is possible to pick up a book, even one as detailed and full of visual how to as this one, and immediately create a gorgeous bracelet, like the "Cast Bronze Bracelet" project from part 2 of the book, is delusional. Clearly, this book is designed with the knowledgeable and experienced jewelry designer in mind. For example, if you have done lost wax casting and want to add sand casting to your stock of knowledge, then this is the book for you. In other words, some knowledge of metal work is required before jumping into any part of this book.

That said, those who do have some experience and want to expand on what they know will find a lot of information here. It is a techniques heavy book, but it still offers nine projects, which I think is an extra treat. One of my favorite projects is the stunning "Cast Leaf Bracelet." The author uses real leaves and creates molds from them. After casting them, the results are 18 karat gold leaves that are then soldered to wire to form hinges and then connected together. Wow!

For anyone who wants to take his or her metal expertise to another level, you will find plenty here to expand your abilities.

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.