I recently took an online art history course in Ancient Jewelry through the Penn Museum. The instructor Dr. Jane Hickman showed tons of gorgeous granulation jewelry from antiquity (along with filigree that’s really also granulation because it’s fused to a base sheet). As she was endeavoring to explain to the non metalsmiths in the course how fusing is accomplished, she described a “magic moment when things melt together without all melting.”

I use sterling or 18 karat gold (or both together) for granulation, which is different, and far less frustrating, than how many people practice the technique. Copper bearing alloys have this unique ability to prolong that “magic moment” so fusing without melting everything into a blob is way (way, way, way) easier than trying to fuse lots of things to a base sheet in fine silver. It’s also lots less expensive than doing a whole piece in 22 karat gold.

Argentium works great for fusing, but traditional sterling’s huge advantage is that you can fuse everything and then form it into a ring, curve it into a bracelet clasp, or fabricate it into other larger structures.

Yes, you can bend granulation AFTER fusing.

To help out, I pulled together some “magic moments” of fusing and shared this short video with the class.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait any longer to make that magic moment your own!

My Granulation Rings course is right around the corner!

Register now, and save $30!