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Working silver
The strongpoint of Made in Italy silver is the wealth of handcrafted details. Expert silversmiths keep an age-old heritage of traditions alive without relinquishing innovation and design.
How a silver object is created / the creation of an object in silver
The first step in creating an object in silver is the drawing from which the model, and subsequently the mold is made.
The processes which silver objects can undergo are the following:
- electroforming
- bi-lamination
- molding
- turning embossing and chasing
After being worked, the silver products are finished and polished. Depending on requirements, they can also be varnished or sandblasted and finally treated to prevent tarnishing.
The process of working silver ends with hallmarking to make the product recognizable and protect the consumer.
A wide variety of products and working techniques combined with great craftsmanship characterize silver objects Made in Italy.
In addition, the ability to provide immediate answers to any market requirement, create all types of products and select the most suitable kind of process for each need, make Italian silver companies undisputed leaders on the international scene.
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1. MODELLING, CASTING IN SOLID
SILVER
Silver objects and
jewellery develop from an idea, a dream. Work begins
with a design from which a wax model is made. In lost
wax casting, the article is cast in a noble metal. This
is true both for single and multiple pieces made from
moulds. The wax creates a prototype of one or more parts
and casting makes them unique creations in 925 silver.
2. MOLDING
Silver Sheet
Material:
Sterling silver sheet 925/°°°
Technique:
The silver sheet is placed in a mold to form the desired shape and impress the decoration. The sheet is then worked and polished, giving origin to a finished item or an element to combine with other materials.
Marking provided for in terms of DL 251:
Precious metal grade and Producer’s identification mark
3. BILAMINATED
Material:
Silver sheet paired with a sheet of common metal - aluminium
Technique:
The sheets are compressed inside a mold to obtain the desired shape. It is then worked and finished to obtain an applicative element to combine with other materials.
Marking provided for in terms of DL 251:
Abbreviation for the province, precious metal chemical symbol followed by an indication of weight used rounded to nearest gramme, and number characterizing the identification mark.
4. ELECTROFORMING
Materials:
Resin
Silver
Technique:
This technique consists of layering deposits of silver until a sheet is formed.
It allows items with sculptural shapes to be created without fusion. It is used to create accessories, components or sculptures of great merit.
Once made, the item is finished manually by master silversmiths.
Marking provided for in terms of DL 251:
The mark comprises the producer’s initials, the letters DG, the precious metal symbol and weight expressed in grammes followed by the letter “g” and the abbreviation for the province, all enclosed in an octagon.
(all enclosed in an octagon)
5. TABLEWARE
Material:
Silver 925/°°° - 800/°°°
Tableware is produced using different techniques according to the item to be made:
Turning - consists in shaping a disc of silver on a specially-created mold to give it the desired shape.
Embossing and Chasing - a technique used to engrave a surface with a decoration in relief and to finish an item.
Molding - used to compress the sheet of silver and position it in a mold to obtain the desired shape.
Marking provided for in terms of DL 251:
Weight of precious metal and Producer’s identification mark
Where items such as knife handles have to be supported from inside by non-metallic materials, they must be bear the indication “filled” or the letter “R” enclosed in a square, accompanied by the weight of the precious metal alloy in grammes and tenths of grammes followed by “g” 00..... ... ...
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