Gyrogami Blog - Precious Metals, Jewelry, Artwork

A Waste of Material

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Someone recently asked if I could make a piece of jewelry out of silver. The answer is usually "yes" provided it is a logical request within my manufacturing capabilities. Some designs aren't suitable for silver like tension settings. Sure, I could forge a massive enough ring but it wouldn't pass the elegance test.

Which got me thinking about "if I could" versus "if I should." Items made of precious metals are going to be stellar provided the design and manufacturing tolerances are strict, i.e. jewelry quality.

Let me clarify some steadfast rules. Poorly made items are a waste of materials. Inappropriate material(s) result in low-quality finished goods no matter how well made they're made. Expensive materials only make it worse.

Precious metal chains, therefore, must use correctly size jump rings that are properly, seamlessly, and invisibly welded or soldered without flaws, defects, or distractions. Butted link versions are 100% a waste, always and forever, no exceptions, EVER! Also, it raises serious doubts about the manufacturer...why do they willingly make weak, substandard, low-quality products and charge a premium for them while pretending like they're anything but junk?! Simply, they lack the skill, talent, and integrity to do it right.

Many chain styles are worthy of the higher precious metals: gold, platinum, and palladium. Unfortunately, everyday weaves like European 4-in-1 are wasteful and pointless unless they are truly exceptional and legitimately one-of-a-kind (like ultra-nanomaille or an insane design, even then it's suspect). All non-posers and anti-wannabes venturing down this path should agree. Dissenters don't deserve your money.

Loop-in-loops work for all precious metals. Silver is the norm; the others are much rarer but I have a few examples in 18k gold that are stunning. Technically demanding, their window of greatness is greatly reduced. Precision is paramount or it's a waste.

Superior examples of Viking Knit chains are amazing in silver provided they have single wire construction, meticulous symmetry before using the drawplate, beautiful terminations, and svelte clasps. Sadly, such examples are even rarer than a vaquita in the Arctic Ocean. The other metals are overkill - choose a loop-in-loop instead.

That leaves braiding, plaiting, and other weaving techniques like kumihimo. It would have to be an intricate and purposeful pattern perfectly done to be worthy of silver, and generally lipstick on a pig for anything else.

Standard rings can use any precious metal with a note that silver is not a good choice for large, precious gemstones because it doesn't do them justice. I've made examples using small gemstones but don't whip out that 2-carat flawless pink diamond and expect me to set it in silver.

Wire rings include stacker, interlocked stacker, knot designs, figure eight, etc. Their simplicity doesn't imply substandard construction but don't overrate them either. Thus, anything more than silver is questionable aside from stackers.

I encourage people to get ideas from silver examples and go from there. Your desires are not for me to question or decide but I will discuss the practical and aesthetic issues with any project. Still, there are some lines that shouldn't be crossed and you'll hear it, rest assured.

Posted by M: May 23, 2026

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