Reticulated Silver Jewelry

Reticulated silver is made through a fun unexpected organic process.

The initial sheet of sterling silver is heated to a dull cherry red, quenched in water and then cleaned in acid over and over again.  Each time this process is repeated, any copper particles are removed from the surface of the metal when it is in the acid bath.  

The resulting metal has a fine silver outside and a silver mixed with copper on the inside which melts at a lower temperature.

Once the metal is ready (after at least 6 times of heating, quenching, and pickling the metal) The metal is heated again - This time to a higher temperature, so high that the inside melts while the outside stays solid, and in moving the heat source around the metal gets its signature reticulated crinkly surface.  

From there, I hand select areas of the sheet I find interesting and create necklaces and earrings from them.  Hope you enjoy.