Precious Metals are Expensive - what else can you use?
- Alys Power
- Nov 3, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 3
Working with Non-Precious Metals in Jewellery Making: Aluminium, Brass, Copper & Bronze
If you’ve been relying on silver or gold for your jewellery work, it’s worth taking a closer look at non-precious metals. Aluminium, brass, copper, and bronze all offer distinctive colours, textures, and working properties—and they’re a lot more affordable for experimentation and small-batch production.
Let's explore each metal in detail. We will discuss how it behaves on the bench, the best ways to form and finish it, and how to get the most out of surface treatments like patination. This way, you can continue to make noise, mess, mistakes, and beautiful jewellery without worrying about the price.
Aluminium
Light, corrosion-resistant, and highly workable, aluminium is great for large or sculptural designs where weight matters.
Key properties:
Density: ~2.7 g/cm³ (very light)
Melting point: ~660 °C
Soft and ductile—cold forms easily
Working tips:
Cutting & forming: Saw or shear; it’s easy to fold, emboss, or texture.
Joining: Aluminium doesn’t solder easily, so rely on cold connections (rivets, tabs, screws) or structural adhesives.
Finishing: Sand up to 2000 grit, then polish with aluminium oxide compound.
Colouring: You can anodise it to produce stable, vivid colours or experiment with heat tinting for subtle iridescence.
Brass
Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, is tough enough for structural designs but still workable by hand. Its golden tone makes it an affordable stand-in for gold.
Key properties:
Density: ~8.4 g/cm³
Melting point: ~900–940 °C
Moderately hard, excellent for engraving
Working tips:
Forming: Anneal at around 600 °C (dull red). Quench immediately to soften.
Joining: Solders readily with silver solder—just use plenty of flux to manage zinc oxidation.
Finishing: Tripoli and rouge give a bright polish; sealing with lacquer or wax slows tarnish.
Patina: Brass responds beautifully to fumed or painted patinas—see below for recipes.
Copper
Copper is a classic jeweller’s metal—warm, soft, and expressive. It’s forgiving to work with and rewards experimentation with texture and colour.
Key properties:
Density: ~8.9 g/cm³
Melting point: 1085 °C
Very malleable but work-hardens quickly
Working tips:
Annealing: Essential after heavy forming. Heat to dull red, quench immediately.
Joining: Solders easily with silver solder; clean well before and after to prevent fire-stain.
Finishing: Polish to a mirror or leave matte to highlight patinas.
Patina: Copper takes on a wide range of natural colours—from rich browns to greens and blues.
Bronze
Bronze (copper + tin) is denser and stronger than brass, with a warm, antique tone. It’s best known for its use in casting but can also be forged and cold-worked with care.
Key properties:
Density: ~8.8 g/cm³
Melting point: 950–1050 °C
High strength; limited malleability
Working tips:
Casting: Excellent for lost-wax casting—achieves fine detail and a satisfying weight.
Forming: Anneal often if hammering or bending.
Joining: Use medium- or hard-grade silver solder, preheating thoroughly to prevent cracking.
Finishing: A brushed satin surface or selective polish highlights its natural warmth.
Non-precious metals can be seen as a downgrade but they can bring enormous creative flexibility to jewellery design. Aluminium offers modern lightness; brass and bronze deliver strength and warmth; and copper remains a timeless favourite for expressive texture and colour - they will encourage you to be creative, innovative and experimental and let you play - just as every jewellery maker should - without worrying about the cost.
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