As a jeweller, you may find yourself wondering ‘what actually is the difference between precious metal clay and art clay?’

Although there is a difference in the way both of the materials are chemically formed (and are thus technically different) they both boast similarities in the uses and the methods that are used when we work with them.

Another obvious difference is the difference in branding between the two types of precious metal clays and as such, two different forms have come about.

However you are not able to use the two together in the same projects and as such there is things to consider when working both of these materials.

Art Clay Silver
Art clays silver firstly is simply water based clay, known for its silver finish, its simplicity to craft beautiful designs and its diversity through its creation.

As such the material does not veer to far from PMC, bar its silver content which applies a silver shine to the finish once the piece has been fired.

Art clay silver is very simple to shape, mould and apply the specific designs that you are trying to implement, allowing high creativity with your pieces as well as the specific designs that you are looking for.

If you are unhappy with the design, you can also return your design back to a clay state by merely adding water, meaning you can start all over again.

Precious Metal Clay (PMC)
Precious metal clay is also very customisable and versatile, much like art clay silver, utilising a binder and water alongside either gold or silver to create the styles of jewellery.

PMC comes in many different forms that can be applied to your jewellery that means you will get the most out of your designs or overcome obstacles such as designing your finished product effectively. These include PMC clay as normal, PMC sheets, Syringes and universal pastes that can be used in various situations depending on the need and the task at hand.

Much like the art clay silver too you will be able to add the particular finishes and designs that you can easily implement and get creative with. So which one should I use?

So what is better? Precious metal clay or Art clay silver?
There is no definitive answer as both are quality products than can both allow you to create stunning pieces with your designs.

Many professional jewellers decide to use the different clays at different times, depending on the particular tasks that the person is undertaking and the various finishes that they desire.

The best advice is to work with both, experimenting as to how the various clays work and what each offer you when developing your designs. Do not worry if you think there will be masses of tools for both of the different clays, as many of the tools can be used with both of the precious metals.

This way you will be able to discover what styles suit what situations and how you can get the most out of each other the precious metal clays.

Author Bio: Adam Hunter – E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of supplies from over 10,000 products including gold and silver wire, jewellery findings, tools, precious metal clay and art clay silver – gold, silver, platinum and palladium plus technical information for jewellers, jobbers, designer, craftsmen, artisans and students.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: art clay silver, art clay, silver art clay, artclay, art clay kit