A Preface to Fusing

While Soldering is easy and uniform, Electrum Emporium chooses to fuse because soldering exposes the jeweler to toxins and requires finishing with more toxins to ensure it doesn't stain the skin. Whereas fusing ensures the purity remains and no exposure to toxins occurs in the process of conjoining metal. Soldering requires extra care in the finishing steps to hide the imperfections of a piece as the soldered joint of high copper content oxidizes in a process called fire-scaling. Fusing requires extreme torch control but no fire scaling occurs since there is no copper content.

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Electrum Emporium LLC

  • How it Began

    As a teenager, I found myself most interested in the world of fine jewelry. The first place that I worked was a small thrift shop and it was there that I began to perfect my eye for precious metals and develop an understanding of jewelry design. I began experimenting with no knowledge and very very limited tools. I taught myself through the process of trial and error and have spent the past years perfecting the art of fusing to a quality of which has satisfied my liking. Slightly enraging traditional jewelers in the process by embracing an ancient mindset to my work and rejecting modern marketing values.

  • Makers Mark

    Electrum Emporium LLC is an emerging small business out of Oregon. The name is derived from an interest in antiquities, and especially precious metals. Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy primarily consisting of gold and silver with trace amounts of other metals such as palladium, copper, bismuth, etc. Our electrum is alloyed in house using only gold and silver with room to add up to 5% palladium in the future. Electrum, an ancient coin metal and emporium, a store front or shop. Giving the name Electrum Emporium.
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Electrum Emporium LLC

Back to Fusing

Traditional jewelers choose to solder their tainted metals by adding an agent called flux to cleanse and allow the adherence of another metal, usually even less pure than the base metal of the jewelry piece.

Alternatively, fusing uses the metal already on the piece by melting the focal point to the point that it connects without the need for flux.

This lack of copper and flux in Electrum Emporium pieces further means that no fire-scaling occurs in the fusing process. Perpetually keeping the natural luster of the precious metal in every state, start to finish.

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Product Care

Fine gold and silver that has not been alloyed with copper, keeps a near everlasting luster. Fine silver and gold bullion and coins are recovered from sunken ships of times long past, still holding their luster. This is not the case for any alloy containing copper, like sterling silver or 14k gold.

The natural oils excreted by skin will do well to keep fine precious metals polished and lustrous. Electrum Emporium angers traditional jewelers by being by choosing to abstain from seeking profit increases through professional cleaning or lessened purity.

Electrum Emporium focuses on transparency without sacrificing fineness of our jewelry. Aiming to redefine the tainted standards of the current jewelry industry.

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