Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best aluminium ornaments

Have you ever wondered “what can aluminium be used for?” For a breakdown guide on the uses of aluminium and how aluminium was discovered, you’re in the right place. Read on to find out more about what aluminium is made of and how anodised aluminium jewellery could be a new addition to your jewellery making repertoire.

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Aluminium is not a material which immediately lends itself to the production of jewellery. It is by contrast an element with huge domestic and industrial capability. Aluminium is more associated with the humble drinks can or the wafer-thin kitchen foil that we take for granted during our everyday activities.

It is a metal of immense strength, but it’s also extremely light and ductile; much lighter than steel. In fact, this makes it ideal for any application where weight can be an issue for example aerospace technology or car production. It actually represents the second largest metal market in the world which is a great indicator of its potential. But more importantly it is 100% recyclable which makes it very much a metal of the future.

What is Aluminium Made Of?

Aluminium is not a naturally occurring metal. Aluminium properties mainly include a raw material called bauxite which is only found in a handful of locations word wide. This bauxite is first heated to immense temperatures to produce alumina, which is then transformed into aluminium by way of electrolysis. It is a complicated process which creates many chemical by-products so production is tightly regulated and monopolised by large companies with the means to carry out the whole process from start to finish.

The demand for aluminium is huge and consistently growing with China now consuming 25% of the world’s production thanks to its booming economy. It is largely directed into the automobile industry in a bid to reduce the weight of vehicles thus reducing fuel emissions; a 10% reduction of car weight results in a 9% increase in fuel consumption efficiency and with the EU introducing increasingly stricter guidelines on CO2 emissions, this means big business.

History of Aluminium: When Was Aluminium Discovered?

However, things have not always been this way and if you look back at the discovery and history of aluminium, the treatment and usage of it were very different. Aluminium is a relatively new metal, only discovered in by a Danish chemist Hans Christian. Production methods were so complex that it wasn’t until that aluminium was successfully produced on any significant scale and at that time it was considered rarer and more valuable than gold! It is well documented that Napoleon lll served his state dinners on aluminium plates with his rank and file guests given only gold and silver versions!

What can aluminium be used for?

Aluminium can be anodised to create jewellery. Anodising aluminium is beneficial for jewellery makers particularly  due to its capacity to be coloured. Anodising is an ‘electrolytic passivation process used to increase the natural oxide layer of metal parts’. It increases resistance to corrosion and wear but also allows the absorption of dyes and adhesion of paints to stunning effect.

The downside for most jewellers is that aluminium is difficult to solder without the use of specialised welding equipment which most of us don’t have! Most designers tend to opt for cold fixing techniques which produce some interesting and unusual pieces often quite different from ‘traditional’ jewellery.

I think it’s fair to say that aluminium is not one of the easiest metals to use. But it is one of enormous capabilities and potential and due to its recycling properties, we will be seeing it used more and more. In fact, it has even been said that in the future historians will look back on this time and hail it as ‘The Age of Aluminium’, so make of that what you will!

Take a look at our full range of Aluminium Sheet  and start making your own coloured pieces of aluminium jewellery today.

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Why aluminium for jewellery?

In pure aluminium was successfully extracted from ore for the first time by Danish chemist Hans-Christian. But it wasn’t until – while the Eiffel Tower was unveiled in Paris, Vincent Van Gogh painted Starry Night in Saint-Remy, and the world’s first jukebox sang out in San Francisco – that aluminium became a commercially viable material. The world was transformed, and aluminium quickly became one of the most important raw materials on the planet, but why aluminium for jewellery? 

Well, there are many reasons why aluminium is a wonderful material for modern jewellery design. In this journal post I’ll walk you through 7 – from its creative potential, to its benefits to you, and its credentials as a sustainable material – which show why aluminium works beautifully as a material for contemporary jewellery. 

Play: creative freedom.

Aluminium offers so many creative possibilities that it may be one of the reasons why contemporary jewellery is has produced such a plethora of wonderful designs. This is because when compared with traditional materials such as gold, silver, or platinum; aluminium is relatively affordable which gives jewellery designers a sense of creative freedom in a process that is often painstakingly delicate. But it’s not only aluminiums forgiving nature which makes it a dream material, but its properties which help to form it into incredibly original shapes.

Like gold and silver, aluminium is also highly malleable. This gives designers an opportunity to create unusual shapes without compromising the piece’s structural integrity. This has allowed for inventive necklace features such as necklace fastenings which are simply placed onto the wearer’s neck to be softly bent into shape. 

Lastly, aluminium’s colour can be transformed into any colour imaginable thanks to the process of anodization. This process creates a finish which is not only decorative but also durable. As my aluminium jewellery is anodised by hand at my studio, I see the beautiful transformations that this wonderful material can undergo. You can find a collection of my anodised aluminium jewellery here. While these benefits are all directly related to the creation of jewellery, aluminium also benefits the wearers of jewellery too. 

Is aluminium safe to wear?

Aluminium is safe to wear. Infact, aluminium is a hypoallergenic material. That means that it is unlikely to give you an allergic reaction (however you should always double check with your GP if you are unsure). So if you are someone with sensitive skin then aluminium may be an excellent option.

Also, aluminium is relatively light. Have you ever put on your jewellery and felt like you were dragging an anchor around? With aluminium jewellery you’ll be able to wear all of your favourite pieces and still feel free to reach for your favourite book. 

The ‘Green Metal’

Another benefit of aluminium jewellery, and one of the most important in the context of contemporary jewellery design, is its sustainability. As we are becoming increasingly aware, sustainability extends from how efficient the material is to work with, to its longevity, and its recyclability. In all of these, aluminium is rated excellent and as a result has been coined the ‘Green Metal’. But how does this benefit you? Well, there are 2 main aspects of aluminium jewellery which combine to make a material that is well matched to the demands of contemporary life.

First, unlike other jewellery materials such as gold or silver, aluminium aluminium isn’t as easily tarnished thanks to its ability to form a natural layer of aluminum oxide on its surface. This naturally occurring layer of aluminium oxide which prevents the metal from coming into contact with the air. That’s right, aluminium doesn’t rust. What’s more, it is also resistant to seawater. So, whether you are caught in the rain on your daily walk, or visiting the seaside; aluminium is a highly versatile jewellery material which can be safely worn in many conditions.

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