# Jewelry alloys: how they are made

> How gold and silver alloys are made: weighing the metals, melting with flux, stirring with graphite and pouring into an ingot mold; 18K gold in yellow, white and rose.

- Source: https://www.711grados.com/en/jewelry-alloys-how-they-are-made/
- Language: en
- Note: This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.
- Published: 2026-07-13
- Updated: 2026-07-25
- Translation (es): https://www.711grados.com/es/aleaciones-de-joyeria-como-se-fabrican/
- Author: Sandra Sánchez
- Site: 711 Grados (https://www.711grados.com/)

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Pure gold and silver are too soft for most jewelry. They are mixed with other metals to gain hardness, change color and lower the price. This mixture is called an alloy.

![Steps of the technique: Calculate, Weigh, Melt, Stir, Pour, Roll](https://www.711grados.com/media/diagrams/aleacion-steps.en.svg "Summary of the steps")

## How it is done

1. The metals are weighed according to the recipe.
2. They are melted in a crucible with flux.
3. Stir with a [graphite](https://www.711grados.com/en/graphite-ingot-molds-and-rods/) rod.
4. Pour into an ingot mold, cool and roll.

## Examples of 18 karat gold

All contain 75% gold. **White gold** adds palladium (16%) and silver (9%); **rose gold** adds copper (21-25%) and some silver; **yellow gold** combines copper, silver or zinc. See [14 or 18 karat](https://www.711grados.com/en/14k-vs-18k-gold/).

## Silver

Sterling silver (92.5%) contains copper. Argentium silver replaces part of the copper with germanium and resists tarnish and firescale better.

## Precautions

Proportions must be exact to honor the fineness that is stamped (see [hallmarks](https://www.711grados.com/en/jewelry-hallmarks-and-stamps/)).

## Step by step

1. **Calculate.** Define the percentage of each metal.
2. **Weigh.** With a precise scale ([scale](https://www.711grados.com/en/jewelers-scale-and-caliper/)).
3. **Melt.** First the metal with the highest melting point.
4. **Stir.** With a graphite rod ([graphite](https://www.711grados.com/en/graphite-ingot-molds-and-rods/)).
5. **Pour.** Pour into an ingot mold.
6. **Roll.** Prepare the alloy for working.

## Tools and materials

- [Crucible](https://www.711grados.com/en/casting-crucibles/) and furnace or torch
- Base metals (gold, silver, copper)
- Graphite ingot mold
- Flux

## Common mistakes

- Imprecise measurements: the karat changes.
- Overheating: zinc evaporates.
- Mixing without stirring.
- Contaminated metals.

## See also

- [Metal ingots and casting grain](https://www.711grados.com/en/metal-ingots-and-casting-grain/)
- [Graphite ingot molds and rods in casting](https://www.711grados.com/en/graphite-ingot-molds-and-rods/)
- [14 karat or 18 karat gold: differences and which to choose](https://www.711grados.com/en/14k-vs-18k-gold/)
- [Annealing: how to soften metal](https://www.711grados.com/en/annealing-metal/)