New Alloy

BioBlu™ 27 is a patented alloy using cobalt and other elements new to the jewelry industry. Developed by Carpenter Technologies, the alloy is a hypoallergenic, safe, and bio-compatible medical grade metal with unusual strength and durability. The SK Cobalt™ collection will be available through local Scott Kay retailers to jewelers.

MORE AT SCOTTKAY.COM/SKCOBALT/ SK_COBALT_SOLID.HTML.

TierraCast’s Viva Mexicana!

Infl uenced by the folk artistry of Mexico, TierraCast, Inc. recently introduced its Viva Mexicana! line. The collection utilizes elements of Mexican folk art and culture. Aspects of the line include: Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead): Inspired by Mexican artists José Guadalupe Posada and Frida Kahlo, Viva Mexicana! includes links, beads and charms of fl owers, bones, dancing skeletons, sugar skulls, Catrina, and more. Mexican Milagros (Miracles) & Religious Iconography: The milagros-inspired charms, links and clasp sets are beautiful, thematic parts ready to be reinterpreted in new jewelry designs. There is also a 2-1 link showing Our Lady of Guadalupe on one side and a rose on the other — it’s perfect for creating rosaries. Talavera Pottery: The new line also includes several caps and a charm incorporating design motifs from tin-glazed Talavera pottery. MORE AT WWW.TIERRACAST.COM.

Kyocera’s “Kyoto Opal”

Kyocera Coporation has introduced "Kyoto Opal," a material the company says has been "cultivated with a quartz-grain structure that is identical to naturally occurring opal." The use of undisclosed "special staining techniques" has given rise to a great variety of hues and tints. Most unusually, Kyocera states that the material is less brittle than natural opal and that by "integrating the traditional Japanese hikihaku technique of manipulation of hard objects for kimono designs," this opal material can be cut into thin sheets that can be bent, opening up a wide range of possible applications. The trade name is used currently only in the Japanese market, where the material serves as decoration for such items as earphones, Buddhist altar fi ttings, and glasses. MORE AT WWW.KYOCERA.CO.JP.

Hoover & Strong Merger
In late 2009, Hoover & Strong, Inc., a refi ner and manufacturer of precious metal jewelry, merged with Keystone Findings, Inc., a manufacturer of die-struck and cast settings, solitaire wedding bands and earrings of Telford, Pennsylvania. The merger will broaden Hoover & Strong’s product offering to jewelers. “We are very excited to announce this union between two great companies,” says Hoover & Strong President, Torry Hoover. “We are committed to upholding the high level of service and quality that our customers have come to rely on from both Hoover & Strong and Keystone Findings. Our goal is to execute a seamless transition during this merger.” Keystone Findings’ Pennsylvania plant was fully transported to Hoover & Strong’s Richmond, Virginia facility while order fulfi llment and customer service for both companies remains fully operational. Hoover & Strong plans to introduce a new product catalog at the beginning of 2010. MORE AT WWW.HOOVERANDSTRONG.COM.

Fire Mountain Metalsmithing Supplies
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads® has expanded its line of metalsmithing supplies, and now includes Smith Little Torch™ and supplies; pickling solution, pickle pot, and supplies; polishers, buffs, and compounds; dapping blocks, punch sets, and cutters; mallets and hammers; steel anvils; precious metal wire; bezel strips and metal sheets; and more. The metalwork product selection continues to grow, along with free instructional resources in the beading instruction section, offering metalsmiths an opportunity to build their professional careers with wholesale supplies and free information. MORE AT WWW.FIREMOUNTAINGEMS.COM.

PMC123 Syringe Kit
PMC123 of San Antonio, Texas, has introduced a new Syringe Kit for anyone who works with (or wants to work with) metal clay. According to the company, the kit will make it simple for anyone to add beautiful syringe embellishment to metal clay work. It includes a 6 piece set of syringe tips with various shapes, the Triple Treat Syringe Saver for storing up to 3 open syringes, PMC123 Easy Squeeze for extruding your metal clay, and a PMC123 Turntable for rotating your work while you create with metal clay. The complete kit is priced at $52.80, and the tools are also available separately. MORE AT WWW.PMC123.COM.

SilverSilk Capture Chains
SilverSilk, recently introduced by Lefgren Corporation, is a totally new way of using silver in jewelry. For eight years, Lefgren Corporation has worked to develop innovative methods of forming stitches with fi ne wires made from Argentium silver. For the fi rm’s SilverSilk Capture line of fi ne chains, the Argentium wire is knit around silver beads. The fi nal product has two structures balancing each other. On the inside, the silver beads are hard and tough, while on the outside, the Argentium knit is soft and supple. Together, they create a new look and a new feel. Lefregen Corporation calls Capture by SilverSilk “a marriage of strength and beauty.” The line of necklaces and bracelets are the perfect accompaniment for pendants and charms.
More at www. silversilkjewelry.com.

Hoover & Strong Merger
Hoover & Strong, an eco-friendly refiner and manufacturer of precious metals, has merged with Keystone Findings, Inc., a manufacturer of die-struck and cast settings, solitaire wedding bands, and earrings. The merger will broaden Hoover & Strong's product offering to jewelers. For more information, visit www.hooverandstrong.com.

E-bookshelf: 10 Cold Connected Jewelry Projects ebook
Volume two of The Best of Jewelry Artist series has just been released. Master the use of cold connections in your jewelry with these 10 inspiring, information-packed projects. Learn how to join a variety of mixed materials, including standard jewelry metals, with helpful tips, design options, and instructive photos to guide you along! Available for download at www.interweavestore.com.

E-bookshelf: 10 Wire Jewelry Projects e-book
New from Jewelry Artist, this first of many e-books to come offers wire jewelry projects using plier work, torching, or fabrication complete with helpful tips, design options, and more. Progress with the medium of wire through projects selected from the archives of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. Available for download at www.interweavestore.com.

We accidentally listed the wrong website for Gemmys Best of Competition winner Andrew Gulij in our January issue. To see more of his stunning work, visit www.gemfix.com.

RIGHT: STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER. Andrew Gulij. 20mm x 14mm. Rock crystal and pyrope garnet. Gem-Intrusion. 29.86 carats. Photo by the artist.