What makes the dark background?
The antique finish we use on our silver and gold highlights the design and makes it easier to read. Gold does not naturally oxidize so it is a bit artificial on gold. The chemical treatment we use to darken the metal is the same for both silver and gold. A solution of tellurium dioxide and hydrochloric acid is applied to the metal and rinsed off. Then the piece is polished to highlight the design but the background is left dark. This is not like a permanent enamel and often it will get lighter or will disappear entirely. It lasts much better on silver since silver is more reactive. When gold is newly polished it is difficult to read the design without a contrast with the background. Usually if the background fades it happens as the normal wear softens the glare on a polished piece of jewelry. For this reason the jewelry will still look right after the antique has faded. We have learned to create a matt finish on the background that makes an excellent contrast with the raised pattern wi
