Jewellery Enamel

This range of jewellery enamel has origins going back to CB Latham and before that Wengers Ltd.

Wengers were first established in Stoke-on-Trent in 1870 and whilst we are not certain when Wengers began to produce enamels for metal application, it is possible that some of our current recipes were created over 100 years ago.

These enamels are highly durable and generally consistent across each range of opaque and transparent colours.

They have been manufactured by Milton Bridge since 1982. A small range of Milton Bridge jewellery enamels are manufactured without lead. These are Ideal for the Education and Hobby environment.

Milton Bridge Jewellery Enamel

This range of enamel has origins dating back to the late 19th Century. An extremely durable range of enamel, this range has proved popular with both manufacturers and jewellery artists alike.

The range consists of 61 transparent and 48 opaque colours that are complimented by distinctive ranges of 21 pastel and 11 opalescent shades.

Images courtesy of Dilys Fisher | www.rosymdesign.com

Schauer is an old Austrian brand dating back to 1874. These enamels are manufactured in a unique way which allows for more scope in producing colour variances.

This does mean that the properties of this range can vary from colour to colour. They can also be manipulated in the firing process by over and under firing.

They are considered less durable and consistent than the Milton Bridge and 263 Series and are generally recommended for jewellery and artistic application.That said some colours are used in high volumes in the manufacturing industry.

Images courtesy of Ruth Ball | www.ruthball.weebly.com

Milton Bridge supply a range of decorating media designed to create unusual finishing touches to your enamelling work.

Floral wafers can be adhered to an enamelled surface or placed on to an un-fired piece to produce a lovely mini flower decoration. Enamel chips and lumps can be used to create unique and interesting designs either on top of a base colour or directly on to the surface.

We also have a range of enamel threads which similarly can enhance the decoration of an enamelled piece.

Image courtesy of Dilys Fisher | www.rosymdesign.com

Pre mixed and ready to go, Milton Bridge Metal Enamel Pens are perfect for adding detail to your project.

They can be applied directly on to the metal and are suspended in a medium which allows for smooth flow from the pen which will not dry out in the bottle. The liquid enamel can also be used in airbrushing. Recommended firing temperature 800ºC - 820ºC.

Enamel flux is transparent enamel which is used in various ways. Most commonly flux is used as an undercoat before using coloured enamel.

Flux can also be used as a topcoat to create better clarity of colours and also to seal the work. Clear flux can also be used to ‘glue’ cloisonné wires in place.

Although some fluxes will work across the various ranges, we recommend you use fluxes from the same range of colours that you are working with.

Image courtesy of Pat Johnson | www.patjohnsonenamels.co.uk

Milton Bridge Fluxes
T200 is a base flux; recommended firing temp is 820°C
6426 is a hard base flux @ 840°C
T232 is a base flux for silver @ 780°C. Can also be used as a finishing flux
T600 is a low temp super soft flux @ 560°C. Can be used to “seal” the enamel
T700 is a stiff flux that is generally used as a base flux for fine detail work as the colours do not run
LF98 is more finely ground and similar to T700 in liquid form
T244 is a blue flux that can give more clarity to colours when used as a finishing flux

263 Series Fluxes
C1 –Gold Flux, enhances gold containing enamels such as rubies, 720 ºC - 760ºC
C2 – is a bright, clear yellow that mellows on repeated firings. Although it is classed as low firing, C2 can withstand extremely high temperatures 720 - 760ºC
C10 – Medium Base Flux 760 ºC - 800ºC

Schauer Fluxes
1W – Yellow Flux 700 ºC - 730 ºC
2A – Blue Flux 770 ºC - 820 ºC
1380 – Colourless Medium Flux 730 ºC - 770 ºC
100 – Colourless Medium Flux 730 ºC - 770 ºC
175 – Colourless Hard Flux 770 ºC - 820 ºC
1012 – Colourless Medium Flux 730 ºC - 770 ºC
6023 – Colourless Hard Flux 770 ºC - 820 ºC

Lead Free Fluxes
8100 - Normal Flux
8101 - Hard Flux
8102 - Silver Flux