Damascene Jewelry

Buy it Now. Damascene Brooch at Grandmas Jewelry

Sometimes our customers are our best teachers, and we learn what we don’t know. That is my story with understanding damascene.

I came across a very pretty damascene brooch that was marked Japanese damascene. It looked like real gold was used to make it and the price was reasonable. I thought I could sell it at Grandmas jewelry123.com on Ebay, so I bought it.

I placed the damascene brooch up for sale, and it sat hidden behind lots of other pieces of jewelry, until one day a customer named Fred saw it, negotiated a price and bought it.

I thought that was that. I would ship the damascene brooch the next day. After purchase and before shipping Fred wrote me and said he didn’t want it, if I tested it with a magnet, and the magnet did not stick. I tested it and the magnet stuck to the brooch.

That was different, and sparked my curiosity. I thought if the magnet did not stick it was possible that it was a precious metal and was more valuable. Why would Fred want a brooch where the magnet did stick? That meant the brooch was less valuable, right?

Wrong.

And so began my first lesson about Damascene. Damascene is a process of metal works in which gold or silver is inlaid into steel, iron, or brass, and then fired under heat, and the metal is blackened. Damascene is handcrafted metal works, and is labor intense.

Then Fred wanted to know if the Damascene brooch was Japanese or from Spain. It turns out these are the two countries where damascene is most commonly produced. More of it is made in Toledo Spain, and Fred wanted it only if it was made in Japan.

Japan is the rarer damascene as its less common. This brooch had an etched  pagoda, and was made in Japan. Japanese damascene uses scenery common in Japan.

Much of the Damascene made in Spain are intricate engravings of doves and flowers. It’s still pretty. It’s just more common in Spain, than Japan.

Damascene Jewelry Hinged  Bracelet

Damascene Bracelet Buy it now Hinged Bracelet

Damascene is an ancient art form of metal works. It began in Damascus, hence the name. Many weapons were made using Damascene before it was used to make jewelry. Some of the guns with raised gold engravings are made with the damascene process. You have seen Damascene. You are probably like me, you have seen it, you just didn’t know what it was called.

Many bracelets, and brooches are made with Damascene. Toledo Spain is the center of where the majority of Damascene is produced.

Damascene Jewelry A Link Bracelet

Damascene Floral bird Bracelet

Damascene is some of the most beautiful works of art.  You can find many pieces of Damascene jewelry at Grandmas Jewelry123 at Ebay store.

As of this writing, Fred bought the only piece of Damascene I had from Japan. I currently have a few pieces of this beautiful antique art form, known as Damascene from Spain. 

Damascene is an antique process of making jewelry. It is labor intensive, and truly a work of art. Whether you find Damascene jewelry from Spain or Japan, whether you find a bracelet, or brooch, when you wear damascene jewelry you are stepping back in time.

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