Sacred Art Jewelry

Frequently Asked Questions

Choices, Quality, Maintenance, Gifts & Custom Orders

How can I make sure the pieces I like go well together?

Your rosary parts should look beautiful together and combine well in proportion, and design. When I am choosing my parts, I look for all the common elements, such as the borders, for example. Do they both have a similar border, or no border at all? Another thing to observe is the theme or motif. Is it a floral? fleur de lis? or scrolls design? What about techniques used, such as openwork, texturing? Another thing to look at is the geometrical form, are the two pieces angular? rounded? Finally, are they similar in volume or depth? All our items are beautiful on their own, and generally, even if the pieces have in common just one or two of these elements, they will look very well together. In terms of size and proportion, the center is usually between 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the crucifix.

How do I clean my Bronze rosary parts and medals?

Both the sterling and the bronze pieces may be buffed to a higher shine, if preferred.

To clean your bronze pieces, dip them in vinegar and sprinkle with baking soda until it becomes a think semi liquid after stirring. It will become effervescent when you add the baking soda, and rise for a few seconds. Leave the pieces soaking overnight if you will. Before rinsing, rub them in the semi liquid paste repeatedly using small circular motions. Wash with warm, soapy water, rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean towel. For extra shine, sprinkle a few drops of paint thinner on the pieces after cleaning. Leave it on for some time, and rub the pieces dry. They will shine like gold.

Keep in mind that there is a difference between removing dirt and dust (cleaning) and removing tarnish (polishing). Polishing uses abrasives, so every time tarnish forms and is polished away, part of the original finish is lost.

How do I clean my Sterling Silver rosary parts and medals?

Both the sterling and the bronze pieces may be buffed to a higher shine, if preferred.

To clean your sterling silver pieces, lace a sheet of aluminum foil on the bottom of a big glass bowl and place your tarnished sterling silver pieces on it. Pour enough boiling water in the bowl to cover them, and then some, and sprinkle on enough baking soda to just cover the pieces while staying under water. Let the pieces sit in the mixture and after a few minutes swish them around. The longer they stay in the mixture, the cleaner they will become. Wash with warm, soapy water, rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean towel.

Keep in mind that there is a difference between removing dirt and dust (cleaning) and removing tarnish (polishing). Polishing uses abrasives, so every time tarnish forms and is polished away, part of the original finish is lost.

How are the bronze and sterling silver pieces created?

The method used to create these exquisite bronze and sterling pieces is Lost Wax Casting, also called cire-perdue. It is an ancient process dating back from the 3rd millennium BC to ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. It has sustained few changes since then, and is still the best method for capturing exquisite detail in metal objects, which could not otherwise be produced given the complexity of their design.

This process allows anything modeled in wax to be recreated fully and faithfully into various metals. It is still the preferred method for producing fine jewelry all over the world because it produces the best quality in the finished products in terms of perfectly accurate detailing in the finished pieces. Involving many steps that need to be meticulously followed, the casting is all done by hand by specialized professionals, with the utmost care taken for quality control from start to finish, piece by piece. Lost wax casting is a demanding and expensive process, but rewards the artisan with an object of great detail and individuality.

How can I keep my medals clean, even-out the finish, or recover the original metal color, and increase the shine?

To eliminate tarnish, highlight the details, and increase the shine on your pieces, you can wash them with a homemade paste made by mixing baking soda with white vinegar until you get a solid, but a little runny, consistency. Rub the pieces with your fingers, or use an old toothbrush to scrub them. Rinse, and swirl them on a bowl with a little dish washing detergent mixed with water, then rinse again. Pat dry, and voila!

Doing the same with a mixture of vinegar and salt will take out even more of the antique finish, bringing out more of the gold color in the bronze. If this is the finish you prefer, you can also dip the pieces in the this mixture, and work wet when you are buffing them as described below.

To even out the finish, add even more shine, and really highlight the details, (in less than one minute!) you can buff them with the finer grits of an ordinary nail buffer which you can buy at a drugstore, or with steel wool (0000), before cleaning them as described above. You will be very pleased with the results!

What is White Bronze?

White Bronze is a metal alloy with a very attractive silvery appearance. It has a warm, antique silver sheen, very smooth and virtually nonporous. It is also highly resistant to corrosion and breakdown, and another great feature of white bronze is that it will not tarnish.

How do I know which rosary to buy?

All our rosaries are unisex, so feel free to get the one you like best. Chained Rosary beads like the ones we offer have been handmade in the wire looped manner for hundreds of years for two good reasons: First, the drape of this style as you pray: It is wonderful. Second: A chained rosary that is well made, with quality beads and secured loops will withstand decades of use.

There are advantages to the different bead sizes used for the Aves. Consider the age and physical capacity of the user. For a child or teenager with small hands, a 6mm bead is quite adequate. If you love your gemstone beads, enjoy handling them, and feeling their energy, the larger 8mm are the best choice. Men usually prefer size a 8mm bead rosary. Either size can be carried in a purse. For carrying your rosary around at all times in your pockets, a 6mm rosary is often the best choice.

A large size rosary uses 8mm beads. Now that so many wonderful gemstone beads are accessible to all of us, this is becoming the standard for men and women of all ages because this size beads have the best “feel”. They are considered the most ergonomic, the most comfortable to use by almost all adults, especially if they suffer from arthritis or any pain in their hands.

Can you tell me about the parts you use?

The bronze or sterling silver rosary parts offered on this website are antique reproductions, replicas originating around the globe, perhaps even centuries ago, that have be recast by hand from the original pieces using the priced “lost wax method”. They are produced in the USA and cast in both sterling silver and true bronze, then antiqued by hand. The measurements that appear in the catalogue are not always 100% exact. Please, take into account the possibility of a 2-3mm margin of error in regards to the measurements, if necessary.

For the rosaries, the use of ring caps are handsome details which serve a dual function. The cut edge of the wire is safely tucked into the ring, which lets the rosary feel smooth in the hand and prevents snags on clothing or carrying cases, while at the same time providing lateral stability for the loops, which is important for its durability.In addition to the ring caps, additional caps may be used in the designs to enhance the design. Those are selected keeping in mind that a smooth feel of the rosary is desired. This is achieved by selecting caps with rounded and unobtrusive details, or ones that do not entirely cover over the end of the bead. 

How much would a custom rosary cost?

I would love to make your rosary exactly the way you want it. It is very simple, and you may contact me at any time with your questions. Simply select from the store the crucifix and center piece you like. You might also want to add medals. Then, let me know what stones or colors you prefer. I will gladly send you pictures of stones to chose from. Finally, I will add to that the cost of the wire, chain, caps. The cost of constructing your rosary starts at $80 and depends on the complexity. In many cases I can have your custom rosary ready to ship within 7-10 days.

I really like a rosary on your website, but I'd like a different crucifix/center piece, can you change it?

You may choose from any of the more than 1,000 pieces that are available on this website for the construction of your rosary.

I'm sending a gift, can you ship to a different address?

Certainly, if you would like the purchase sent directly to the recipient simply contact me at the time of purchase, and let me know.