Enamel, as the French term for the material also known as enamel, describes a material that is also of great importance in jewellery making. Enamel is a composition of inorganic components that are brought together by a melting process. However, this melting process is stopped shortly before its climax, resulting in a glassy mass. The substances that make up the enamel before melting usually come from the group of silicates and oxides. After the first melting, the enamel is brought to temperature a few more times and after a short heating, the firing, it is fixed to the substrate. Enamel often serves in a protective function of preserving metal or glass, which in these cases make up the support material. In themselves, enamel works always have a high-quality and artistic character. They can be found on older art objects as well as on products from industrial production. Enamel protects metal from corrosion, so it has a practical use, but it can also be used specifically for artistic purposes, especially when coloured oxides are used in the process. This is of course the main concern in jewellery making.
