Enamel
e·na·mel | i-ˈna-məl
noun
A glass powder or paste that is applied to metal, then fired in an annealing oven to bake the glass onto the metal
Enamel refers to a coating applied to the metal of a piece of jewelry. It is applied as a paste or powder and then heated to extremely high temperatures of more than 1500 degrees to fuse the metals with the powder, creating a colorful coating that would not be possible with metals alone. There are a number of different colors to create unique enamel coatings, and the heat at which the enamel is set can create other colors, depending on both the powder and the underlying metal being coated. Enamel jewelry dates back to ancient Persia, where artisans crated meenakari. Egyptians also used an enamel process in their pottery and at times with jewelry, and there are examples of enamel technologies in cultures around the globe. Modern examples of enamel jewelry include Art Nouveau-inspired pieces in the early 20th century.