I gathered my silver casting work I still have around, and put it together on my work bench lamp base. So here is a group picture. It’s all 100% Sterling and 100% made in the USA (even the raw silver is from the USA)
I am doing the wax work and the casting (lost wax process) and having a load of fun being creative. Silver price has been dropping so the investment in what is shown is not very high. Under $150 the amount shown. The personal value is well more than the raw cost of silver, but it is always worth no less than the current silver market, perhaps less a traders discount.
The chains for example are worth more than the silver from which they are made. There are a lot of companies and silversmiths and jewelers working with silver. The craft is very old, but difficult enough to make it a challenge. The only thing worthwhile for me to make in silver are special custom items that have a personal worth. I want to do some more rings as they are always popular.
Solid gold casting is far out of my reach for now, but I never say never. One day when I get really good at this, someone may ask me to cast a gold item and if they supply the gold, well… why not?