Precious Metal Clay (PMC) is a revolutionary material in the jewelry world developed by Mitsubishi Materials in the early 1990's. The ingredients of PMC are micro-particles of pure silver or pure gold suspended in binder they call "clay." The binder consists of water and organic plant-based materials which feels like a soft clay to the touch. The binder or "clay" is inert and non-toxic in both its raw and fired form.

The firing temperature of metal clay is 1110° to 1830° depending on the type of PMC. Up to 30% shrinkage occurs in the kiln as the micro-fibers of metal fuse together and become solid. The binder ("clay") burns away completely in the kiln leaving solid metal that is about 80%-90% as dense as conventional sheet, wire or casting grain.

PMC pieces are pure silver or gold and can be hall-marked and will assay at 100% pure metal rather than an alloy as sterling silver or karat gold. In Ms. Valentine's work stones are set in the wet clay and fired in place, a process which is very risky but feels appropriate to her. Ruby and sapphire (corundum), and hand full of other stones are the only materials which can withstand the firing temperatures and duration well.

This malleable metal bearing material is a completely unique new medium to the jewelry world. It can be sculpted, pushed, pulled, carved, trailed, shaped with any variety of techniques and treated after firing with traditional fabrication and stone setting techniques.