What does CIRKEL mean?
Cirkel isk "circle" in Nordic languages. It represents eternity, the connection of the celestial with the earthly, the movement of nature and its cycles, the eternal return. This project seeks to flow with natural cycles, observe even the most ephemeral and evoke it in physical objects.
Since when has this brand existed?
CIRKEL® is a brand legally registered under intellectual property in Chile since 2023, but this project was born approximately in 2013 with the first jewelry and resin works, and since 2015 with metalsmith work in silver and higher quality materials, which marked a new approach to the brand and a more developed identity.
Where is located the store?
We only have the Online store, not a physical point of sale. The brand is based in Chile, so we ship regularly to this country, but we are currently working from the city of Porto in Portugal, shipping worldwide.
How did they learn the craft of metalsmithing?
As an Industrial Design student I became interested in working and mixing a wide variety of materials and techniques, and to experiment on a small scale I began to test accessories, which allowed me to gradually finance my learning and new materials. When I became more seriously interested in metalsmithing, I noticed that in Chile the community was very closed to sharing its knowledge and I had no contacts, so I attended a couple months at Claudia Correa Jewelry School where I learned a lot about basic techniques and one of the key parts: supplier info. After this I continued researching, practicing and studying on my own with the help of books, videos, pinterest and personal challenges. This pace of learning continues to this day, since the magic of this craft is that you never stop perfecting and learning something new ♡
What materials do you use for your jewelry?
The metals we work with in general are Bronze or Brass, Copper, Silver and other composite materials such as epoxy resin, wood, natural elements, as well as stones of different qualities and cuts.
What does 950 or 925 Silver mean?
The number refers to the alloy of the silver: the one we use most at CIRKEL is the mixture 950 Silver + CopperThis means that the 95% in its composition is Silver, and the remaining 5% is Copper to give it greater resistance, without any other metal incorporated to maintain the hypoallergenic capacity of the material. The 925 alloy or sterling silver It's one of the most used worldwide and is composed of 92.5% of Silver along with the remaining 7.5% in another material such as Copper or other metals.
Does your jewelry cause allergies?
The composition of the metal we use (950 silver) allows us to control that the metal is of good quality and composed only of silver and a little copper, so it doesn't contain other allergenic metals like Nickel or Pewter. For works with a mixture of metals (bronze or copper) we always make sure that the area in contact with the body is silver or has a protective coating that will be specified in the description of each item. In the case of more affordable lines such as resin work, we make sure to use only stainless steel (unless otherwise indicated) for hoops, chains, rings and pendants, improving the durability of the object and avoiding allergies in the majority of users.
How can I get my ring size?
To obtain your size, it's best to first measure yourself in person using the right tools for that, either in a jewelry store or at an appointment with us if possible. Most commercial jewelry stores allow you to try on sizes that usually use the USA size system: it is important to ask what measurement system is being used, whether the Spanish-Chilean, EUR or USA to calculate the equivalence.
If you can't measure yourself this way, In this section you can learn how to get your size at home for different types of jewelry, not just rings.
Does silver oxidize?
No, silver is a hypoallergenic material with low reactivity, which is why it is widely used for people with skin allergies (unless its alloy contains Nickel). Silver reacts with the environment and sulphates its outermost surface, which gives it an opaque and grayish appearance. To avoid this reaction you can see these care tips..
How do I clean my silver jewelry?
Here we leave you some tips to care for your jewelry preventing them from getting dirty or worn out in the first place, and tips for cleaning them at home depending on the level of dirt and whether or not they have delicate elements such as stones or crystals.
Do you do custom designs?
At the moment we only work with our own designs and their variations as stock for the web store, but if you want to make wedding rings that go with our design style, you can contact us on Instagram or in the contact section to evaluate budget, design and feasibility (:
Do you work with Gold?
No, only in silver and gold plating.