Q: Your Mark Your Calendar® Keychains are 18 gauge sterling silver. What does that mean??

Four different diameter discs, all the same thickness: 20 gauge.

Once in awhile, customers ask about what the "gauge" measurement in our listings means, so we thought we provide a little explanation. 

For example, this description identifying the gauge of sterling silver sheet used is included in our Mark Your Calendar® Keychain listing: 

This nice and thick 18 gauge, approximately 1" sterling silver rectangle can be hand stamped with ANY month from ANY year (past, present or future), and then one day will be highlighted with an oval or a heart AROUND the date.

So what does it mean?

The gauge of metal is simply a measurement of its thickness, but because it's not a measurement we typically use in our day-to-day lives, it has little meaning by itself. Plus there are various measurement systems and standards to make it even more confusing! 

In the United States (and jewelry making world), sheet metal is measured using the Brown and Sharpe Gauge.

Oddly enough, the larger the gauge, the thinner the metal. So our Mark Your Calendar Keychains are made from a nice and thick 18 gauge sterling silver, while our necklaces (no stamping on the back) are made from a thinner 22 gauge sterling silver. 

You can see from the chart below that the difference between those two gauges is only .015 of an inch!

The common gauges of sheet metal we use are listed below along with their respective thicknesses in inches and millimeters:

18 gauge     |     .040 inches     |     1.02mm     |  
20 gauge     |     .032 inches     |     .812mm     |  
22 gauge     |     .025 inches     |     .644mm     |  
24 gauge     |     .020 inches     |     .511mm     |  
26 gauge     |     .016 inches     |     .405mm     |  

We include the gauge used in our product descriptions to help you 'gauge' its thickness. Sorry...had to say it.

Celebrate a Golden Birthday!

Our hand stamped Gold Filled Mark Your Calendar® Necklace
makes a perfect gift for a Golden Birthday.

I have to admit that I didn't know what a Golden Birthday was until a few years ago. Golden Anniversary, sure. But Golden Birthday? That was a new one.

Just in case you haven't heard about it, your Golden Birthday is the birthday where you turn the same age as the day your were born. For example, turning 24 on the 24th.

I've since discovered that it can also be called your Grand Birthday, Champagne Birthday, Star Birthday or Lucky Birthday.

Since my birthday is on the 17th, and I'm long past that age, I think I'll just make every birthday my Champagne Birthday. Reasonable, don't you think?

Graduation Gift Ideas from Punky Jane Jewelry

It's graduation season! Every graduation from preschool to college and beyond is a reason to celebrate. Are there any special soon-to-be graduates in your life?

Here at Punky Jane, we've created a list of Graduation Gift Ideas. It even includes ideas for the guys! Use it as a starting point, but don't forget to check out the rest of the shop for more hand stamped and personalized gift ideas.

Some of our favorites (and most popular) items include...

Our Graduation Tag Necklace with Initial Charm, which will be personalized with the year of graduation, and initial, and a Swarovski crystal of your choice.

Our 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' Necklace with Compass Charm makes for a special and inspirational gift. It's available as a keychain as well!

Our Spiral Quote Ring can be stamped with a message or little reminder for the graduate. 

For the geeks, we have a Periodic Table Keychain which is personalized by combining elements to spell out names and/or words.

Check out all of our 'Geekery' pieces, here.

Our Mark your Calendar Keychain, is always a popular option! A short message can be stamped on the back.

The guys might enjoy a money clip personalized with their initials and there's even room for a message on the back.

Or our Monogram Cuff Links make a traditional and meaningful gift.

Check out our Graduation Gift Ideas guide as well as the full shop to find the perfect gift for all the graduates in your life.