No, the actual plant or object is not inside the piece.  I cast the pieces in solid bronze or sterling silver, they are not dipped, painted or plated.  The casting process allows for the forms to live on. They have a noticeable weight to them and are made to last!

The plant parts are put into a wet plaster then the plaster mold goes into a kiln for 8+ hours, burning out the plant material to create a mold. Molten metal is centrifugally thrown into the mold creating a solid metal model to be then transformed into ready to wear jewelry.

To clean, apply a paste of baking soda and water with a toothbrush in a circular motion.

Each piece has an oxidized finish. Well loved and frequently worn pieces will actually get BRIGHTER as you wear them. To maintain the finish, avoid wearing in the water or with sunscreen, lotion, or perfume. DO NOT use commercial jewelry cleaning solutions. To prevent unwanted tarnishing, store away from moisture.