Art Clay and PMC are both Metal Clay. Art Clay is developed by Aida Chemical Industries Ltd. of Japan and Precious Metal Clay is developed by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation of Japan. Reltively the same materials, nearly the same price-range,  but two different brands.

Which one should you use? Just like other similar items that are available in different brands, you will have to try each brand to see which one you prefer. Each brand also has different formulations and package sizes.

Art Clay is Available in:

PMC is Available in:

I personally prefer PMC in the PMC3 formulation, for several reasons; It fires at a lower temp allowing you to embed gemstones without burning them and the firing schedule is shorter and can be fired with a torch.

It was six years ago that I first heard of Precious Metal Clay (PMC). It first seemed like a messy, expensive medium to create silver art and jewelry. A clay-like material that contained silver particles. When fired at the proper temperature and for the proper period of time, PMC will fuse and become fine silver. If you think about it, it is pretty amazing. Designing, then casting jewelery has been an art form and science for many centuries.

A method that once took much patience, sweat and hard work to make a jewelry piece out of precious metals was now being challenged with a grey, clay-like material and a kiln. It was only natural that jewelers would look at PMC as a fad medium that would soon disappear. PMC has been available in the United States since 1996. It is now the most rapid growing method of jewelry making along side with scrapbooking and rubber stamps. These creative methods of unique expression compliment each other. Textures and paterns are the key to making unique impressions and designs in PMC. 

Find that creative bone in you a create a unique piece of jewelry that will have your mark and expression. For under $100 ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5065897934 )you can get the basic tools, torch and clay required to make a jewelry peice that would take many days and thousands of dollars in equipment and materials in the traditional methods.

I invite you to try this new medium that is fun, easy and rewarding. Discover new methods, invent new tools, new techniques and lets share the knowledge here.

Want to learn more? Check out our PMC tutorials at http://search.reviews.ebay.com/members/ab169 and please vote "Yes" if the information is helpful.

Stay tuned for great information and tips for all you metal clay users by all you metal clay users.