mounting components such as prongs or barrel mounts can likewise be produced as before the final shape is first imparted through annealing and cooling the mount is deformed to accept the gem stone and then reheated above the transition temperature to secure the stone in place in other circumstances the superelastic properties of nitinol may be a more desired characteristic than its shape memory properties with proper choice of alloy and processing the usable temperature range under which the nitinol exhibits the pseudoelastic response can provide for a jewelry piece having high flexibility and tensile strength yet which is elastically elongatable or bendable over a significant percentage without breaking or resulting in plastic or permanent deformation nitinol and other alloys will become coated with a ni u2014 ti oxide especially when annealing is performed in atmosphere the oxide is a desired characteristic to present a black shiny outer surface which is resistant to degradation from body acids and salts this oxide can be cold formed into the surface of the wire to increase its hardness prior to a subsequent annealing step nitinol and many other alloys will not bond directly with precious metal such as gold or silver in order to attach clasps or other connection elements to the wire or cable the normal method of soldering is not suitable since the process will discolor the nitinol instead laser welding is utilized where the caps or other connector members of titanium or the like are joined to the nitinol by fusing the connector members to the wire or cable the caps or connectors may be internal members such as externally threaded sleeves onto which external caps or connectors of precious metal or the like can be mechanically joined the caps are welded by providing tiny holes at spaced locations when.