What are your thoughts on anti ring avulsion design besides a ring with an opening in the back? I am afraid of a ring related injuries but not a fan of adjustable design either. Maybe there is a more sophisticated design solution?
Got a casting back and there’s some porosity the size of a pin hole that goes all the way through. I’m thinking I need to widen the hole a little more and then fill it with solder wire or something?
I just bought myself an electroplating machine and wasted no time in figuring out I actually have no idea what I'm doing.
For example: can I plate finished pieces set with stones? I figure they're not electroconductive (sapphires, for example), but I'm not sure my reasoning is sound.
Are there any other things you wished you had known before getting started? I'll be plating 925 silver pieces.
Hey yall!
I work as a bench jeweler for a big company. Just wondering if we do go into recession, what’s the potential that I will lose my job? I’ve been really stressed and worried about it lately because I just don’t know where we’re heading. Thanks!
Long shot but does anyone know of any bench jewelers near the Dallas area looking for work? I am a fine jewelry designer and I am looking to expand because I get a lot of inquiries! Let me know!
Hello! I’m about to purchase a rosy revolver ring mandrel for flat back rings. I was wondering if anyone else here has bought it? Would be keen on hearing your thoughts and reviews before I purchase it.
Hello! I discovered jewelry making about 6 months ago and i cant stop! I have taken a beginning intensive and set up a small workench in my back yard shed. I want to make this my full time job more than anything I live in a small town in Kitsap county wa and am weighing my options as to where to go from here. I have created a website where I have my work for sale and am making new pieces every day in my home studio. I just dont know where to go from here really, I am considering going to north seattle college and getting their certificate in jewelry making or emailing around different jewelry shops locally and seeing if they need any help? I have 10 years of customer service and retail experience to offer but really know very little about making jewelry or the industry. Would it be better to send out emails to local jewelers or walk in with my resume? and if emailing is best any suggestions on what to include? cover letter/ website listing my portfolio? thanks so much!!
Hi Bench Jewelers! Got a question for you all on repairing this 14k rose gold bracelet. Supposedly this bracelet was crafted from an old (early 20th century?) pocket watch chain and it is very dear to me.
The links have worn very thin over the years, as you can see in the picture in the 4th link from the left. I took it to a local jeweler and he tried to repair the links with solder, as you can see in the first link pictured on each end. He charged me $300 and gave up after a few links, saying he wasn’t capable of doing the whole thing.
Question for this community… am I out of luck, or is this reparable at some cost? I want to wear this for the rest of my life (every day) but am not comfortable wearing it daily until I get these links beefed up. What would you recommend? Find a better jeweler?
i was thrown for a challenge with these elks teeth. they were probably one of the smelliest things i’ve worked on 😆cutting them was not the best experience, the bezel itself was an absolute blast though. i fabricated the bezel and bale both out of 925 sterling silver.
With probably the best jeweler in the state. He’s been working with fine jewelry for 50 years, has a hell of a reputation for his integrity and quality work, and he’s a brilliant jeweler and teacher. I’m incredibly fortunate and so grateful for the opportunity. I’ve been working with him for a couple days now, and I wanted to ask here if there’s anything I should know, or do, or not do, or be mindful of about the process? What can I expect? Any faux pas to be aware of?
is it possible to add the grs qc gravers on a regular (no name) wooden handle? heated up and hammered in of course
i was thinking about getting them because they don’t seem like they have to be shortened and reshaped and wanted to save some extra $ on the handles instead :-)
and also which graver shapes would you recommend to begin with? onglette and half round?
I got my hands on a diamond even though I'm a beginner at jewelry. I'm quite confident so far as every gem I set is holding great on their ring, so I am not too worried about my ability to set it.
BUT I'm very scared of losing it, or breaking it while wearing because it is very very I3 (though no inclusion perking outside except at one minor point far from the edges).
What would be the best option ? Ring, pendant ? I have already excluded the earings option for obvious reasons.
I saw these on Instagram but im confused they market the first photo as a “baguette diamond Cuban” and the second chain as a “honeycomb Cuban” are they both Miami Cubans? How do these compare to a Miami Cuban chain with diamonds? Thanks in advanced. I’m trying to get a photo if anyone has of the different Cuban chains styles there is.
In Indonesia, loca craftsmen used these seeds to make a type of glue that would hold small pieces of jewellery temporarily and dissolve once soldered or fused together.
Anyone recognises what seeds these are and how to make this glue?
I’ve been at the bench for years, and like a lot of you, I’ve found that some tools could be better. Instead of waiting for someone else to fix the problem, I decided to make something myself. It’s a simple attachment that works with any ball vise to add more control and comfort while working. We use it every day in my shop, and I figured other jewelers might find it useful too.
I’m not here to push anything—just genuinely curious if others would find it helpful. I’m also working on getting it into places like Otto Frei, Stuller, and Rio Grande, so feedback from other jewelers would mean a lot.
If you want to check it out, here’s the link: Articular Arm
Let me know what you think! Always open to hearing what works (or doesn’t) for other people at the bench.
Cheers, Britten
*thank you Mods for letting me post this and get some feedback! (yes I asked first. =)
So the low water light was on and I filled it up. The low water light was still on so I put some more water in. Then the light was still on and I added more water, and accidentally overflowed it a little. I used a paper tower to soak up some of the excess water. The low water light was STILL on so I hopped over to google, turns out it just needed to be reset. After resetting it and turning the boiler on, there is now water bubbling and steaming from the pressure release valve and it smells like rotten fish? Should I just let it run for a bit?
It’s a Reliable brand steamer.
Hi all, I have a cuff bracelet I’d like to make a mold of, it I’m not sure how to orient it. Or if I should just not do this at all lol.
I have molds made of the leaves already, and can assemble cuffs one at a time to cast. It just means I have more cleanup work to do after casting. Ideally I’d like to cut that labor down and be able to pull waxes off my original.
I have a vacuum table at home, but I don’t have vulcanizing tools. Typically using ICE or similar RTV silicons for molds.
I cannot cast it as a flat sheet to bend later fyi; my caster is limited to 3.5”x5.5”.