Journal · 542 notes
Making & process
Written for buyers rather than for search engines: what a specification actually means, where an order usually goes wrong, and what to ask before you pay a deposit.
Making & process · Oct 2026
Spruing Large Stones in Investment Casting
Sprue diameter, side-entry ingate angle, and vent channels that stop thermal shock cracks on 6mm+ colored stones hung on a lost-wax casting tree.
Making & process · Oct 2026
Final Rouge Polish: The Last Buff That Sells the Ring
Rouge is the last compound, not the only one. Our bench sequence of tripoli, white diamond and red rouge that leaves rings haze-free under store lighting.
Making & process · Oct 2026
Choosing Polishing Compounds for Gold and Silver Bench Work
Which polishing compound goes on which mop for sterling, 10K and 14K gold, and how to keep rouge residue out of your settings.
Making & process · Oct 2026
What Happens at Your Final Ring Fitting
The final fitting: sizing checks, prong inspection, finish review and what to expect when you collect your bespoke ring.
Making & process · Oct 2026
Matching Diamonds for a Pavé Setting at the Bench
Behind the bench: how setters select and match tiny pavé diamonds so a band looks like one continuous line of sparkle.
Making & process · Oct 2026
How We Quote a Bespoke Ring: The Price Explained
What goes into a bespoke ring quote? Metal, stones, labor and design explained so you understand your price estimate.
Making & process · Oct 2026
Silver Fabrication: Forming and Soldering by Hand
Anneal cycles, planishing blow spacing, and solder grade selection that keep hand-fabricated 925 silver flat and free of fire scale.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Jewelry Factory QC Checklist: Cut Wholesale Returns by 20%
A jewelry factory QC checklist for wholesale buyers: alloy XRF, casting, prong pull test, plating thickness, final visual and carton checks.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Designing 3D-Printed Wax Patterns That Survive Investment Casting
Layer height is only half the job. Support placement, gate thickness and sprue orientation decide whether a printed wax casts cleanly.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Hand Wax Carving in Jewelry Making: The Sculpting Stage
Hand wax carving is the sculpting stage of jewelry making: a jeweler shapes wax by hand, you approve the prototype, then metal is cast from the wax mold.
Making & process · Sep 2026
How Gemstones Are Sourced and Selected for Jewelry
How jewelers source and select gemstones: mining, cutting, grading with certificates, treatments, matching stone to design, and how it determines a ring's value…
Making & process · Sep 2026
The Jewelry Design Consultation: What to Expect at Your First Meeting
What happens at a jewelry design consultation: bring references, be honest about budget, discuss metal and stone options, and leave with a clear plan and timeli…
