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 · Aug 2026
Hand Polishing vs Mass Finishing: Where Each Actually Wins on a Jewelry Line
Hand polishing vs vibratory barrel finishing: metal removed, detail preserved, cost, and the hybrid line most factories run.
Making & process · Aug 2026
Bezel Setting Polishing: Outer Wall, Inner Edge, and the Stone Risk
How to polish a bezel after setting without rounding the lip, scratching the stone, or burning through the thin wall of a gold bezel.
Making & process · Aug 2026
Laser Engraving vs Hand Engraving: Durability
A retailer asked us to add inside-ring engraving to 800 wedding bands. The marketing copy promised hand engraved, forever legible. The shop actually r
Making & process · Aug 2026
Recutting and Repolishing Worn Gemstones: The Bench Perspective
Worn chipped gemstones can often be recut or repolished. Learn how our bench decides between a light repolish and a full recut, and what weight is lost.
Making & process · Aug 2026
Rhodium Plating Specs: Thickness, Underplate, and Why It Wears Off
Rhodium is a thin, hard coat, not a metal. Thickness in microns, underplate and finish prep decide how long it lasts in wear.
Making & process · Aug 2026
Jewelry Mold Making Basics: Rubber, Masters, and Production Limits
Mold making turns one master piece into repeatable production. Learn the materials, master requirements, and limits of a production rubber mold.
Making & process · Aug 2026
Ring Sizing at the Factory: How a Production Line Handles Size Adjustments
Factory ring sizing is not the same as bench resizing. Cut-add, sizing stock matching, post-size finishing, and size-range planning.
Making & process · Aug 2026
The QC Checklist We Run Before Any Jewelry Order Ships
Pre-ship QC checklist for wholesale jewelry: fineness marks, stone tightness, symmetry, plating thickness, weight, and packaging.
Making & process · Aug 2026
Ring Sizing Up vs Down: Stretch, Cut, and When to Rebuild
Which bands can be stretched, which must be cut, how far you can move a size, and why stone-set rings need a different sizing call.
Making & process · Aug 2026
Moissanite Ring Factory: Bulk Production & QC Standards
How moissanite rings are produced at scale, the GRA certification checks that matter, and the QC steps that stop loose-stone and clarity returns.
Making & process · Aug 2026
Moissanite Setting Tolerance and Girdle Protection: What the CAD Must Account For
Moissanite is hard but brittle. The seat clearance, girdle relief, and prong radius we design into CAD settings to prevent chipping.
Making & process · Aug 2026
Jewelry Polishing and Finishing: How the Finishing Department Reaches a Mirror
Grinding, sanding, prep, polish, buff: how a jewelry finishing department batches pieces to a consistent mirror or satin.
