Journal · 980 notes
Notes from the bench
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.
Care & after-sales · Oct 2026
When to Replace Earring Backs and Check Clasps
Earring backs loosen, hoops gap and clasps wear. A simple maintenance guide to the small parts that hold your jewelry on.
Care & after-sales · Oct 2026
How to Care for Jewelry During Pregnancy
Pregnancy changes fingers and skin. Practical tips for rings, earrings and jewelry when your body and skin are changing.
Care & after-sales · Oct 2026
Jewelry Care for Hot Tub, Pool and Beach Trips
What happens to jewelry in chlorine, salt water and sand? A practical guide to wearing rings and jewelry on vacation.
Buying guides · Oct 2026
Moissanite vs Lab Diamond for a Promise Ring
Choosing a promise ring? Compare moissanite and lab-grown diamonds on sparkle, durability, size and budget before you buy.
Buying guides · Oct 2026
Jewelry Return Policies: What to Ask First
What to ask about jewelry return policies before buying bespoke: returns, deposits, custom orders and resizing rights.
Buying guides · Oct 2026
Wide vs Slim Wedding Bands for Your Hand
Wide or slim wedding band? Compare width, comfort, engagement ring pairing and how each looks on long or short fingers.
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.
Care & after-sales · Oct 2026
How to Inspect Your Jewelry at Home: A 10-Point Checklist
You do not need a loupe to catch loose stones and worn clasps early. Here is the home inspection routine our bench staff recommend.
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.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Nickel-Free Silver Alloys: Meeting EU REACH and Nickel Directive Rules
EU REACH Annex XVII limits nickel release to 0.5 ug/cm2/week for skin-contact jewelry. How nickel-free silver alloys are specified and tested.
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.
