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.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Hand Engraving vs Laser Engraving: Which One Belongs on Your Line
Hand engraving and laser engraving serve different jobs. Compare cost, permanence, texture, and best use cases before you write either into a spec sheet.
Care & after-sales · Sep 2026
What Our Lifetime Warranty Actually Covers (and What It Does Not)
No fine print chasing. A bespoke atelier explains exactly what a lifetime warranty covers, what it excludes, and how to keep every piece fully eligible.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Vacuum Casting vs Centrifugal Casting: When Each Method Wins
Porosity rates, flask size, and alloy fit. Vacuum-pressure casting beats centrifugal on density; centrifugal wins on heavy trees and platinum.
Buying guides · Sep 2026
Soldering a Size Bead Inside a Ring Shank
When a ring spins on the finger, a sizing bead or ball stop is often better than a full resize. How the bench does it cleanly.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Rhodium Plating vs Silver Dip on 925 Sterling: Finish Comparison
Rhodium plate is a 0.5 to 1.0 micron coating that lasts 12 to 18 months. Silver dip is a tarnish remover that strips silver every use. Which to sell.
Making & process · Sep 2026
How Fine Chains Are Made: Wire, Links, and Clasps
From drawn wire to finished cable, curb, and rope chains. How jewelry chains are manufactured, why thin chains break, and what to look for when you buy.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Sprue Design Tips for a Clean Jewelry Casting Tree
Sprue diameter, 45-degree angle, tier balance, and vent placement: the sprue rules that stop short-fed and finned castings.
Care & after-sales · Sep 2026
Rhodium Plating: How Often, Why It Fades, and What Actually Helps
An atelier explains why white gold rhodium plating fades, how often to re-dip, what speeds it up, and whether platinum is the easier long-term choice.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Plating Wear and Replating Cycles: What Brands Budget For
Rhodium wears through on rings in 12-24 months. Our thickness choices, wear math and replating program so your customers know what to expect.
Making & process · Sep 2026
3D Printing Wax: Resolution and Fit Notes for Jewelry
SLA wax printer layer height, support marks, and shrinkage math that decide whether a casting fits on first sample.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Bulk Jewelry Production Capacity: Monthly Output Explained
What bulk jewelry production capacity really means, how monthly output is calculated, and how to plan a 5,000-piece order.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Engraving Machines vs Hand Tools: What Each Does Well on the Bench
Pantograph, rotary diamond-drag, and hand gravers: what each engraving method does best on production jewelry and what it cannot do.
