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
Final QC: What a Jeweler Actually Inspects Before Shipping Your Order
Size, finish, stones, stamps, and packaging: the final QC pass a jewelry factory runs before a wholesale order goes out the door.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Grain Setting on the Bench: How Bead and Shot Setting Works
Grain (bead/shot) setting explained: drill, seat, raise and burnish the bead that holds a pave stone without prongs.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Amethyst Gemstone: Color, Heat Treatment, and Care
Amethyst hardness, color zoning, why heat turns it into citrine, fading in sunlight, and how to clean and wear it. Straight from the manufacturing bench.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Howlite and Magnesite: The White Stones That Often Become 'Turquoise'
Howlite and magnesite are frequently dyed to look like turquoise. We explain the difference, how to spot it, and how to care for each.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Rhodium Plating Bath Maintenance and Trouble Spots
pH, contamination, brightener dosing, and anode choice: the daily checks that keep a rhodium bath bright instead of streaky.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Ring Sizing: When to Refer Out Instead of Stretching
Stretching an engraved or channel-set ring cracks it. Our bench rules for resize-in-place versus referral, so brands do not get surprise breakage.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Turquoise Gemstone Guide: Properties, Color & Care
Turquoise is porous, soft and notoriously individual. Learn what makes good turquoise, how it is stabilized, and how to keep yours from fading.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Unakite: The Pink-and-Green Granite You Can Wear
Unakite is a pink and green granite made of feldspar, quartz and epidote. Learn why it is cut into beads and cabochons and how to care for it.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Labradorite and Spectrolite: The Stone That Turns Colors
Labradorite flashes blues, greens, and gold when you tilt it. Learn what labradorescence is, where spectrolite comes from, and how to set it for wear.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Iolite Gemstone Guide: The Water Sapphire That Costs Less
Iolite is a violet-blue gem with strong pleochroism. Learn its hardness, sources and why it is an affordable tanzanite alternative.
Stones & grading · Sep 2026
Tourmaline Gemstone Guide: Colors, Value & Heat Treatments
From watermelon to paraiba, tourmaline comes in more hues than almost any gem family. Here is what the bench knows about cuts, treatments, and value.
Making & process · Sep 2026
Jewelry Finishing Techniques: Polished, Brushed, Satin, and Hammered
Finishing choices change how a ring reads on the hand and how it wears. A buyer's guide to surface texture options in production.
