Notes from the bench

Making & process · Sep 2026

Private Label Jewelry Production: Build Your Brand Line

Private label jewelry production: logo engraving, custom packaging, barcode, spec control and the first 100-piece launch for boutique brands.

Stones & grading · Aug 2026

Tanzanite Gemstone: The Rare Blue-Violet Stone from Tanzania

What tanzanite is, why it is only found in one place, how heat turns it blue, its Mohs hardness, and whether it works in a daily-wear ring.

Making & process · Aug 2026

Jewelry Casting Explained: The Full Lost-Wax Cycle from Tree to Pour

Wax tree, investing, burnout, casting, quenching, shakeout: how a jewelry factory schedules and runs a casting flask.

Stones & grading · Aug 2026

Chrysoprase: The Apple-Green Chalcedony Worth Knowing

Chrysoprase is nickel-colored green chalcedony, once Catherine the Great's favorite. Here is how to judge it, set it, and care for it.

Stones & grading · Aug 2026

Spinel Gemstone Guide: The Crown Jewel Impostor

Some of history's most famous rubies were actually spinel. Why the impostor gem finally gets its own spotlight, and how its value compares.

Stones & grading · Aug 2026

Seraphinite: Green Stone with Silver Feathers

Seraphinite is a Russian chlorite with silver feathery inclusions. Learn where it comes from, how it is cut, and why it is best kept away from daily wear.

Making & process · Aug 2026

Final QC: Loupe and Ultrasonic Check Routines

10x loupe zones, 3-5 minute ultrasonic, and a 24-hour tumble sample: the final QC routine that stops returns at shipment.

Making & process · Aug 2026

The Jeweler's Bench: Tools Every Maker Reaches For Daily

What does a bench jeweler actually use all day? We walk through the essential tools, and why hand skill still beats automation on the small stuff.

Stones & grading · Aug 2026

Grandidierite: The Blue-Green Collector Gem From Madagascar

Grandidierite is a rare blue-green trichroic mineral from Madagascar. Its properties, sources, and why faceted stones are so scarce.

Making & process · Aug 2026

Custom Jewelry Manufacturing MOQ: What Buyers Should Expect

Custom jewelry manufacturing MOQs explained: how design complexity, metal, stones, and packaging set your minimum order, and how to negotiate lower tiers.

Making & process · Aug 2026

Wholesale Jewelry Setting: Prong, Bezel, Pave for Brands

Prong, bezel and pave setting explained: which suits which stone, the QC tests that stop loose-stone returns, and cost differences.

Buying guides · Aug 2026

Accent and Side Stones: How Side Gems Change an Engagement Ring

Pavé, channel, trillion and baguette accents change finger appearance, cost and upkeep. Here is how to choose side stones for your engagement ring.