The Gem and Jewelry World's foremost Resource
on The Internet. Open to the public, Free of Charge! We are here to build a strong pool of
information for the benefit of Web's jewelers and craftsmen - and those
interested in jewelry and gemstones.
McCreary is no stranger to traditional jewelry making. She took her first job with a jewelry manufacturer in the early 1970s, and spent several years casting, mold making, and model making for jewelers while she studied for her B.F.A. Her current work features clear acrylic with colored lacquer applied to the edges or carved areas, and 22k gold leaf applied over the lacquer. When you look at the piece, mainly what you are seeing is the clear of the acrylic, the whitish translucence, and the 22k gold leaf -- and then the color bleeds out from behind it. It makes the color seem a little more mysterious.... (2005) Complete Story
Jeffrey Johnson has two stores, 18 bench jewelers, and over 100 employees-and he still has time to work at the bench. 'I wouldn't be who I am without the bench,' he says. That's why he's got one set up in his office among leather arm chairs, file cabinets, and a desk. When a customer comes into his office, Johnson can sit down at the bench and sketch a design or perform a quick repair right in front of them. It's this kind of customer service that he says has done wonders for his business-and shaped the culture of his company.... (2004) Complete Story
Behold the metals supplier, lord of all things shiny. He fills your crucible with casting grain and makes sure youre always one sheet ahead of the game. But perhaps more important than his ability to make metal magically appear at your door in 24 hours is his expert advice when your solder wont flow, your castings are porous, or youre just about ready to turn off your torch-for good. We spoke with a number of metals suppliers to find out what their customers commonly want to know. From metalworking problems that constantly reappear to recent concerns about new alloys hitting the market, they shared with us some jewels of wisdom.... (2006) Complete Story
In this article, I will discuss the basics of metal preparation for the enameling process. Some experienced enamelists may disagree with part of this. But remember, these are general rules from a metallurgist's point of view, not an enamelist's. The article is not intended to outline or recommend any particular preparation or enameling technique, but rather explain why we do certain things to precious metals during the process of enameling..... (2003) Complete Story
In high volume production operations, many jump rings need to be closed one after another. For such fast paced operations, pliers simply won't do. Factory workers need efficient tools for closing jump rings. One such tool consists of a ring that has a slot head on it for gripping and steadying a jump ring (see photo). To make it, you will need a.... (2004) Complete Story
| More...
