Jewelry Making

Ganoksin instructor Kelly Jean Conroy, a bench jeweler out of Massachusetts, leads you through the basics of making a round...

Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst and Richard Sweetman offer tips, tricks and various techniques to finish your project by hand. You...

Sizing a ring is one of the most requested repairs a jeweler will see. Ganoksin instructor Mechelle Lois teaches you...

This troubleshooting tutorial from Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst and Richard Sweetman highlights some common soldering problems and their solutions. Pattie...

Fixing a worn thin shank is an essential repair for rings. Learn how to re-shank a worn or split shank...

How do you clean your jewellery? Doing it yourself isn’t the answer. Nor is using an improper technique that can...

Ganoksin instructor Kelly Jean Conroy teaches you how to make a sterling silver picture frame pendant in this video. Follow...

Pearl stringing is a high-demand repair that is a great skill to have in your pocket. The same stringing technique...

The flex shaft machine is one of the most common tools at a jeweler's bench. Watch Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst...

Whether you want to finish a chain you bought by the foot or want to repair a clasp or jump...

Next to ring sizing, chain repairs are the most common repair you will see because chains are regularly worn and...

Learn the basics of soldering from Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst and Richard Sweetman. They walk you through the fundamentals like...

This tutorial from Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst and Richard Sweetman features various soldering methods that you can implement to improve...

Mechelle Lois demonstrates how to make sizing beads - a perfect solution for difficult to size rings. Mechelle goes over...

Earrings with a post can break or bend from too much wear. Ganoksin instructor Mechelle Lois walks you through the...

When a channel set ring needs to be repaired it is almost always because the channel has worn down over...

Every time a cuff bracelet is worn it is squeezed on the wrist for a custom fit. This constant adjusting...

Take what you have learned from our other soldering videos and watch Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst and Richard Sweetman work...

In part 2 of this series, instructor Mechelle Lois teaches you how to re-size a ring with a stone. Sizing...

Sawing and piercing metal using a jeweler's saw is a fundamental skill for any bench jeweler. Join Ganoksin instructors Richard...

The one request that makes a jeweler's blood pressure rise is when they are asked to bezel set a fancy...

Master goldsmith Charles Lewton-Brain invented foldforming and demonstrates the technique in this video. Foldforming is a system of metalworking that...

Single-row pavé, which consists of a single row of small diamonds set into a narrow strip of metal, is a...

When the spring inside a clasp wears out a new clasp will need to be installed. Learn how to attach...

Mechelle Lois demonstrates how to solder two rings together. By soldering the base of the bands together, the rings will...

Repairing a prong is one of the most requested repairs for a jeweler. In this video, Ganoksin instructor Mechelle Lois...

If you are experiencing rough surfaces, discolored metal or no-fills, the problem may be in the burnout. When casting, the...

I took in a broken hollow rope chain bracelet for repair this week. The bracelet had caught on a desk...

Technical Briefs deals with technical concerns of interest to a wide audience, addressing topics as diverse as vanguard technology and...

Making a simple or basic link chain to display your pendant designs is a great way to add further value...

We asked a number of top jewelers to tell us their best practices, techniques, and tips for creating satin, brushed,...

This Korean technique for applying 24k gold to silver is in fact widely used in various cultures; Japanese, Chinese and...

Considered to be one of the richest and most important archaeological finds in Great Britain, the Ship Burial known as...

Platinum takes more effort to polish, for the simple reason that it does not wear as other precious metals do...

In this presentation I attempted to provide you with information on platinum alloys to help you make an informed decision...

Because titanium behaves somewhat differently than the standard metals in the goldsmith's workshop some special attention to its working is...

In the late 20s, a small enamel tray, made in China, introduced us to the word cloisonne. The material looked...

Casting of silver can be fairly easy and these notes are the results of my experience through trial and error...

Sand casting is used extensively for large-scale casting, such as engine blocks, and the grates that one sees around trees...

One of the most popular setting styles today, fishtail settings are one of the few setting methods that show off...

Metalsmiths and enamelists have used ferric chloride for several years as a safer alternative to nitric acid for copper and...

This is a mixture of potassium sulfides which has traditionally been used to darken or 'antique' silver and bronzes. This...

Jewelers treat soldered objects with dilute acid solutions to remove oxides produced from heating and soldering as well as glassy...

This is the basic recipe for the iridescent patina. This patina is most effective on highly textured pieces, such as...

The surface of metals may be colored, a patina added either chemically or with heat. Patinas are generally achieved by...

Hydraulic die forming is a process which hasn't received a lot of press. Perhaps its usefulness seems limited to mass...

One of the most popular setting styles today, fishtail settings are one of the few setting methods that show off...

One of the most interesting things about the jewellery/metals field is that there are so many career options, so many...

Jewelers use so-called -oxidising- solutions to darken metals like silver, copper, brass, nickel silver, bronze and, with specialized mixtures, on...

There is a major difference between durability and scratch resistance. Platinum is very durable. When scratched, the scratch actually displaces...

The casting investment process enjoys wide popularity in the production of commercial and one-of-a-kind art metal objects. However, production practice...

Transforming a flat piece of metal into a flowing form, free from constraints, wild, dynamic and strong. This is the...

Platinum casting is different from gold or silver casting, and insufficient preparation and understanding of the process can still lead...

Through the years, a variety of enameling techniques has been developed. Some involve how the metal is prepared and some...

Over the past decade, channel setting has grown in popularity. Setting small diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and even emeralds into channels...

Enameling involves the firing and melting of suitable glasses onto and into metals for decorative effects. It is done at...

A selected bibliography list for the jeweler - Metal working, Casting, Plating, Enamelling ,Gem Cutting, Setting, Engraving and Etching, Other...

Joining is a very important production technique in the field of jewelry production. Therefore it is useful to know, what...

True damascus steel is made by a casting process utilizing very high carbon steel. The material is held at or...

Spot welding devices have become quite popular on the market and are indeed now indispensable features in many goldsmith studios...

Do you know why that piece of jewelry that goes around your arm is called a bracelet? Or why a...

Carat, karat, caret, and carrot are all pronounced the same, but each has a different meaning. Carat and karat, of...

When you've made the decision to learn hand engraving, you have basically 3 options: Spend little or no money but...

Tarnishing is superficial corrosion of the carat gold surface and is evident by a usually dark discolouration - the tarnish...

Japanese artists have contributed significantly by using their unique alloys in innovative combinations. Perhaps the best example of this is...

This article is a part of a series offering enameling tips and what is most occurring that enamelists encounter. This...

This talk briefly reviews issues of studio safety and discusses ways of recognizing risks in the studio and reducing hazard...

Overglaze enamels, as their name implies, are made to be applied over other enamels. They act much like paints or...

This article lists the basic tools someone learning stonesetting might want to have around. One would of course add to...

Pitch is used all over the world by goldsmiths and silversmiths to hold metal in place while working it with...

The following is Consignment Agreement contract. It is intended for information purposes only although if you wish to use it...

This article includes descriptions of dangerous activities. These descriptions are not to be deemed instruction, any inference to the contrary...

Titanium and the other refractory metals other the metalsmith a new range of exotic colors - colors that are beautiful...

While goldsmiths normally strive to have their solder flow easily, there are times you don't want it to flow, such...

When first starting to work with the laser welders, operators should experiment with five or six different alloys commonly used....

This article is a part of a series offering enameling tips and what is most occurring that enamelists encounter. This...

This is an academic paper, not a technical 'how to' guide. Many of the procedures described are unsafe in practice....

The most commonly used metals for enameling are pure copper and fine silver. The fine silver is primarily used for...

Clean, fresh investment, water and investment at room temperature, de-ionized or distilled water or water that has been sitting overnight....

For someone new to the jewelry industry, the sheer assortment of tools and equipment in the typical workshop can be...

Granulation is the process of fusing tiny metal spheres of silver or gold, in a decorative pattern, to a surface...

In the twentieth century there can be little doubt that electroplating is the best way to develop a gold coating...

When I ran a trade shop, time was money, and I often found myself sizing 50 to 60 rings in...

The question about the differences between lead bearing and lead free enamel is the same as the questions about the...

Bezel setting is one of the most secure methods of setting a gemstone into a mounting, but one of the...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Sterling silver alloys typically contain about 7.5 percent copper, an addition that not only provides strength to the otherwise pure...

We use a method for cutting down firescale when using a Presto-Lite Torch along with an acetylene B tank. The...

Enamel comes in a number of forms: lump, string, liquid, and powder, as well as in the optical qualities of...

When burnishing very detailed pieces, use stainless pins in your mixed shot. Don’t use them any other time because the...

For a number of years I have been exploring the use of the Japanese alloy shakudo in ways other than...

My skills as an artist combined with my years of experience at the bench have given me a practical approach...

I’d like to first dispel a myth about Precious Metal Clay. Precious Metal Clay (PMC) is NOT some magical clay...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Gold and silver have long been esteemed as the king and queen of metals, for good reason. No other members...

Scoring and bending is one of the most important ways of constructing jewellery. Scoring is a method of obtaining very...

This article offers instructions on how to resize platinum rings whether for a size smaller or bigger, as well as,...

For more than twenty years, I have been using overglazes as a direct painting technique. My canvas usually is a...

For all metal coloring and electroplating a clean metal surface is essential. The cleaning process must remove mineral oils, organic...

First, the 'n' really is silent, at least according to the American Heritage Dictionary. There are kilns as big as...

Platinum is a very durable metal, so prongs will last a long time. However, it is sometimes necessary to re-tip...

It is sometimes useful to have criticism of one's work in order to develop it. While studying as an apprentice...

Securing curved stones when drilling can be a bit difficult. I use recycled ceramic china, beach pebbles, sea and river...

In high volume production operations, many jump rings need to be closed one after another. For such fast paced operations,...

What if you could sit down at your computer, spend a little time manipulating the mouse, keyboard or electronic pencil...

An art school is in some ways a difficult place to learn to be a metalsmith. Traditional systems of industry...

No single item is more used yet more neglected than flatware. It is used in one form or another by...

In laser welding of Sterling Silver ' lower silver bearing alloys (coin silver) we have about seven choices in laser...

Most jewelers know how to handle their precious metal scraps: they separate their scraps by metal, dry out ultrasonic solutions...

Applying liquid gold, palladium and/or silver in the final firing of enamel pieces is something that can frequently raise the...

In October of 1983 Angela Cummings announced that she would end a 16-year association with Tiffany & Company in order...

While I was in graduate school at San Diego State University I became interested in the anodizing process. I had...

Mold cutting sounds simple enough: Using a sharp knife and a simple tool, such as a can opener or a...

Now What? You’ve carved a few waxes or made a piece in metal that you want to mold and have...

The rich history of Japanese patinas is the result of hundreds of years of experimentation, innovation and tradition. This article...

The best 'Sneaky Goldsmith Tricks' involve taking mundane, everyday items and repurposing them as goldsmith's tools. Two classic tricks that...

As skill develops in spinning, it becomes more important to have a sense of what forms can be produced. To...

Now this is a truly attractive book. One of those coffee table type books dripping with gorgeous National Geographic quality...

Below are steps for an easy way to create equal divisions in setting stones that jewelers need to know. Dividing...

An ancient system of working metals, this procedure uses steel punches to manipulate the metal while it is fixed onto...

Properties of platinum Platinum ore To get one ounze of pure platinum you have to process 11 tons of ore....

A micro-waterjet device can be used to achieve fine matt finishes on precious metal surfaces. Parts required for this are:...

The difficulty of chain repair lies in the fact that the chain is made up of fine wires. These wires...

Claire Falkenstein is a master of linear metal sculpture. Hers is not an art of solid form, as relating to...

Its no secret that palladium has captured the attention of the industry. In 2005, purchase of palladium for jewelry use...

Looking down the long corridors of time, the ancient Etruscans emerge as a powerful people whose economic and social development...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

PMC is not a traditional material, and so a few pioneers went about tentatively setting cubic zirconia's, and lab grown...

Editors Note: This article is excerpted from “A New Method for Preparing 3D Acrylic Photopolymer Patterns for Investment Casting,” a...

There are a number of methods for plique a jour, a filigree technique that allows light to shine through the...

There are a few scientific methods for precisely determining karat gold purity, some destructive (fire assay) and others nondestructive (X-ray...

It is a rare and most welcome event when a technical innovation is accompanied by an esthetic revelation. This is...

Multi-metal Lamination is a type of 'faux' married metal which produces a freer, more 'painterly' effect than the hard-edge, highly...

State-of-the-art technology and innovative methods are the pacemakers for high-performance and effective work in a crafts trade. Jewelers and goldsmiths...

A step-by-step guide to single-row pavé settings   Single-row pavé, which consists of a single row of small diamonds set...

In 1965, while visiting near Kumasi in Ghana, Max Frohlich first saw the process of Ashante casting. At the time...

Warming waters, changes in weather patterns, and increases in storm activity may all affect the future success of pearl farms,...

Victoria Lansford on the art of filigree—Russian or otherwise BOX: The Art of Handcraft Every jewelry designer can pinpoint the...

The exceptional colors of the Colorit range manufactured by Inovis in Schaan, Liechtenstein has enabled innovative goldsmiths to explore new...

A few years ago, Jewelers Circular Magazine reported that over 75% of all retail jewelers in America lose money on...

Opinions differ considerably when discussing the ease or difficulty of polishing platinum, but most agree that when a piece is...

This article is a part of a series offering enameling tips and what is most occurring that enamelists encounter. This...

This is the second in a series of articles on the art and skill of rendering jewelry and small metal...

Working on the front of the piece only is called chasing. Repousse is the combination of tracing the design on...

Mary Lee Mary Lee Hu has worked with wire - looping, wrapping, weaving and most notably twining—for the past 22...

The primary reason designer Amy Roper Lyons of Summit, New Jersey, began working in enamels is fairly black and white:...

Invented by Victor Joyner, a Chicagobased manufacturing jeweler, patented High Definition (HD) Patterns are made of a light-curing polymer material...

The PUK® fine welding devices have established themselves in the goldsmith studios and in the jewelry manufacturers in over 50...

Full eBook.48 Pages: Jewelry and metalsmithing are hard work, and also very rewarding. There is great pleasure in creating with...

Roll printing, or texture transfer, has been around a long time. The ancient Greeks and Romans used various dies and,...

Enamel surfaces can be ground more quickly and efficiently with an electric grinding machine than by hand. Because professional grinding...

The motivation for undertaking this research was to establish a more expedient process to achieve volumetric forms in non-ferreous metals....

Tips for working with drill bits In previous columns, I’ve explored the everyday activity of drilling, touching on drilling boards...

Before sizing any ring, examine it carefully and compare it to the information on the job envelope. If you see...

Active as an enamelist since 1957, Annemarie Davidson has made functional objects - from plates and boxes to ashtrays, trivets,...

To begin with I highly recommend this book of technical information and procedures for anyone wanting to learn wax modelling...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Up until quite recently if asked "How do you remove enamel from silver?" the answer was "with great difficulty." The...

In the Middle Ages, alchemy meant the art of fathoming natural substances in an experimental manner. The goal of the...

From 1988 to 1989, German goldsmith Hermann Jünger was celebrated in his native country with a major retrospective of his...

This is an example of a production project proposal involving the reproduction of two historically important buttons. This shows how...

I first discovered Allan Adler's Silversmithing Shop about 23 years ago when I arrived in Southern California to begin my...

In late 1981, I began working with anodized aluminum, drawn to its light weight, availability and low cost. In developing...

Often jewelers are called upon to hand fabricate a crown to fit a stone. This is necessary when either the...

Historically, a wide range of techniques has been used to clad or coat silver or base metals with gold. These...

The next time you sit down at your bench, don't think of it as just a bench. Think of it...

This paper is aimed mainly at the small- to medium-sized jewelry manufacturing operations interested in working with platinum group metals....

Line art, such as logos, family crests, text or numbers, cartoon characters, and even sketches can be quickly and easily...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Our castings can be flawless, our assembly precise, and our settings secure -- but let any surface go a bit...

Photo 1: Apply a coat of enamel on a piece of domed copper and fire. Photo 2. A sheet of...

This paper describes a process that combines techniques researched by others with a few well known facts about the properties...

This page offers a list of some useful North American Sources for Equipment, Materials, information, etc that would be very...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Working with silver jewelry wire is an essential skill for most jewelers. Learn the meaning of terms such as gauge,...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Here are some very helpful stone setting tips provided by Gerald Lewy to help and guide you when working on...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

There are two brands of metal clay available today; Precious Metal Clay and Art Clay Silver. There are a lot...

This article is based on technical information taken from my personal notes and experiences, shared information from the Penland Anodizing...

On the difficulties with handling enamel: Enamel is one of the most durable methods of confining colors to a background....

Contemporary Japanese Jewellery, In order to introduce largely unknown contemporary Japanese jewelry to the West, British jeweler Simon Fraser, working...

I’m hoping this series of articles will save some of you time, money, and embarrassment by discussing some of the...

Helen I. Driggs demonstrates how some non-jewelers tools give fabrication a new twist. My background is in graphic design, so...

This article Amy Roper Lyons offers two things: a Plique-a-Jour pictorial and three safety tips when handling or working with...

In recent years there has been an increased interest in patination and metal coloring. This may be seen as a...

The casting department at Stuller Inc. in Lafayette, Louisiana, has been experimenting with casting photopolymer models, and it has found...

In my last article I wrote about the various adjustable parameters, and the effects of changing those parameters. In this...

Bezel setting the center sapphire is normally pretty straight-forward, but I would like to share a few tricks that have...

Michael Rowe uses functional containers as a base from which to explore formal studies of space, form and balance, which...

  You pride yourself on your pristine shop. Your equipment is laid out for maximum efficiency, your tools are stored...

Each medium has its own vocabulary and so it is with enamels and enameling. The glass glaze material that is...

For the illusion of "floating objects" Helen I. Driggs shares her technique, a step by step guide, on how to...

A New Method for Gilding Silver A variety of methods for gilding silver surfaces have been used in the past....

How to Make a Frame for Enamel Pieces The instruction below is addressed to people who have little experience in...

The use of area inlay, called damascening or woven inlay, is common in the ancient metalwork of Iran, India, Japan,...

Richard Reinhardt's best-known pieces today are silver bracelets, constructed in concave or convex forms that curve smoothly and logically in...

Laser forming is an emerging rapid prototyping (RP) technique that has undergone research worldwide since the mid 1980s. It is...

Last fall, the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee hosted a retrospective of the work of Helen Shirk. Nearly...

For this demonstration of Setting a Pear Shape Emerald in a Full Bezel I will be setting a large emerald...

Meditation on Metallurgy Not everything is metal, but metal is everywhere. Metal is the conductor of all matter….And thought is...

When enamelist Bill Helwig celebrated the half-century mark in July of 1988, his wife Lenore Davis, asked the celebrants to...

There are two properties which distinguish a good tool from a bad one. The tool must have the correct shape...

Platinum casting with gemstones in place has been the latest development before the end of the second millennium. It has...

Sometimes, holding on to really little parts is the greatest challenge of my day. I use tiny cabochons almost daily...

Technical Briefs deals with technical concerns of interest to a wide audience, addressing topics as diverse as vanguard technology and...

We are often drawn to the naïve sensibility of self-taught artists in any medium. The fresh, unassuming quality of their...

The assumption the business economist and philosopher Dr. Ulrich Freiesleben invented two revolutionary new diamond cuts out of pure boredom...

Workshops now have to incorporate a lot of technology, ranging from lost wax casting through to modern working processes within...

Once more the realm of engineers and number-crunchers, CAD over the years has become more user-friendly and artisan-intuitive. Similarly, small-shop,...

Metalwork in the 20th Century When curator J. Stewart Johnson of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York decided...

This is a method to reduce technical problems which one repeatedly experienes. We all find during the learning process that...

The hardening of gold and silver is now easier than ever before thanks to increased experience in the heat treatment...

Sawing is an essential skill for a bench jeweler. This article will show you a technique that will increase your...

Chunghi Choo captures her joyful creativity in sensuous forms and beguiling surfaces, but, despite this sumptuousness, simplicity harmony and tranquility...

Robert Lee Morris: The End of an Era Seventeen years ago Robert Lee Morris opened Artwear in the Soho section...

One-Piece Die Cutting The Society of North American Goldsmiths, its staff, directors, officers and members, and Metalsmith magazine specifically disclaim...

The principle of this ancient, valued procedure is described here because of its historical interest, and with the thought that...

Procrastination can sometimes lead to wonderful discoveries. Tom Arnold, owner of Facets Fine Jewelry in Arlington, Virginia, found this out...

One of the many workshops presented at the 10th Biennial Enamelist Society Conference was The Fauré Studio Enamel Techniques, instructed...

Metal shop tin men seem to be as American as L. Frank Baum's tale of Dorothy and company in the...

Due to a recent comprehensive exhibition at the San Francisco Craft & Folk Art Museum, we reintroduce to our readers...

Every goldsmith needs a precise, energy rich gas flame at his workplace. Compressed gas cylinders offer one opportunity for this....

The Northern California Enameling Guild ("NCEG") and the ACCI Gallery recently sponsored an excellent show of works from around the...

Bench jewelers hate to throw out used tools. By training and by nature we try to conserve the materials we...

In the beginning, there was glass. Glass was created or formed along with our planet Earth. Glass was here —...

In Vol. 4, No. 4, August, 1985 issue of Glass on Metal we published an article titled "Ways to Achieve...

We all know them, the classic flowery and animal motifs made of ivory, which at the start of last century...

Granulation involves placing and fusing tiny balls of silver on the surface of the backsheet in a preplanned design. The...

In the gay nineties, one hundred years ago and more now, the newly rich were off to see the world....

The first time I saw a machine for pumice finishing and brass wire brushing was at the School for American...

T-splines, a plug-in for Rhinoceros CAD software and bundled with Matrix 7 and above, is a great modeling tool for...

Ossa-Sepia casting is a ‘lost form of casting’ as the moulds can only be used one time. This makes each...

Using CAD repair programs to save unprintable files You spend hours creating a custom piece in CAD for one of...

When I asked him who Kenneth Bates is, he laughed and replied "a simple dirt farmer from New England." However,...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

I'm hoping this series of articles will save some of you time, money, and embarrassment by discussing some of the...

I am truly excited to have this opportunity to share with you a simple way to take fantastic studio quality...

To keep up with the competition, goldsmiths and jewelers are increasingly being required to keep up-to-date with the latest technological...

Possibly of another time and almost certainly of another place, Hal or Harold Hasselschwert enamels entice the imagination with the...

English enamels, in the genre also widely classed as Battersea work [after the initial place of their manufacture] were profusely...

Often craftspeople start out making craft objects in their living space, a kitchen, a living room, and sometimes continue working...

Every bench jeweler has experienced the frustration of trying to sand and polish a nearly inaccessible area on a piece...

Precious Metal Clay, being fine silver and high karat gold, is the perfect material to accept enamel. It is possible...

Ask most jewelers about repairing a chain or finding and they’re likely to offer you their best Charlie Brown impression:...

February 21 - 22, 2004 was another high point in our enameling career. Irmgard and I travelled to the John...

The Flat Topped Solitaire Setting is a popular style setting that is slightly more complicated to set than the standard...

This procedure should be undertaken with appropriate precautions; goggles, gloves, protective clothing, adequate ventilation. Recently I have been presented with...

"Culture of materials," an expression originating from the early 20th-century teaching of Russian Constructivist Vladimir Tatlin, defines the artist's deliberate...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

In difficult times, it is important to invest in modern methods, machines and tools. Jewelry and watch makers can assert...

It is not uncommon for moving parts to wear out. This is to be expected because of increased friction as...

Application of Enamel En Plein In my 30 years of enameling and creating objects of art and jewelry, I have...

Ask for a catalog with an English supplement. Order by surface if a heavy order as shipping from Germany is...

I received this opal from a woman who had cut it years ago. Her customer was aware it had a...

This practical tool-in-a-book combines instruction on rendering techniques with unique guides that assist designers as they conceive jewelry and other...

While it is clearly impossible to give a set of rules for each tool and procedure that goldsmiths use, this...

Extremely clean metal surfaces give better results. See the article on Cleaning metal Surfaces for more information on cleaning.

Creativity is problem-solving, a skill based on the conscious and/or unconscious recombination and juxtaposition of information derived from diverse sources...

The word "technology" is defined as the totality of the means employed to provide the objects necessary for sustenance and...

I make light switch covers that are site-specific functional fine art and sculptural vessels that are not at all functional....

Shaping a bezel on stakes is a process of forming the metal by stretching. First the metal is bent with...

William Underhill came to bronze pots just as his teacher at the University of California at Berkeley Peter Voulkos was...

Most people in our discipline use the word Enamel to identify both the glass which is fused to metal, and...

More than 3000 years ago, someone spread powdered glass onto metal, probably gold, and subjected it to sufficient heat to...

Debunking a soldering myth There are many myths about heating pieces during soldering that can cause innumerable problems during relatively...

Jeremy Pavlow shares his common jewelry making bench tips by taking advantage of other tools and materials not normally used...

The following are excerpts from a panel discussion chaired by Lois Etherington Betteridge at the Society of North American Goldsmiths’...

Fortunately, change is inevitable. Even for those individuals in the art establishment who assert that artists cannot and should not...

The first reference that I have that links copperas with the collection of fossils is found in the 'Life and...

Have you ever noticed how white gold varies in color? Many folks think white gold is the same color as...

Shawna Kulpa takes a look into the assaying methods refiners use to determine the value of a lot. This article...

Background My formal education includes a Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. My interest...

The English enameller, Alan Mudd, born in Lancashire, began his studies in the fine arts, and served an indentured apprenticeship...

At the age of three, Ruth Penington created an apron for her doll, undaunted by the complexities of a pocket,...

This article is a review on the Jewelry & Small Objects Exhibition by James Evans held at the Prime Canadian...

My first reaction when I heard about this book was, "It's about time." Think of it: If you tried to...

Design is a perennial issue for all who produce objects meant for a specific use, utilitarian, in contrast to objects...

The Novorit polyceramics system has been on the market for a year and offers fascinating possibilities for the creative color...

When Gary Griffith wrote this poetic meditation (see below) on the status of his work for an exhibition at the...

Platinum jewelry manufacturing presents some very different concerns when discussing the collection of materials for refining purposes. The assumption that...

Couleurs de Crateres is an enameled lava workshop, established by Mrs. Nathalie Fourniat in 2001 in the Auvergne region of...

When setting a series of diamonds in a row, I use a 156C and just touch the inside wall of...

It would be inappropriate to review this book without including a short description of the craft environment of the early...

Jurgen J Maerz of the Platinum Guild International USA outlines factors to consider when adding platinum to your line of...

In 1979 and 80 I went to study at the Fachhochschule für Gestaltung in Pforzheim West Germany at the suggestion...

This is our fourth annual summer workshop listing of courses in metalsmithing, jewelry and related fields. As we go to...

One requires a taper on the end of the wire to grip it with when placed through a drawplate for...

Full eBook.186 Pages: Modern Letter Engraving in Theory and Practice - A Manual for the Use of Watchmakers, Jewelers and...

With over 300 tonnes of gold used in electronics each year, end-of-life electronic equipment offers an important recycling potential for...

I have always thought that if no other lesson had begun to seep through peoples' inertia and greed, that at...

My study of metalwork in Japan began with the words, "First you will make a ring." The teacher ceremoniously handed...

What is one of the causes of a "rippling or jagged" effect around an inside cutting edge in a Gypsy...

For those of you who have not worked with Precious Metal Clay, you'll find there are certain terms unique to...

The Gemological Institute of America, GIA, is the world’s leading center of excellence for all issues concerning gemstones and pearls....

When one looks at a world map to find New Zealand, it's easily overlooked due to its location and size....

I have worked in cloisonné on large-scale wall hangings and site-specific installations for public spaces. My work ranges from 8"...

Enamel A Current Perspective Enameling, like other mediums in the vast world of art, has seen ebbs and tides of...

Ever since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by rocks and gems. I started cutting cabs more than 40 years ago, and...

David Paul Bacharach is a part of the growing contingent of American metalsmiths who are challenging the Modernist tradition of...

Refusing a big order may sound like a business mistake, but sometimes saying no pays. Sales do not equal profit,...

This article is a book review by Hannelore Gabriel for the book “Die Granulation" by Jochem Wolters, for the 1984...

English enamels made during the period 1750 to 1840 were chiefly ornamented with transfer printed images and mottos. While the...

Unbeknownst to most enamelists, there is a treasure of turn of the century enamels at the Delaware Art Museum. I...

Making your own custom finishing sticks Due to space restrictions, I don’t own a full-size polishing machine. Because I work...

For most of this century, story-telling in art has been considered taboo. From the turn of the century to well...

Sometimes, holding on to really little parts is the greatest challenge of my day. I use tiny cabochons almost daily...

Silversmithing is a big topic. While I have a few reservations about this book, my overall response is that it...

Florence Resnikoff delights in the use of color. Vibrant and glowing, muted and moody, color for her involves extending beyond ...

A look at a few jewelers who refuse to use tools the way they were designed Jewelers love their tools…but...

Double is a German word of french origin meaning rolled gold or gold fill material. I use it for the...

“You should know what kind of shape you’re in,” joked Arthur Anton Skuratowicz during an MJSA At the Bench Live...

Steve Satow describes the procedure on creating a 14KW Rubellite Tourmaline Pendant. Creating a 14KW Rubellite Tourmaline Pendant Beginning components...

The market always has new ideas and strategies for its customers that companies geared towards technology need because they mean...

My recollection of the first piece of metalwork I owned is of a pin consisting of two poodles connected by...

Preparation for writing this piece began, I guess, when I was six or seven years old. At that age, my...

Full eBook. 96 Pages. If you've ever dreamed of making perfect silver beads every time, then this manual is just...

Steve Satow shows the procedure for a customized earring setting pliers using a normal setting pliers. Normal setting pliers can...

Industrial liquid enamel is a versatile material. It can be used as a base coat, directly on the metal, or...

Precious metals are beautiful on their own, from the rich glow of yellow gold to the dense white of platinum—and...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

Steve Satow I have found this to be
 a most useful tool to use 
when rebuilding a bezel 
using a...

This article is a set of predictions for what the jewelers bench and workshop will experience in technological change in...

To Bryant Clark design is foremost, and the designs for his hand-crafted knives are created from his knowledge of history...

A Legacy in American Metalworking It was 9:00 in the morning in Lawrence, Kansas and Carlye Smith was heading for...

Applicator for Crumbs (Enamel Lumps) If you have worked with small lumps or tiny crumbs of enamel or glass to...

Reviving the virtually dead enameling technique plique-à-jour, which means "the light of day as seen through a membrane," has been...

Accurately laying out an oval or marquis stone in wax can be tricky business. We learned this foolproof method for...

The Pforzheim-based jewelry and watch manufactory TeNo unites traditional crafts virtues with state of the art CNC technology. Designers, craftsmen...

The following text was written by Vannoccio Biringuccio, an Italian master craftsman in smelting and metalworking, born in Siena in...

Gemstones that become loose in their settings can cause damage to both the gem and the setting. A regular inspection...

Hungarian Enamel Symposiums The International Enamel Studio, open throughout the year, provides the possibility of experimenting and studying for all...

Modifying beading tools for clean re-tipping jobs A colleague recently asked for my help in finding cup burs that were...

For two years now, the manufacturer Lampert has been cooperating with the Laboratory for Welding Technology and Thermal Treatment at...

Founder of both Bonny Doon Engineering and Knew Concepts, Lee Marshall—who passed away June 25 at the age of 81...

Ever spent way too much time trying to retrieve tiny jump rings, links, or other small parts out of a...

The hammer falls powerfully on to the red, glowing iron. Sparks fly. Sunny the mare nervously whips its tail. The...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

This essay originated as a presentation at the Society of North American Goldsmiths’ conference in Flagstaff, Arizona in 1986. It...

Every month MJSA choose new products that they feature on their monthly publication. Here are the three MJSA June 2017...

The mini casting system MC 15 was specially developed for use in dental casting, goldsmith work and jewelry design and...

TIM Systems Ltd. Developed the time saving work bench “Rota Bench Plus”. An extensive range of accessories enables the bench...

This article is a book review by Tim McCreight for the book "Setting of Gemstones", written by Walter Zeiss, for...

Many fine books have recently been published for the serious student of metalsmithing. Tim McCreight's new book is a tasty...

My affair with precious metals began while working with my father a talented jeweler who worked with spring movement. He...

While Limoges, France was celebrating its 200th anniversary as the city of the "Arts of Fire" this year, July and...

Susan Kingsley's work has involved a long, determined struggle with the role of a woman artist in the field of...

Jewelry artist Leila Tai is renowned for her extraordinary one-of-a-kind pieces celebrating perfection in nature and for her masterful use...

This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named "Recent Sightings" and here Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftmanship, design, the...

Robert Montgomery surrounds himself in a silent optimism that does not simply ignore adversity, but rises above it. His generous...

A drill press (either a full size, miniature, or Foredom) with an end mill or cylinder bur can thin down...

Beading tools and dot punches lose their form and become dull as you use them. You can recondition a tool...

The soldering process, used extensively in all aspects of jewelry manufacturing and repair, joins two or more pieces of metal...

Vessel and vesselmaking come the closet to establishing a universal language form; encompassing ceramic pots, holloware, fiber baskets, glass and...

Minerals such as silica, soda ash, potassium nitrate, borax, calcium carbonate, etc. are weighed according to each enamel formula, well...

It was during one of my exhibitions in Den Haag, Netherlands, that a visitor came up to me to ask...

The film Otec offers surface processing equipment for jewelry firms. The size of the equipment can be selected to suit...

This article is a review on the New Works Exhibition by Belle and Roger Kuhn held at the Plum Gallery,...

Creating a homemade blowgun As a jeweler and diamond setter, I get asked all types of questions. Recently, a customer...

Tool modifications from the land down under I just returned from Australia, where I shared foldforming and keum-boo lessons at...

Here are some patination sources on the internet. Remember that all patinas are toxic and irritant and should not...

The traditional Mokume process yields very beautiful results but is extremely labor intensive. Along with the high prize of labor...

When I was the only American enameling in a week's workshop in a small town in Hungary, it had taken...

If you have never manufactured with platinum and you think that you are ready, if you manufacture with platinum, but...

Art school is in some ways a difficult place to learn to be a metalsmith. Traditionally, it took industry from...

In the December 2003 issue of Glass on Metal there was an excellent resume by Florentina Nichols of the Guild...

Expanding the boundaries of conventional jewelry design through the use of unusual materials -- Titanium, Niobium, Copper, Metal clay, Acrylic,...

Expressionist art creates images designed to communicate the artist's feelings. In this art, the artist is not a dispassionate reproducer...

About five years ago, Robert Fairbank, John Reynolds and I created a "living entity" called Goldsmiths 3 in Concord, Massachusetts....

This article is a  Cross-Sectional Critique of applying clipping planes to model manufacturability written by Darla Alvarez of GIA Jewelry...

In this day and age, everyone knows the necessity of double-boxing items shipped; but then, do they? The boxes arrived;...

Camille Fauré: Impossible Objects Cork Marcheschi lSBN 615-13229-4 172 pages; full color; 11 x 9 inches This book demands to...

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...

50 years of tradition and a modern interpretation of classic jewelry are not necessarily contradictions. The collection from the Rivoir...

I have been using coarse enamel mixes (20/40 mesh) in my torch fire enameling work since 1972. My first use...

The core of life's work in fine artisanry is the unfolding of a personal style within the cultural milieu of...

“Never! It would be great but much too complicated – and much too expensive”. This would be the typical answer...

The term fashion does not immediately bring to mind knives. But wait! The 1895 Montgomery Ward & Co. catalog offered...

This article is for book reviews for the books "Jewelry by Architects", "The Jewellery of René Lalique", "Jewelry 7000 Years"...

Maybe you’re shopping for the latest technologies—the newest developments in CAD/CAM to produce life-like renderings, a laser to engrave your...

Multicolor enamel ballpoint pens can provide the artist graphic versatility and direct color enhanced drawing never before possible. In combination...

Second Annual Jewelry/Metals Symposium Seattle, Washington Seattle was recently the host as well as the delighted recipient of the second...

This article is a book review published in the 1992 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine reviewing "Contemporary American Jewelry...

The Delhi chapter of the Enamelist Society, India presented "Enamel Revisited", an exhibition of a varied repertoire of enamelled paintings...

“The third generation of the tried and trusted PUK welders, the PUK 3, has been a great success worldwide,” says...

Always try to understand, that you are your own best enemy. Be nice to yourself when tackling the unknown. Realize...

Roland DG Corporation is making high-tech available to jewellery designers and goldsmiths with its JWX-30. They too now have access...

Mixing Dry Granular Material Frequently, we are asked how to mix two or more dry materials, such as two transparent...

While reading in GoM #4 , Volume 23 of August 2004 the interesting article by Benny Alba about Alana Clearlake,...

In this project, I will demonstrate a clever method of making equally sized beads. These beads can be used for...

Tips for recovering precious metal particles Most jewelers know how to handle their precious metal scraps: they separate their scraps...

This article features an Exhibition by 10 Japanese Designers in New York held at Gallery 91, New York City on ...

After the end of the enamel-symposium and conference in Kecskemét (see Vol. 23, No. 5, pg. 114), some of the...

This article is a book review published in the 1989 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine including "Power and Gold:...

In the early 1980’s, I made a drawing based on the theme of transformation, a sudden, intuitive grasp of reality...

30th International Enamel Workshop The well-known international Enamel Workshop in Kecskemét celebrated its 30 years existence with a conference and...

This article is a book review published in the 1995 Fall issue of the Metalsmith Magazine including "Ancient Mesopotamian Materials...

The time of seasonal migration is upon the Continent. I am speaking of course of the mass movement of many...

Today's metalsmith and jewelry designer has available a full range of reference books—from the general text, which gives a broad...

Equipment maintenance guidelines     Editor’s Note:   You pride yourself on your pristine shop. Your equipment is laid out...

Bill Seeley is an independent metalsmith with an M.F.A. from the University of Kansas in metals, particularly titanium. He is...

Harold O'Connor's latest book is both logical and well laid out and will be a valuable reference to anyone using...

It is also vital to know the basic forms of semi-fabricated Platinum product that are generally available and how to...

I recently had the opportunity to teach teenagers enameling at one of my favorite places in the world, John C....

Punching your way to consistent granules I love tools, especially with finding new uses for them. Yet, despite my obsession...

This article is a book review published in the 1998 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine reviewing "Object and Ornament:...

This article is a book review of 2 books in the 1990 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine including Victorian...

The company OTEC develops and produces machines for mechanical surface processing. Founded in 1996, the young company received a commendation...

I stood on Kawaramachi Street in downtown Kyoto. Kyoto, capital of Japan, home of the emperor from 794 to 1868,...

Precision, quality and economics are the principal factors when goldsmiths make new investments in their workshops. Within this context, it...

For a jewelry design editor such as myself judging a competition such as the second annual "SNAG Platinum Jewelry Design...

It seems like it was over a year ago, but in fact, The Arsenal Metals & Enamels Exhibition debuted this...

Enameling Art Live by Toshiko Tanaka The World of Modern Enamel Murals 89 pages; soft, glossy covers; 172 full color...

This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named “Recent Sightings” and here Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftmanship, design, the...

This article showcases the book reviews for "Diamond Setting: The Professional Approach" and "Contemporary Jewellery: The Americas, Australia, Europe and...

This article is a book review published in the 1994 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine reviewing "Hydralic Die Forming...

For your European correspondent it was Christmas in Brighton and then New Years in Paris – which is not the...

This handsomely presented volume has an initial chapter tided 'An English Goldsmith's Work History, and over 140 of the 158...

Our second conference was a success! The conference started promptly at 9 a.m., August 18 - a beautiful sunny day....

The Art of Enameling; Techniques, Projects, Inspiration by Linda Darty Lark Books, a division of Sterling Publishing Co. 2004; ISBN...

What would be your reaction to an invitation to come and teach an enamel workshop in the middle of February...

This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named “Recent Sightings” where Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftsmanship, design, the artists,...

Painted Enamels - An Illustrated Survey 1500-1920 by Erika Speel Published by Lund Humphries, Hampshire, England, 2008 Hard cover, 10-3/4"...

The Little Book of Water Etching and Enameling for Metal Clay Etching with water? This may sound strange until you...

These notes are from a workshop given by Maria Phillips at the Enamelist Society Conference in Olympia, WA in August...

This article reviews three books “ American Jewelry: Glamour and Tradition” and “Art Aurea” and "The Eloquent Object" published in...

This article is one of a series of articles from Metalsmith Magazine "Art and Technics" talking about techniques in craftsmanship...

In approaching this article, I found there are many avenues to pursue in the exciting and controversial subject of digital...

Conversations on Technology happened during a couple of cold winter evenings, Stanley Lechtzin and Michael Dunas examined ideas raised at...

This article showcases the book reviews for "Enamels, Enameling, Enamelists" by Glenice Lesley Matthews and "The Nature and Art of...

In the world of fine art, galleries wield enormous power. Galleries such as Castelli, Knoedler and Marlborough, through the artists...

This recently published 64-page small format book gives an overview of the jewellery and luxury objects that comprise the collection...

This article is a book review published in the 1995 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine including "One of a...

This article reviews two great books "Practical Casting: A Studio Reference" and "Jewellery of the Ancient World" published in the...

This article showcases book reviews for "The Art of the Jeweler", "Bead Setting Diamonds, with Pavé Applications", "Custom Knifemaking: 10...

Contemporary Enameling - Art and Techniques by Lilyan Bachrach 256 pp., 550 color photos, 8-1/2" x 1 1" hard cover....

This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named “Recent Sightings” where Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftsmanship, design, the artists,...

This article is a book review of 3 books from 3 authors in the 1990 Spring issue of the Metalsmith...

In his book "For Common Things", the American author Jedediah Purdy foretells the end of the fun society. It is...

When I was asked to make an enameled Menorah last summer, I agreed to try. The only ones I had...

This article is a book review published in the 1997 Fall issue of the Metalsmith Magazine reviweing "Uber den Schmuck...