How jewelry is made: "Illustrated guide to the entire process from design to completion"

18th September 2024

Do you know the secret of how jewelry takes on a beautiful shape? In this article, we will introduce the entire process of how jewelry is made, from design to production and finishing. We would like to show you behind the scenes of how a piece of art is created through the precise techniques and attention to detail of a craftsman.

Decide on the design
CAD Creation
3D modeling and piping
Taking a plaster mold and casting
Polishing the surface of the casting
Stone setting, engraving, finishing and polishing
summary

1. Decide on a design

Ring design image illustration

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First, let me explain how jewelry designers decide on designs. Jewelry comes in a variety of items, such as rings, necklaces, earrings, and ear cuffs, and designers decide on designs based on trends and customer needs.

To get inspiration, I think of different ideas and themes and then draw sketches based on these ideas or use design software to conceptualize my design. At this stage, I also consider the shape of the jewelry, the size, the materials to be used, and the placement of the gemstones.

Designers also pursue designs that reflect their own style and aesthetics while also incorporating customer needs and trends. Finally, once the design proposal is decided, detailed plans are created using 3D modeling and CAD, and the actual production process begins. Design decision is an important process that determines how the jewelry will look and feel.

2. Creating CAD

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The next step is for a CAD designer to create 3D data based on the designer's design drawing. Jewelry CAD (Computer Aided Design) is a technology that creates jewelry designs on a computer. This allows the designer to create precise 3D models and design down to the smallest detail.

CAD allows you to virtually view your jewelry design, checking and adjusting every detail, including the weight of the metal, the overall shape, whether the design is consistent with your image, and even the size of the stones.

It also allows customers to see the design before it is actually manufactured, which makes the product more perfect and the production goes smoothly. CAD is a crucial step in jewelry making and is an essential tool for realizing precise designs.

3. 3D modeling and piping

3D ring design and runner illustration

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Next, we will create the shape based on the CAD data. Since the stones will be set in place once they are complete, only the base metal is created using a wax called injection wax.

To explain about "3D modeling" and "running" of jewelry, 3D modeling is the process of creating a jewelry design digitally and then using a 3D printer to create a real model based on that design using materials such as resin and wax. A mold is then created based on this model into which metal can be poured.

Runners are the paths the metal needs to follow when pouring into the mold. Properly placed runners ensure the metal distributes evenly and prevents defects in the finished product. These steps are important to ensure precision and quality in jewelry making.

4. Making a plaster mold and casting

Ring - Plaster mold casting image illustration

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The next step is to make a plaster mold and cast the jewelry. A plaster mold is created by pouring tree-shaped wax into a cylinder and letting it harden. The hardened plaster mold is then placed in a casting machine and molten metal is poured into it to create the shape of the jewelry. This casting process allows intricately designed jewelry to be accurately reproduced.

Also, depending on the casting shop, if the object is something that burns and evaporates due to the heat of the base metal, and something that is difficult to make by hand, such as a shell, can be created in detail through actual casting, so the actual object is cast as is.

* In the accessory industry, casting is commonly referred to as casting .

5. Polishing the surface of the casting

Illustration of polishing the surface of a cast ring

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The "casting surface" seen on the surface of jewelry is the "fine irregularities such as roughness and burrs" that are created during the casting process. This casting surface is placed in a file or barrel polishing solution (fine metal powder and water solution) and rotated to mix, and then the surface is roughly polished using a polishing machine.

Polishing gives the surface of your jewelry a smooth, shiny finish. Polishing is a process in which a coarse abrasive is used to remove any large imperfections, and then a finer abrasive is used to make the surface smoother. In the end, the beauty of the jewelry material is brought out to the fullest, making it look and feel even better. This results in a high-quality, beautiful product.

6. Stone setting, engraving and finishing polishing

Ring stone setting finished image illustration

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In the final step, the gemstone is set into the polished setting, and the angle and seating of the stone are checked before it is set.

Stone setting is the process of fixing gemstones in jewelry. The stones are placed according to the design created at the beginning and are firmly fixed using techniques such as prongs and bezels. After that, the design is completed after inspections are made to check the looseness of the stones, how the prongs are set, and if it is a ring, the size.

Engraving is the process of printing the type of metal (e.g. gold or platinum), the brand name, the maker's mark, etc. onto jewelry. Engraving certifies the material and value of the jewelry, and also serves as a quality assurance.

The final polishing process is to make the surface of the jewelry smooth and shiny. Fine abrasives are used to remove any minute scratches on the surface, and ultrasonic cleaning is used to remove any abrasives or dirt that has gotten into the gaps, bringing out the shine. Through these processes, the jewelry is given a beautiful finish.

7. Summary

Lab-grown diamond ring_spirale_stella4

Before a piece of jewelry is completed, it must go through a number of precise processes, starting with the conception of the design, followed by 3D modeling, casting, stone setting, and polishing, before becoming a beautiful piece.

Each step is infused with the skill and dedication of the designers and craftsmen, and the detailed handwork creates a radiant shine. I hope that through this article, you will be able to get a sense of the process and the appeal of how jewelry is completed.

Bright & Breezy also accepts orders for custom-made rings. Our experienced staff will listen carefully to each customer's needs and provide full support until the design is complete.

Please feel free to contact us with any enquiries regarding engagement rings, wedding rings etc.