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A popular trend in the jewelry industry is gold-plated and silver plated jewelry. With an affordable price, we can also wear jewelrys with luxurious luster. Most of us may have gold-plated and silver plated jewelry in collections but still unfamiliar with the intricacies of its creation. A completed ring or necklace might seem like a miraculous feat—it appears almost inconceivable for someone to craft such exquisite and delicate pieces. However, it’s far from magic! Here are six essential customs in the jewelry manufacturing process that demystify this craft.
The Marvels Behind Jewelry Making: 6 Customs in the Manufacturing Process
Jewelry has been crafted for thousands of years, and surprisingly, the fundamental flow of custom jewelry manufacturing hasn’t changed much over time. Jewelry design starts with creating a model of the piece, which is then realized using precious metals and gemstones. Yet, similar to advancements in computer graphics and 3D printing, numerous technological innovations have made it easier for artisan jewelers to create timeless wearable art.
1. Design a 3D Jewelry Model
The artistic journey of a piece of jewelry begins during the design phase. Before the advent of computers, private-label jewelers would start by handcrafting wax and clay molds, which were then filled with molten gold or silver. Other classic styles, such as filigree and cloisonné jewelry, involve labor-intensive processes that yield intricate and beautiful designs. These traditional methods have been employed for centuries and continue to be used by many craftsmen today.
However, contemporary private-label jewelers now utilize computer-aided design (CAD) software to bring initial concepts to life, ensuring precision, accuracy, and symmetry in three-dimensional designs. A resin model is then created using a 3D printer, which serves as a “master copy” in silver. This master copy is crucial for making individual rubber molds, facilitating the production of multiple identical pieces of jewelry.
These rubber molds are vital because each new piece of jewelry requires its own wax mold, easily produced by injecting hot wax into the rubber molds under pressure. Without the silver master copy, creating these wax molds would be an incredibly time-consuming process, resulting in inconsistent quality.
Although this initial jewelry design process seems complex, it leads to a more accurate final product compared to the simple handmade wax or clay molds of the past. This is why today’s custom jewelry often looks more refined and intricate than older pieces.
2. Jewelry Casting: Pour Molten Metal into the Jewelry Mold
Once the wax mold is ready, private-label jewelers proceed to create the final product. This stage of the process, while intricate, has remained unchanged since ancient times. The wax mold is encased in a chemical slurry within a steel flask, which hardens around it. When the wax is melted away, only the hardened slurry remains. Molten metal is then poured into this hardened mold. Depending on the requirements, the jeweler may use 14k gold, 18k gold, white gold, platinum, or even the rare 24k gold. While 24k gold is valuable, its softness often makes it less ideal for jewelry. Once the chosen metal is melted and poured into the hardened slurry, held firmly by the steel flask, it solidifies to form a piece of jewelry—though far from its finished state.
3. Refine the Main Jewelry Structure
Newly minted jewelry pieces are charming but not yet ready for wholesale distribution. They are typically rough and covered with small burrs. To achieve a smooth and shiny finish, they are polished using motorized grinding machines, files, and fine polishing tools like soft buffers. More complex pieces may require soldering to join various components together.
4. Setting It All Up
Next in the custom jewelry manufacturing process is setting the gemstones. For typical wedding rings involving gemstones, their placement is crucial. Various techniques and settings are employed to secure the gemstones, creating intricate and complex designs.
5. Rhodium: The Most Important Jewelry Metal You’ve Never Heard Of
Plating is an often overlooked yet essential part of the jewelry-making process, especially for those with metal allergies. Rhodium, a hypoallergenic metal, is used to coat white gold and other “white” metals (or silver). Since white gold is an alloy containing nickel, which can cause allergic reactions, it is plated with rhodium to prevent skin irritation. Although rhodium is expensive—costing $28,000 per ounce—the thin layer used in plating protects both the jewelry and the skin without significantly increasing costs.
6. Check the Quality
The final step in custom jewelry manufacturing is quality control. This step involves three critical and equally important stages that reputable jewelers never skip. First, a jeweler measures the piece to ensure it meets the designer’s specifications. Then, a thorough visual inspection is conducted. If the piece passes this visual test, it undergoes a final mechanical inspection, usually focusing on clasps, chains, and bands to ensure strength and durability.
Conclusion
Jewelry has been an integral part of human history for thousands of years. Today marks the best era in history to be either a private-label jeweler or a jewelry buyer. With more technology than ever before, jewelers can create perfect pieces of wearable art. While it may seem miraculous, it’s simply the result of centuries of experience and artistic mastery, benefiting modern consumers immensely.
If you’re searching for a piece of plated jewelry that will stand the test of time and elevate your look, the store of ColoritaJewelry are an excellent choice. Whether you’re interested in gold-plated or silver plated jewelry, ColoritaJewelry offers many options that are sure to delight you. To add an understated elegance to your daily wear, you can choose your favorite piece from our collection or select our customized services to create a piece of jewelry exclusively for you.
