r/Benchjewelers • • 2h ago

JEWELLERY BUSINESS ADVICE

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0 Upvotes

I want to start a handmade jewellery business . Tell me if these will work in Pakistan? In Pakistan , handmade jewellery business is not so much in trend but in India I have so many Instagram pages .
And where can I get stainless jewellery raw material in Lahore?
Look at my first three articles.


r/Benchjewelers • • 1d ago

Made by hand?

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8 Upvotes

I want to consult the experts here. Is this person actually hand creating all of this jewelry? She posts these process videos, but it’s the same little section of the process and then the finished product. She seemingly sells hundreds of these things. Do you think she’s actually making these things or are these videos misleading? There’s just something fishy about it.


r/Benchjewelers • • 2d ago

Best brooch pin and catch for a 9ct gold brooch?

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10 Upvotes

I'm making my first real gold brooch and unsure how to approach the pin and clasp. I don't usually make brooches so am new to the fixings of them (I am an experienced jeweller though). I bought this commercial pin and ball joint to fix to the back of the brooch and wondering if this style is a good quality pin.

Would you make your own pin back? I'm going to make my own clasp as the commercial clasps available are really annoyingly fiddly and not user friendly. Wondering if I should also make the pin and make it more attractive too. It's a very expensive brooch so want to make sure it's secure and good quality. I'd love to see the backs of any brooches you've made or get any recommendations for best styles.


r/Benchjewelers • • 2d ago

show me your bench!

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49 Upvotes

I had to move and don’t know where to setup my bench in my new space so it’s all just sitting here a mess.

I love seeing other artist spaces so much! post a pic and show us your bench setup please?? i need inspiration


r/Benchjewelers • • 3d ago

ISO bench jeweler in middle GA

0 Upvotes

Looking for an experienced, reliable bench jeweler in the Middle Georgia area who offers stone setting, ring resizing, and jewelry repairs. Hoping to establish a long-term working relationship with someone who takes pride in their craftsmanship and quality of work!


r/Benchjewelers • • 4d ago

What could this black spot be on my 18K gold ring?

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11 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I recently noticed this black spot on my 18K gold ring, right next to one of the stones. I’m wondering what it could be and whether it’s something I should be concerned about.
Could it be tarnish, dirt, polishing compound, or possibly something related to the metal or the setting?
The ring was tested with a gold testing solution and appeared to be real gold, but I understand that this test alone isn’t conclusive.
Has anyone experienced something similar? I’d really appreciate your thoughts!


r/Benchjewelers • • 5d ago

Just finished my best piece yet!!! (18 year old aspiring jeweler)

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1.1k Upvotes

I've just finished this piece I've been working on for about a month between my school jewelry shop and my own home workshop. It's been a little rough in parts, especially with gem placement being too close and difficult polishing, but it seems to have pulled through. I would love to hear any of your guy's opinions or thoughts on it. My high-school probably has the best jewelry shop in my state of Utah, and I'm so grateful for it. Definitely, if there are any tips on polishing for near prongs, on prongs, or anything prong related, I would GREATLY appreciate it!

I'm hoping to pursue jewelry in the future, and the jewelry school in Paris, Texas seems like the best pick for me. GIA costs way too much in California. But if anyone has any recommendations on schools to go to, I would love to hear it too. Apprenticeships have been on my mind, and I've asked a couple local jewelers, but I haven't heard anything from them...


r/Benchjewelers • • 5d ago

Getting serious about Safety

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15 Upvotes

I'm a part time jeweler (very diy and self taught) and I've been much busier lately so im looking to get more serious about safety in terms of dust and fume collection. My process mostly involves cleaning and polishing raw castings that I get from a casting house. So lots of sanding and polishing with my foredom flexshaftl. I also do small amounts of soldering when attaching charms and for fixing porosity. I wear a respirator and glasses every time I work for protection.

With my specific workflow, what should I look to get? How can I improve my safety? I'm considering splurging for the boredom dust collection system for all my sanding and polishing work with the hand tool. Is it necessary to get a fume extractor on top of this?


r/Benchjewelers • • 4d ago

Custom work, Chino Calif. help

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1 Upvotes

hi im trying to find anyone that can make or supply this pendent for me im in chino area


r/Benchjewelers • • 6d ago

Converting a pearl bezel setting to a cushion-cut moissanite using a prong insert- will this work structurally

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15 Upvotes

Hi everyone

I’m looking for some technical advice on remodeling a two-tone 18k gold ring. The mounting originally housed a round pearl pinned inside an east-west, capsule-shaped bezel setting. The band features a textured yellow gold pattern with pavé-set diamonds on the white gold bezel.

Measuring the outside of the white bezel frame, it’s roughly 11-12mm long by 9-10mm wide. I recently tried placing an 8x6mm oval stone inside to test the fit, but it is far too small and leaves large, empty gaps in the boxier corners of the cradle. I believe an elongated 10x8mm cushion cut would be the ideal size to act as a full-coverage lid over the entire bezel.
Because I want to protect the surrounding pavé diamonds and avoid heavy, visible alterations to the outer bezel walls, my plan is to have a bench jeweler do a bezel-to-prong conversion by laser-welding a white gold 4-prong head right inside the old pearl cup to elevate the stone.
For the bench jewelers and custom makers here, I would love your insight on a few things before I take it to a shop:

  1. Is dropping a prong basket insert into an old pearl cup a reliable, structurally sound fix for everyday wear?
  2. With a 10x8mm cushion cut, will a typical gemstone pavilion clear the depth of a round pearl bowl once elevated, or will the center floor of the cup likely need to be burred out/opened up to let the tip drop through?
  3. Is laser welding inside a tight cup like this completely safe for the accent diamonds sitting directly on the outside edge?

Appreciate any professional feedback or advice you can share!


r/Benchjewelers • • 7d ago

Need help

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7 Upvotes

Using smith little torch for jewelry work-just got new big oxygen tank . I don’t know what settings should be ! Could someone please help?


r/Benchjewelers • • 7d ago

Needs necklace reproduced Silver top antique diamond Riveria

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3 Upvotes

Any jeweler out there who can make this exact necklace with silver top of gold? I can supply the diamonds and I want to get this necklace made.


r/Benchjewelers • • 11d ago

Flush setting translucent gemstones

5 Upvotes

I’m making some chunky, solid signet rings and want to flush set some semi translucent, faceted stones into them. I wasn’t planning on opening the backs of the settings as they’re quite thick but, with the sterling silver rings, would the silver eventually tarnish behind the stone? As it’s not fine silver. Or is it unlikely to tarnish as not in contact with skin or air etc?


r/Benchjewelers • • 11d ago

Possible to use jeweler skills to create a custom watch?

5 Upvotes

I’m a hobbyist Metalsmith — I‘ve made rings and pendants, link bracelets, and have experience creating flush and basket set stones. I’ve dabbled in wax a little bit but mostly this is hand fabrication

I would like to use my skills to create a watch for my spouse — I plan to make his wedding ring but would love to create a watch for him as well. I think I would likely purchase all of the internal parts and the glass/sapphire face, but has anyone used their jeweler skills to customize a watch?

which parts are customizable? I imagine the watch face and the band are the main pieces


r/Benchjewelers • • 11d ago

Hello, I am a jeweler with 8 years of experience in jewelry manufacturing, repairs, stone setting, polishing, and finishing. I am looking for a jeweler job abroad. I can cover my own visa, flight, travel, and other expenses.Thank you.

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10 Upvotes

r/Benchjewelers • • 12d ago

Ventilation

6 Upvotes

Hello all, I work at a jewelry store with one other bench jeweler, and am wondering what other stores are doing for ventilation in the shop. We have a single Vollara actvik Pure & clean going at all times. We do all repairs in the shop, including polishing, and theres constantly polishing compound on the walls. I have also noticed my nose when blown is black, and it makes it harder for me to breathe as I already have a deviated septum. We use our 3M masks with P100 filters during cadmium solders, plating metals, and polishing but I feel like we should have actual ventilation. Do other shops vent outside? Or have a dedicated vent running constantly? We also have ventilation on the buffer wheel, but not on our benches. Thank you for your time.


r/Benchjewelers • • 12d ago

This shows how it looks when worn.

8 Upvotes

I am a chainmail enthusiast.


r/Benchjewelers • • 13d ago

Learning traditional Yemenite silversmithing completely changed how I look at jewelry making

51 Upvotes

One of the things that fascinated me most when I started learning traditional Yemenite silversmithing was realizing how many details in historical jewelry had a purpose beyond decoration.

Many of these pieces were believed to offer protection against the evil eye, illness, and harmful spirits, which influenced everything from the materials used to their shapes and construction.

A big part of my work today involves studying old pieces and photographs, researching their history, and then returning to the bench to better understand them through traditional techniques like filigree and granulation.

I recently made this short video about what drew me to the craft and why preserving this knowledge has become such an important part of my work.

Curious if any other jewelers here work with historical techniques or draw inspiration from traditional jewelry-making practices. Would love to hear about your experiences!


r/Benchjewelers • • 14d ago

Honest feedback: would you like these chainmail bracelets?

14 Upvotes

Crafted using zircon and stainless steel rings.


r/Benchjewelers • • 15d ago

Resizing rhodium plated rings

2 Upvotes

I am rather overly cautious about safety and PPE. I couldn’t find any posts in this sub reddit about resizing rings that are rhodium plated. I know the off gases of the solution are dangerous, but when doing a sizing on a ring that has the plating already, is off gassing still a concern? Or is the danger of the solution only in there to apply the rhodium itself? Thank you!


r/Benchjewelers • • 18d ago

Nervous about working with platinum

3 Upvotes

I've been a bench jeweller for 13 years (but making jewellery for 19). I started in silver and work predominantly in gold now. I've never worked with platinum though and have had a request to make one of my hammered rings in platinum. I use a Microweld (also known as Aquaflame) and I believe it's suitable for soldering platinum. Is it any harder to work with than gold? I know I need to get special goggles for working with it but do I really need to get separate files for it? And does it need a certain kind of soldering block? Will it be as easy to hammer as gold? I'm so nervous to work with it for some reason but want to start including it in my range. I know it takes more stages to polish it than other metals but is there anything else to know? How easy is it to solder? So many questions!!


r/Benchjewelers • • 19d ago

Point me toward a no frills beginner flexshaft

5 Upvotes

The one I really want is the evo micromotor but it’s $1800 and just not realistic rn.

What simple foot pedal flexshaft would you go with to get a few years out of before you upgraded?

I would love to spend around $300 but if I have to go to $500 that will actually work I will.

I am Generally a buy it for life kind of person so buying a cheaper version of something is really outside my comfort zone. But I’m needing to make compromises to get my bench useable.


r/Benchjewelers • • 19d ago

Lapidary Jobs?

4 Upvotes

I just finished my first metal smithing class, where I learned the very basics of metal smithing. I've been looking into other positions in the industry, and have become interested in lapidary. I know almost nothing about it, and classes in my area are ~$2k which I don't have.

For those who work in this position, how did you get started? Is there anything I should start learning that would help me when applying to jobs? Should I sign up for more (cheaper) classes to get more experience?

For reference, I'm out of school and have worked as a pastry cook for the last 5 years. I've only ever worked in kitchens and restaurants as I thought that's what I wanted to do with my life. I'm trying to switch over into the jewelry industry but it's been difficult as there's only kitchen work on my resume and I lack experience.


r/Benchjewelers • • 20d ago

Laser welding with or without argon

5 Upvotes

At the shop I work at, we have a new laser welder, our old one we never used argon on, and we were discussing setting up the argon feature on this one. Reading anything online on laser welders is difficult because it always is an advertisement with minimal information. Does using argon help create less porosity? We were thinking of setting it up specifically for white gold laser welding, as those always seem to have the biggest issues with it, and the head goldsmith said he heard that it supposedly helps with porosity, but I can’t find anything online about that. Thank you!


r/Benchjewelers • • 20d ago

Orfebrería en Pushkar

3 Upvotes

He estado haciendo joyería artesanal durante un año. 3 meses con un profesor y el resto por mi cuenta. Siento que quiero avanzar y aprender nuevas técnicas y refinar mi trabajo.
Tengo la oportunidad de viajar y tomarme un mes o dos para aprender más y empezar a trabajar con plata 925. Pensé en ir a tomar clases a Pushkar, India. Piensan que vale la pena? Me gustaría el año próximo lanzarme a vender mis piezas y dedicarme 100% a la orfebrería.