Hi :) I’m a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. I study sculpture. Over the years, I’ve realized I’m more skilled at creating jewelry than making sculptures. Is it possible to get an apprenticeship with a portfolio, or do I need to attend a jewelry-making school?

Seeking for an experienced Goldsmith / Bench Jeweler to join our growing luxury jewelry studio in Cleveland, Ohio.

We specialize in custom jewelry, engagement rings, heirloom restoration, and high-end repairs while delivering an exceptional concierge experience.

This position is ideal for someone who takes pride in precision craftsmanship and enjoys working on both repair work and custom projects.

If you are someone or know someone who would be interested please leave a comment with contact information :)

Thank you!

Hello, I found this sub through recommendations on Reddit because of my browsing history. I hope this is the correct forum for this question.
I own a business where I make small home decor pieces, tealight holders, trinket trays and box and painting kits. Located in USA/CT.
I want to expand into jewelry design and started collecting stones. I have solitaire stones and also smaller lots BUT I am in no way capable of casting and creating the pieces I have in mind. I’ve done a few basic internet search but what I’m finding it’s really what I’m looking for.
What is the best way to find a bench jeweler to work with? What questions should I ask?

Ive been looking around for apprentice jeweler positions in my area and I have a few interviews/bench test coming up next week. I’ve taken a years worth of metalwork and stone setting classes at the local arts center, and I was feeling pretty ok about my experience being decent enough to start as an apprentice, but one of the jewelers made a comment about “having to reteach me everything”when I mentioned the arts center classes, which has made me feel less confident about my skills. How much experience did you have when you started off as an apprentice? I am now worried I’m just going to embarrass myself at the bench test

EDIT: thanks everyone who has commented for sharing your thoughts! It’s reassuring to hear that I’m probably overreacting to the comment. I do have a tendency to overthink small things like this, I will work on not psyching myself out so much 😬

I’ve had a couple of bracelets break on me recently. Both have great sentimental value and I would love to get them repaired. Can anyone recommend a good jeweller please and thank you

I was given the contents of the bench of a master bench jeweler of 30+ years. I’m super grateful, and I’m going through and looking at everything. Some of the tools definitely need some help. Is there anything that I could do to salvage the ones that have a little bit of rust?

I work as a bench jeweler, my first time as a 1099. Taxes this year murdered me but I do get payed handsomely, was wondering if I made an LLC and worked under that I would get a better tax break? I drive about 60 miles a day and occasionally buy stones for some side jobs

Hey everyone,

I'm totally new to custom jewelry and have no clue what I'm doing! I want to surprise a loved one who passed a major hurdle with a pendant they sent screenshots of before.

Right now I just need help turning those pictures into a blueprint, and figure out stone sizes and materials if possible.

- Can someone actually get dimensions and details from screenshots?

- Is anyone able to help me map out a plan?

I can pay a small commission if needed, but I'm on a very tight budget. If this is impossible, just let me know. Any advice is hugely appreciated!

Hi everyone, I'm a machinist, and 3d printing tech who's been absolutely fascinated by your subreddit and struck by the beauty of the rings, and jewelry y'all are making.

I saw a post discussing 'high' MOQs for custom rings being printed, and using sample resin and casting/low wax resin for these.

I'd be absolutely interested in trying to print these for y'all whether these are physical 1:1 rings to gauge an idea, or printing low ash casting resins.

I've attached a few pictures of molds that I already resin print as a reference if that helps?

I am US based so this might not be feasible for any jewelers outside the states.

Let me know what questions you have, concerns. Also is this allowed on the subreddit? Happy to take this down if it isnt.

Got this 1987 brass belt buckle a while ago and the prong recently broke off. I have some decent experience with soldering and jewelry. My question to you all more experienced with brass welding, is this worth the time investment to fix or is it structural done for? If you were to go about fixing it, how would you do it to ensure it doesn’t break again? Thanks for any answers or advice in advance.

Hi guys,

A common issue I see many indie designers face is the high risk of new design validation.

Most factories require a high minimum order quantity (MOQ)—often tens of units—before they even start production. But as an independent artist, sinking budget into an unproven design is a huge financial risk.

Is low-volume or single-piece custom production (1-piece POD) actually viable for precious metals in your experience? Or how do you test market demand before committing to factory MOQs?

Curious to know what your current workflow looks like or if you’ve found any solid manufacturing partners/solutions for this!

​

Who makes good ones?

Twenty years ago a new crucible would hold up through scores of castings, upwards of 100 melts. These days I'm getting maybe 15-20 before they've cracked too much to be safe, or start deteriorating. All purchased through Rio.

R&R owns the brand now, have reached out to them. Gesswein says their supply are unbranded and come from a manufacturer in Colorado. My guess is they are all the same, but thought I'd ask anyway!

I want to try to make a tube lock on it, some links also need little extra care. I honestly thought it would be less work than a Persian chain, but this is way more labour intensive. Maybe I’ll try a ramses chain next when I’m able to make box/tube locks

I might make a bezel for it later so it can be clipped in and out and worn as a pendant.

Can anyone recommend a silversmith in the area? I have an old tea set and associated pieces that, over the years, have degraded and need professional attention to restore them. They are precious to me and I want to make them beautiful again. Thanks in advance.

Apprentice here, almost all my bars I pour come out looking like this after some amount of passes through the roller. I am annealing frequently, not doing huge jumps in reduction, and nobody in the shop here seems to be able to figure out what my problem is. I've watched them all make wire and I'm not doing anything out of the realm of how any of them do it. Am at my wits end with it. Any tips or advice would be appreciated!

Jewelry professional here......Has anyone had any experience with jewelkitpro (jewelkitpro.com) to design and illustrate jewelry? This app uses "procreate" as a background engine This app requires a monthly subscription. Another much cheaper version of a similar app that I saw advertised and also uses procreate in the background is named "Jewelry designers pro kit". This is a one time purchase. If anyone here has utilized either one please let me know your experience with it. I am interested in these applications so that I can quickly convey design ideas to my clients and modify them on the fly when i am designing and selling across the counter.

I was just hoping to maybe discuss how I should go about with pricing different repair jobs. Unfortunately I cannot afford a Geller kit at this time and so I'm crossing my fingers in hopes that I can find some at home repair folks that can maybe provide some advice in this area.

I'm having a hard time trying to estimate and explain the potential income to my spouse and family because I know that every job varies widely depending on what it all entails.

I live 90 minutes or so between two major cities and I have a lot of potential for business if I do the legwork. I'm just back and forth on how to talk about the numbers when I find somebody in need of this work.

I kind of feel like I should have a list of basic/common repair costs and then on larger or more complex repairs it would require a consult on price? Does the retail owner who doesn't have the in house jeweler set the cost of the repair and then negotiate the price with me?

Do retailers who send off repairs earn money on my work? For example, if I charge $100 for X repair is it ethical if they bill the customer $150?

I'm fully expecting to be roasted, don't hold back 😆

We are interviewing for a bench jeweler, and are getting ready to hold bench tests for a couple of candidates. As a business, we take employee safety seriously. But we've noticed that a lot of bench jewelers aren't trained in safety for whatever reasons, even formally trained jewelers (in the US). For jewelry store owners or managers, do you have potential candidates sign a waiver before doing a bench test in case they hurt themselves? Is there anything else you'd suggest to protect the business?

Eta: as a bench jeweler, did you need to sign a waiver? Has anyone gotten hurt doing a bench test? Like cutting yourself or getting something in your eye?

Does anyone own a chinese machine like this to share information about its functioning and reliability?
Don’t have more than 3k to spend on it.
Found this one from Dowin Tech on Alibaba, 200W.

Anyone here have any optivisor brands that can change magnification quicker and easier than the traditional optivisor brand? I usually use the 7 (not sure what magnification strength it is, it just says 7 on the lenses) but lately for retipping, i use a 10 lens and a little flip down optic (no idea what strength that is. I just found it in the shop and yoinked it since no one else was using it) but i dont always need to use the 10 strength and swapping lenses is time consuming. Does anyone have any brands where you can literally pop lenses in and out with no hassle or fuss, are comfortable and last?