The Jewelry Making Process

Jewelry making is not a new process as it did not just start a few years ago. The art of jewelry making dates back thousands of years ago and stretches across various continents. Having a robust and creative record in personal adornment and symbolism, the jewelry making process can pass as a lustrous age-long practice.

Making a jewelry piece involves numerous materials. Sometimes, all you need are beads, or wire, or gemstones, and at other times, precious metals. Also, the jewelry making process for some is only a hobby while others take it as a profession. Whichever way you take yours, this guide will touch on different parts of the lustrous jewelry making process. 

The Art Of Jewelry Making Through History 

Jewelry has been a fashion accessory for so long that it will be absurd to visualize a world without it. Jewelry making through history began with the production of a necklace made of bones. This event took place around 25,000 years ago in Monaco. 

Early Years of Jewelry Making

More so, early stone jewelry emanated from Iran and the Mediterranean between 3,000 and 400 BC. Several stone amulets headlined basic carvings with symbols like stars and flowers. All of which served as homages to the deities. 

Ancient Egyptians adorned their graves and mummies with talismans that featured flashy gems and stone-carved decorations. Even in 1200 B.C, Greeks donned jewelry as a symbol of prosperity and affluence. These pieces of jewelry were items made of gold and jewels and were often gifts to gods too. 

The Surge In The Roman Empire

Furthermore, the Romans believed in magic and myth and had a profound admiration for the symbolism of gems. These people resourcefully also melted down gold coins to make jewelry from them. Also, in 330 AD, Emperor Constantine shifted the capital from The Byzantine Empire to Constantinople. In no time, the new capital became the seat for the arts in the Roman empire. There, they integrated the rich cultures of Egypt, Greece, parts of Russia, the Near East, and North Africa. 

That period was a melting pot for design and symbolism in the production of decorative jewelry. The capital became a spot where the art of cloisonné enameling thrived. 

The Roman Fall and the Rise of the Church

However, when Rome fell in 476 A.D., several superfluities like jewelry became even rarer from everyday life. Most of the riches and ornate jewelry were in the possession of the church. Fast forward to the Middle Ages, nobility and churches began to belittle commoners wearing jewelry. So, they enforced the Sumptuary Laws to discourage them.

Thanks To The Renaissance 

Finally, during the Renaissance period, jewelry became more available to the masses. During that period, artists recorded great feats in creative designs and wearable artistry. The majority of modern jewelry became repositories of traditional patterns and styles. 

They managed to keep the historical techniques largely untouched. But, it allowed innovations to improve the landscape. Now, we have 3D-printed casting and lab-grown gems to work with.

Jewelry Making In Various Ways

The jewelry making process involves the creation of ornamental pieces worn for personal adornment. Materials used in jewelry making are what make them different from one another. These materials range from stone to precious metals.

Also, the techniques are adaptable and the possibilities are endless. There are many types of jewelry making techniques, so be sure to explore the various types before you start.

Beaded Jewelry Style

Beaded jewelry making is the art of connecting beads by stringing them with a thin wire, needle, or thread. The type of beads used in jewelry is small pieces of gems, glass, plastic, or wood. Commonly, these beads are round in shape, with a hole in the center that makes room for the thread. 

Wire Jewelry Technique

Wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques in jewelry making. This technique dates back to 4,300 years ago in Iraq. This technique used to be a storytelling technique before it became a technique in jewelry and sculptural artistry. More so, the process comprises wrapping wire components over one another to bind them without heat or soldering.

Goldsmith and Silver Jewelry 

Goldsmith and silver are the methods of shaping precious metals into jewelry and small objects. This method involves the use of hammering, riveting, soldering, embossing, casting, chasing, and so on.

Fused Glass Jewelry Style

Fused glass jewelry style involves fabricating jewelry parts, like pendants and a few wearables. All you need is a kiln and a few basic instruments to produce a finished fused glass piece. Various kinds of glass and colors of glass create limitless possibilities with the fused glass jewelry style.

Metal Clay Jewelry Technique

Metal clay jewelry technique deals with producing jewelry pieces from a special type of clay. This type of clay becomes solid once it is fired in a kiln. Also, shaping this clay is easy by hand or with tools before firing in the kiln. With this technique, you can make metal clay pendants, beads, solid rings, and so on.

Making Your Jewelry Pieces From Home

Completing the jewelry making process at home is possible with a few simple tools and materials. In some instances, the jewelry making process will require a more substantial investment in tools. However, if you truly want to make jewelry at home, make sure you do your research before going for a particular style. With the following tips, it can only get easier.

Specify the Kind of Jewelry you Want to Create

The art of jewelry making from home begins with you determining what your focus project will be. There are numerous prospects when it comes to jewelry making from home. You can start with casting precious metals then switch to fusing glass pendants. 

Essentially, specify one method to concentrate on first. Be it wire wrapping or casting jewelry, pick one and know that you can learn and explore other techniques subsequently. Whatever skill you use for one technique will be what you will build on and apply to other techniques of jewelry making.

Get Inspired

From a simple online search, you can get all the inspiration you need. Do a Pinterest deep dive, or shop around jewelry stores. These activities can further prove that the prospects are infinite! In all, we suggest that you start by getting inspired. 

Then, determine the type of materials you would love to work with. Do you want it in glass or metal clay? Then, proceed to design your project and specify the types of materials, tools, and equipment you will need in the process.

In the Art of Jewelry Making, Simply Start!

Are you having doubts over where to begin? Then, start by designing your piece with a simple sketch on paper. After that, try out different shapes, colors, and materials that you love. Also, there is the possibility to begin your work from scratch. You can as well take inspiration from a vintage piece of jewelry.

By sketching, you can easily specify the kinds of materials and equipment you will need to turn your sketch into reality. When designing your piece, tag every part of the design with the materials you need to get them done.

Get Your Tools And Materials

Not that you have a design in mind, you can begin to gather up needed tools and materials. Fun Fact: The most convenient type of jewelry to make at home is wire-wrapped jewelry. This type of jewelry making style needs just a few basic tools and you do not need a kiln. 

When you work with precious metals to build soldered jewelry, you will need a torch and soldering tool. Also, in a case where you have access to more sophisticated equipment and are interested in fused glass jewelry or metal clay jewelry, a kiln is necessary. And when you need to cast precious metals to complete your project, you will need access to a centrifugal casting machine.

Create a Workspace for Yourself

Creating a clean table space in an area with lots of light is essential for an effective jewelry making process. Your kind of jewelry making tends to happen on a much smaller scale. Therefore, it is a brilliant idea to have enough light and even a magnifying glass when required. 

Also, ensure your workbench is solid. That way, when you hammer, stamp, and work your jewelry, you don’t have to worry about it wobbling. Additionally, a comfortable seat is important as a jeweler because you may discover later on that you sit in it for hours sometimes. So, consider a chair that provides support for your neck and back. 

Meanwhile, ensure you set up your seat in a way that your eye is on the same level as your bench peg. That rids you of the stress of hunching over your work during the jewelry making process. For those that plan on polishing, sanding, or soldering, make sure you have enough ventilation. Also, get yourself a pair of safety goggles, proper fire safety equipment, and a mask.

The art of jewelry making can be very easy. It all begins and has a lot to do with your workspace.

Just Do It!

If you ever thought Nike didn’t have a reason for choosing that catchphrase, then, you still don’t know what the art of jewelry making requires. As soon as you have your design sketched out, collect all your materials, create your workspace, then get going. Once you do all that we stated above, you are ready to start making your jewelry pieces. 

Moreover, there are lots of project and technique tutorials online. And to get a more interactive learning experience, try out classes or hire the services of a private instructor. These options might help greatly when you are first getting started.

Learning the Art of Jewelry Making

There are various organizations out there that offer classes that teach various techniques of jewelry making. You can find those that teach traditional metalsmithing and fabrication and others that teach you how to cast metal using the lost wax method. Other tutorial options include setting gemstones and shaping clay and modern resin and clay. 

With these classes, you get the know-how to walk through the jewelry making process effortlessly. Now you can create original pieces of jewelry or small sculptures. Also, you can expand your knowledge of particular techniques, and even make your own equipment. Learning the art of jewelry making helps you understand how to design your own studio at home. All of this training depends majorly on the type of jewelry you want to focus on.

The Jewelry Making Process For Hobbyists And Pros

The jewelry making process is not the farfetched, highly intricate activity it used to be. Now, this process is more accessible than ever before. To start making your own jewelry, online tutorials and in-person classes can be all you need to get things going. 

From that point, you may choose how you would prefer to go about the jewelry making process. You can either embrace the art of jewelry making as a professional jeweler like Raymond Lee Jewelers or simply make jewelry as a pastime.

For those that will prefer to make jewelry as a hobby, you can make jewelry pieces only for personal use and for close friends. In such a case, it can be a more exploratory mission, uncovering the infinite possibilities offered by the techniques, gemstones, alloys, and more. Also, note that exploring the art of jewelry making as a hobby will be a lesser financial investment.

Finally, for everyone who nurses a special interest in embracing the art of jewelry making as a pro, the terrain is different. First, it will demand greater investment in time, tools, finances, marketing, and learning. 

More so, professional jewelers mostly specialize in a specific jewelry style and metal alloy. A good example is in the dealings of a goldsmith. The focus here is gold! Professional jewelry makers may choose to release their work in seasonal lines. That helps them to display a cohesive body of their work on a stretch to an already eager audience. 

Whichever way you choose to go through the jewelry making process, always understand that quality must remain essential. You can never excuse the role of quality materials and a quality job done. It doesn’t matter if you make the jewelry pieces for personal use or sale.