Online Articles

Little Wonders A guide to choosing and sourcing findings to compliment your designs By Shawna Kulpa (Originally Published September 2023) Although customers may not think about them when purchasing their jewelry, findings can literally make or break a piece. After all, post earrings won’t stay put without backs, and a pendant is useless without a […]

Fuel the Fire An in-depth look at the six types of torch gases for your bench By Sharon Elaine Thompson (Originally Published September 2023) Quick Links: Natural Gas • Propane • Acetylene • Butane • MAPP Gas • Hydrogen • Safety A torch is a fundamental jewelry-making tool. But a torch is nothing without a […]

Keep It Simple Testing the Orion PJ pulse-arc welder By Melissa Muir (Originally Published August 2023) Jewelers interested in taking advantage of the recent permanent jewelry trend have been purchasing pulse-arc welders for the task. While many welders on the market are small, portable, and easy to set up (making them ideal for offering on-location […]

Don’t Break the Bank Budget-conscious buying for small shops By Sharon Elaine Thompson For many bench jewelers, there’s no such thing as too many tools. Of course, there is such a thing as not having the money to afford all those tools nor the space to accommodate them. Instead, most jewelers have to make do […]

From Jewels to Tools A look at the journeys of three jewelry artists-turned-toolmakers By Sharon Elaine Thompson If you’re like most jewelers, you probably spend a lot of time altering and creating tools. Maybe it’s because you need a tool that better fits your hand or to make it do something it was never designed […]

The Finishing Touch From machines to media, a guide to mass finishing By Shawna Kulpa (Originally published October 2022) Are you looking to save time and effort at the bench? Are you interested in cleaner and healthier finishing options? Does the thought of one day losing a finger or chunk of hair to your polishing […]

Sampling & Assaying Primer Advice to help you get the best return (Originally published October 2022) Whether it consists of hard scrap, bench sweeps, floor sweeps, polishing dust, sludge and solutions, or any combination of the above, your refining lot is more than just an assortment of precious-metal leftovers; it’s money. How much money depends […]

Color Confidence Pantone forecasts strong, bold hues for fall By Deborah A. Yonick (Originally Published June 2019) According to the Pantone Color Institute, colors for autumn/winter 2019/2020 reflect a visceral palette that is relatable yet displays clever nuances for the season. The colors, and how they are combined in fall fashions, suggest a thirst for […]

Six steps to better tool buying By Andrea Hill (Originally published May 2019.) To say my dad is a tool junkie would be an understatement. His workshop was his kingdom, and his tools were his favorite subjects. As children, we could use his tools once we had demonstrated proper respect for the safety requirements and […]

FiberLux PRO Laser Type: Pulsed Fiber Power: 20, 30, 50, 70, and 100 watt models Engraving Area: 160 mm x 160 mm Engraveable Materials: All standard jewelry metals. Dimensions: 450 mm L x 750 mm W x 670 mm H(17.7 inches L x 29.5 inches W x 26.4 inches H) Special Features: Touchscreen controls, enclosed […]

FiberLux EL Laser Type: Pulsed Fiber Power: 20, 30, and 50 watt models Engraving Area: 110 mm x 110 mm Engraveable Materials: All standard jewelry metals. Dimensions: 450 mm L x 750 mm W x 670 mm H (17.7 inches L x 29.5 inches W x 26.4 inches H) Special Features: Enclosed laser chamber, optional […]

Sisma Big Smarky Laser Type: Pulsed Fiber Power: 20, 30, 50, and 70 watt models Engraving Area: 500 mm x 500 mm Engraveable Materials: All metals. Dimensions: 556 mm L x 943 mm W x 953 mm H(21.9 inches x 37.1 inches x 37.5 inches) Special Features: Coaxial vision system option, video camera option, and […]

Sisma Easy Laser Type: Pulsed Fiber Power: 20, 30, and 50 watt models Engraving Area: 100 mm x 100 mm Engraveable Materials: All metals. Dimensions: 560 mm x 760 mm x 770 mm(22 inches x 29.9 inches x 30.3 inches) Special Features: Coaxial vision system option, video camera option, and the ability to engrave along […]

Sisma Easy Go Laser Type: Pulsed Fiber Power: 20 and 30 watt models Engraving Area: 100 mm x 100 mm Engraveable Materials: All metals. Dimensions: 555 mm L x 685 mm W x 795 mm H(21.9 inches x 27 inches x 31.3 inches) Special Features: Automated Z axis through dynamic measuring device. Works with guide […]

Comparing Laser Engravers  Originally published March 2019 Laser engraving systems can help save time and effort. Below you’ll find is a list of several of the laser engravers on the market today. Click here for help determining which engraving system is right for you.  Click here to download a PDF version of the complete laser […]

Tips for selecting the right components By Shawna Kulpa It seems like such a simple thing to order clutches for your latest earring design, or a set of chains to showcase your newest pendants. But is it really just as simple as picking out any old finding or chain? Not really. Here’s a breakdown of […]

Women and children driving tomorrow’s trends By Deborah A. Yonick Major cultural movements are taking place, and the women and young people leading the charge are inspiring designers to capture this energy in empowering and meaningful ways. Both Swarovski’s Gem Visions 16th annual trends forecasting report, which is now out twice a year, and Fiera […]

This month, MJSA Journal features an article on diamond detection, offering buyers tips for investing in synthetic diamond screening technology. This companion article lets you know the main features of the some of the diamond screening devices currently on the market. D-Screen • D-Secure Plus • EXA • DiamondCheck • iD100 • J-Secure Plus • M-Screen  • SDS II • Yehuda Diamond Detector D-Screen Portable Diamond Screening Device HRD Antwerp […]

Jewelers redefining what it means to source responsibly By Irina Hawkins Martin Taber is happy.  “I am living in a world where people are actively concerned with the ecological approach. I’m free to operate more to my conscience than to the demands of shareholders,” says Taber, board president of Ethical Metalsmiths and owner of Taber […]

The growing awareness and importance of artisanal mines By John Shanahan All jewelry tells a story, whether it’s of the designer’s idea, the customer’s dream, or the sentiment behind its giving. More and more, however, socially savvy jewelers and their customers are asking to be told another story for their money: the story of how […]

Two users of anti-tarnish silvers discuss the benefits of working with these alloys By Tina Wojtkielo Snyder Editor’s Note: In the July 2013 issue of MJSA Journal, we presented a comprehensive comparison chart of all the tarnish-resistant alloys currently available to the jewelry industry. Using this data, you can compare and contrast to find the […]

3-D scanning offers new possibilites—and new customers By John Shanahan Jewelry customers want their pieces to tell a story. Maybe it’s something that sprang from a sudden vision or idea, a burst of self-expression. Maybe it’s the story of a loved one that they want to cherish or carry forward into the future. As a […]

What you need to know about choosing a website platform By Andrea Hill (Originally Published in the 2019 MJSA Buyer’s Guide.) My great-grandmother used to ask what the family would like for dinner: Fish? Or chicken? Eventually, the family learned that there was a right answer and a wrong answer, depending on what was actually in […]

To get the alloys you want, you need to know how to ask for them By Stewart Grice Ever have a conversation like this with your metal supplier? Customer: “This wire I ordered, I’ll have to return it. It’s too soft for the job I want to do.” Metal Supplier: “But you ordered it dead […]

A primer on 3-D printing technology By Shawna Kulpa These days, with technology evolving seemingly overnight, it can feel overwhelming to buy just about anything. And in our industry, nowhere is that sentiment felt more than when it comes to 3-D printing. To determine which 3-D printer is best suited to meet your needs, you […]

Guidelines for buying common gemstones By Arthur Anton Skuratowicz and Julie Nash Editor’s Note: Enhancing a gemstone is nothing new; recipes for treating emeralds with oil date back centuries. However, buyers of gems or gem-set jewelry do need to be aware of the treatments—both safe and suspect—currently being used, as well as the imitations and […]

A guide to common components Want to know the difference between a fishhook clasp and a fishhook? An illusion setting and an invisible setting? If so, you’re in the right place. Below and on the following pages you’ll find definitions and descriptions of a wide range of component parts. The next time you contact your […]

Calculating ROI for tool and equipment purchases By Gerry Davies Several years ago, designer Michael Bondanza bought a laser welder for his New York City jewelry workshop. On several levels, the acquisition made sense. It was high-tech. It was a new tool sweeping through the industry. And, perhaps most important, his workers really wanted it. […]

A guide to common chain types What’s the difference between a filigree chain and a foxtail chain? Between a snake and a false snake? Cable and cobra? The following glossary answers just those questions, and includes details such as basic descriptions and characteristics, manufacturing methods, and alternative names. Ball | Bar Link | Basket Weave […]

Laser engraving systems can save time and effort, but do they make sense for you? By Shawna Kulpa What’s in a name? Everything, when your customer wants his beloved’s moniker engraved onto the new ring that will soon adorn her finger. For centuries, jewelry makers have been adding personalized messages and images onto jewelry using […]

How to know when it’s time to invest in your own machine By Sharon Elaine Thompson If you design with CAD, chances are you have your models produced by a service bureau. But at some point, the question will arise: Should you actually do the production yourself? Affordability, decreasing equipment size, and growing convenience are […]

Finding Satisfaction How to choose the right components for your needs They may often be the smallest parts on a piece of jewelry—the spring rings, the crimp beads, the eye pins and ear nuts—but findings perform a big job: they keep the jewelry intact and securely in place. Which means that when you purchase these […]

Diamond Detection Tips for investing in synthetic diamond screening technology By Shawna Kulpa Manmade diamonds aren’t going anywhere. As the technology to grow them has advanced, so too has their presence in the marketplace: It’s been estimated that at least 25 percent of independent jewelers now carry them, and their appeal among consumers is growing. […]

Putting the RinGenie to the test at the bench By Arthur Anton Skuratowicz Jewelers are constantly in search of tools that make them more productive. It helps to shop trade shows where tools are on display to try out, but it’s really difficult to gauge whether the tool improves efficiency or accuracy without putting it […]

How to know when it’s time to invest in your own machine by Sharon Elaine Thompson If you design with CAD, chances are you have your models produced by a service bureau. But at some point, the question will arise: Should you actually add a CAM system to your repertoire? Would it be worthwhile? For […]