Cooksongold | Royal Jewelry Blog

More and more people are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, with the growing amount of waste in landfills. And with that, online buyers are paying more attention to product packaging. Consumers are understanding the impact that plastic is having on the planet, but there are plenty of alternatives to explore – especially when it comes to jewellery packaging. Looking to make your business more sustainable? Eco-friendly jewellery packaging is a great place to start.  And we’re here to talk you through all the different kinds of jewellery packaging that can help you on your quest to becoming more sustainable. What is eco jewellery packaging? First up, what is sustainable jewellery packaging exactly? Due to increasing demand, more businesses are feeling the pressure to be more sustainable – but what does this mean? Over time, sustainable packaging reduces its environmental footprint by: Using raw or 100% recycled materials. Minimising the production process and suppl...

National Dog Day is celebrated on August 26 th this year and what better way to honour your favourite pooch than with your very own little pawprint to take with you wherever you go. You will need: 8mm Sterling Silver Sheet Sterling Silver Stud Back No Pin Pack of 6 Sterling Silver Grooved Headed Tie Tack Pin 9.5mm X 1.1mm Pack of 6 Silver Solder, hard and easy Piercing Saw Scriber Needle Files Buff sticks Soldering Torch and flux Safety Pickle Reverse action tweezers Fine tweezers Plastic tweezers Scratch brush used with hand drill or flexi shaft system Draw out your design on paper and then transfer to metal when happy using a scriber. (My design measures approximately 13mm across at its widest point). Cut out each individual component using a piercing saw. Don’t worry if they are a bit rough, they can be refined afterwards. Round off the edges using needle files, followed by buff sticks for a neat finish. You need to do this now as you won’t be able to acces...

Thinking of expanding your service offering? Or are you simply wondering “what is silver-plated jewellery?” and how it differs from sterling silver? Whether you’re looking to neaten up some old silver jewellery or are stuck between silver-plated and solid silver pieces, we’re here to talk you through the differences – as well as answering questions like “will silver-plated jewellery rust?” and how to keep it looking brand new. So, what is silver-plated jewellery exactly? Silver-plated jewellery is made from a thin coating of pure silver over other non-precious metals. Meaning that when the silver scrapes off, you’ll notice the base metal underneath – which is typically brass. The process was first developed in the 1830s, and is now widely used as it’s low cost and offers many benefits. For example, plating can improve conductivity, prevent corrosion, protect against radiation and can be used to decorate various pieces. Plating can also make a big difference to the price of jeweller...

Jewellery maker Niyanta Shah has self taught herself beadweaving and wire wrapping. She has also taken courses for jewellery design & drawing, as well as wedding jewellery and tiara making at The London Jewellery School. She loves making delicate and dainty jewellery but wouldn’t say no to big and bold either. Learn more about this month’s Designer of the Month below Let us know a bit about yourself, detailing your background, study and training in the jewellery making industry. I left school with average grades and got into a mediocre university to obtain a degree, then fell into a job I didn’t find fulfilling but it paid the bills. I kept feeling there was more to life. Two years ago I made the brave decision to quit my job because I had found a true passion for beaded and wire gemstone jewellery! I took lots of courses to learn as much as I could. My favourites were Jewellery design and drawing and Wedding Jewellery and Tiara making from the prestigious London Jewellery Schoo...

Continuing on from our previous blog , here is more inspiration to get every jewellery making wanting to try something new. Base Metal The term Base Metal, simply refers to a common or inexpensive metal and working with them is a great way to create objects at a fraction of the cost of using precious metal. Perfect for practising your metalwork skills, copper for example has the softness and malleability of silver, whist retaining a fabulous warmth all of its own, which has endless possibilities when it comes to patination. Brass is another great option offering beautiful colour which historically has enjoyed enormous popularity amongst makers of the decorative arts. Aluminium, although not prized for its reflective properties or colour, is incredibly light and soft as well as offering amazing opportunities for anodising which alters the surface structure of the metal to allow colour to penetrate. Working with base metals may well take your work in new and unexpected directions so i...

This is a good project when learning how to use a piercing saw to cut metal. Practice makes perfect when using a piercing saw, so don’t be too disheartened if you break a few blades when you start. It is important to have the blade in the saw correctly, have a comfortable posture and saw gently without forcing—the saw will do the work! Product List Fine Permanent Pen – Posca Pen 0.7 Black V Shaped Bench Peg With Clamp Adjustable Saw Frame 6″ Deep Super Glardon Vallorbe Jewellers Saw Blades Grade 4/0 Bundle Of 10 Beeswax 28g/1oz Block Sterling Silver Sheet 1.00mm Fully Annealed Impressart 2 Hole Punch 3.2mm And 4mm   Choose your design Choose a simple shape for your design and draw it onto a piece of scrap paper. A design of about 2 or 3cm across is a good size to start with. I drew an irregular freehand shape as its more forgiving if you go wrong. Cut the paper shape out with scissors. Mark onto your metal Position your paper template onto your metal and careful...

There are so many diverse specialisms to choose from, that there is something to suit all tastes, from beginner, to the hardened professional and we do our best to cater for just about everyone. Cooksongold.com is a treasure trove of tools, equipment and inspiration so let me take you on a tour and help you discover some of the gems we have to offer. You never know, one may entice you to try something new. Enamelling There are many different types of enamelling, not all of which involve a kiln. The basic principle involves applying a layer of powdered glass onto metal which is fused at extremely high temperatures to form a decorative, coloured glaze. A similar effect can be achieved using cold enamels, which are usually resin based and don’t require a kiln. We have a range of kits to get you started as well as a blog and projects to give you some ideas. Enamelling Super Starter Kit Enamelling by Ruth Ball Make a Heart with a Hole Pendant Make Cold Enamel Earrings Learn more abo...

Bullion is one of the basics when it comes to jewellery making. So if you’re just starting out, you’ll need to become familiar with the ins and outs, such as the different types of bullion, how to buy bullion and understanding which are key for your upcoming projects. Once you’ve finished reading our bullion buying guide, you should be feeling confident enough to invest in some of your own. Starting simple, find out what bullion actually is and more below. What is bullion? First things first, what is bullion? In its simplest form, any type of precious metal can be defined as bullion. And as standard, most bullion is recognised as being at least 99.5% pure. In a bar form, it is also often used as legal tender, frequently held as reserves by banks or investors. However in terms of jewellery, there are many different types of bullion that can be used in your designs, which we’ll delve into for you. Key types of bullion in jewellery making 1. Wire Arguably one of the most used types o...

The Jewellers Bench Reference by Harold O’Connor This tiny reference guide is a powerhouse of information and troubleshooting advice that no serious jeweller should be without. Laid out in a simplistic, no nonsense format, this book is aimed at those with an existing knowledge of technique. Keep close to hand in the workshop for quick fixes and easy reference at all times.   The Art of Soldering for Jewellery Makers, Techniques and Projects by Wing Mun Devenney  One of our consistent bestsellers and for good reason. This is a brilliant and comprehensive guide to soldering techniques which is as good as having a teacher stood in front of you. Fabulous step by step photos and diagrams at every stage to help you perfect your existing skills as well as mastering new ones.   Stonesetting For Contemporary Jewellery Makers by Melissa Hunt   This is a fabulous, modern guide to stone setting techniques which will give you a well-rounded insight into the subject as...