Cooksongold | Royal Jewelry Blog

Jewellery findings are essential components in jewellery making used to connect pieces together, the building blocks of most jewellery designs, findings are used to link, fasten and secure jewellery pieces together. From clasps to scrolls to ear wires, findings are a must have in any workshop. Findings is the term used to collectively describe the individual components of jewellery making and there are a lot. If you’re new to jewellery making, knowing what findings you need can be a difficult task, which is where we want to help. Here’s our full guide to all of the jewellery findings and what they can be used for… Jump Rings – Jump rings are used to attach two separate components together. Jump rings can be supplied open or closed. Open jump rings can be twisted and attached using snipe nose pliers whilst closed jump rings can be easily attached and used at the ends of bracelets and necklaces. Although primarily used to attach a clasp to a chain, jump rings can also be used to ...

Here is a list of all our content on silver clay, there is a video and article available for each of these, providing you with everything you need to know about silver clay. Introduction to silver clay article – What is silver clay and what you can do with it. Silver clay FAQs article – All your questions answered about silver clay. To watch our silver clay FAQ video on our YouTube channel, click here . How to torch fire silver clay article – Video also available here . How much does silver clay shrink when fired? – article and shorts video . How to make findings with silver clay article – Video available here . Keum-Boo Pendant made from silver clay article and video . How to make moulds for your silver clay article and video . Project X FAQs article and video – Everything you need to know about Project X silver clay. The post Everything You Need to Know About Silver Clay appeared first on The Bench . source https://www.cooksongold.com/blog/learn/everything-you...

When making something out of silver clay, it is important to know that your silver clay will shrink when it has been fired. Be sure to know what the shrinkage rate of the specific clay you have as all silver clay shrinkage rates may differ. You will find this information on the back of the packaging. To ensure your silver clay piece turns out how you want it to after it has been fired, you will need to account for this shrinkage within your design. This means lines and indentations will become closer together and holes will become smaller. The reason for this is that when fired, the organic binder is burnt away, leaving behind your solid silver piece. The image below is a pendant made with 6 grams of Project X silver clay which has a shrinkage rate of 22%. You can clearly see the difference between the two pendants, one has been sculpted and dried and the other has been fired. This is another important tip for when you are making your next jewellery project out of silver clay....

It is important to create moulds of some of your favourite items or pieces so you can make them using silver clay. In this article, we will talk through how to create moulds and what you will need to do this. This is a very versatile technique and can be used to create some unique shapes out of silver clay. To do this you will need a reusable moulding compound, available on our website. You can either get the silver clay starter kit with it in (1VP 114) or buy it individually (870 300). This can be used to create a mould of your chosen object, enabling you to put silver clay in the mould. It is a great way of making unique items out of silver clay. The first step in creating your mould is to put your mouldable compound in hot water so it becomes really pliable. Once your moulding compound is soft, you are then able to push your object into it, in turn creating a mould of that object. Be sure to do this quickly as the moulding compound will cool and harden very fast. After you hav...

Getting started with Project X? Here is a selection of FAQs to provide you with all the information you need. Why is my clay dry or hard when I first open the pack? While your clay may appear dry at first glance, it’s simply a part of its design. The unique ‘dryness’ of the clay upon opening the package is a result of the vacuum packing process, which compacts the clay. This innovative process is effortless, either roll the clay or knead it with your fingers before proceeding with your creation. The clay isn’t hard because it has dried but because it has been compacted when vacuum packed. Do I need to use water to activate the clay? Project X metal clay is crafted to transform into a perfectly smooth and workable substance without the need for water. It is a fundamental principle to knead your clay to awaken elasticity of the binder without adding water to fresh clay, which can lead to unwanted stickiness. How can I fire this clay? You can use either a torch or kiln to fir...

The festive season is a great time to get creative and make something truly special to gift or sell. Using your own scrap silver can be a way to save money and waste. Jewellers often build up a collection of off cuts of silver sheet and wire and refine or reuse them. Here’s three inspiring ways to re-use scrap silver to make jewellery. Fusing Silver: Fusing silver involves melting and bonding pieces of scrap silver together, resulting in a seamless and organic look. This is done by heating your pieces of silver to a temperature that causes it to melt. When each surface is slightly melted, ensure the pieces flow together, creating a bond. It’s an excellent way to use up those odd silver scraps that have been lying around, not being used. You can create stunning, custom-made Christmas ornaments, pendants or even personalised gift tags. Kit list: Scrap silver pieces Butane torch Soldering board Flux Tweezers Safety goggles Gloves Granulation: Granulation is an ancient je...

As the holiday season approaches, we’re excited to share with you the latest trends in Christmas decorations and gifts that you can bring to life with our 3D print and casting services in our precious metals. Including Platinum, Silver and Gold (White, Red or Yellow 9ct/18ct). All designs shown are now available for you to print in our online design library. Lets begin… 1. Ornaments This year, it’s all about intricate and ornate Christmas tree ornaments. Picture delicate snowflakes, charming reindeer, and classic angels, all adorned with intricate filigree patterns. Check out our version of a beautiful ornament inspired by a scene in Home Alone. A lovely set of Turtle Doves representing a forever love and friendship during this special season. Our precious metal alloys, such as silver and gold, are the perfect choice for these designs. They add an extra touch of elegance and sparkle to your tree, making it truly magical. 2. Personalised Keepsake Jewellery Customised jewellery is...

Step 1 Unwrap the silver clay and place on a smooth wipeable surface. You could cover the surface in balm to ensure the silver clay can be removed or lifted easily. This project uses 50g of silver clay and will produce many pieces of jewellery. Step 2 Place the acrylic strips either side of the silver clay and use a plastic tube or acrylic rolling pin to roll out the silver clay about 3-4mm thick. The acrylic strips ensure when rolling out the silver clay the thickness is even throughout. Step 3 Press found objects into the rolled slab of silver clay to make patterns and textures. Objects could include; MDF shapes, lolly pop sticks, children’s toys, utensils, nuts and seeds, fabrics etc. Step 4 Build up the textures and patterns until the whole slab of silver clay is covered. Step 5 Use a clay cutter to cut out areas of the silver clay slab until all the clay is cut out. Any leftover clay can be rolled out, textured and cut out again. Step 6 Leave the cut ...

Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s time to get your creative cauldron bubbling with spooky prints! Create Halloween gifts for a spooky season, decorations for your home or jewellery to wear! If you’re looking to add a touch of magic to your Halloween festivities, our 3D print and cast service has you covered. We’ve conjured up some ghoulishly delightful designs that we are sure will offer you some inspiration. Let’s dive into the wickedly wonderful world of 3D-printed Halloween Inspired designs! 1. The Enchanted Witches Hat No Halloween is complete without a classic witches hat. Our 3D-print and cast version is not your ordinary pointy cap—it’s a masterpiece of intricate design. Crafted in Silver, it adds an elegant and enchanting touch to your witchy ensemble, wear it as a pendant or keep it as a bewitching token perfect for any Halloween lover. 2. The Haunting Spider Web Make a statement with the intricate beauty of a 3D-printed spider web. Made in silver, it catches...

Resizing a basic band ring in the realm of jewellery design requires precision and attention to detail. With Rhino 3D, a powerful CAD software, this task becomes manageable even for beginners. Whether you’re adjusting the size for a custom order or personal use, this blog post will walk you through the specific steps to accurately resize a basic band ring using Rhino 3D. Step 1: Open Your Design Launch Rhino 3D and open the design file of the ring you intend to resize. Make sure that the ring design is visible in the Rhino workspace. Step 2: Assess the Ring Design Before making any modifications, carefully examine the existing ring design. Identify the key elements, such as the band width and any decorative features, that need to be adjusted during the resizing process. Step 3: Select the Ring Geometry Use Rhino’s selection tools to choose the ring’s geometry. This typically includes selecting the curves that define the outer and inner edges of the band. You can use the “Select”...

Working with silver clay for the first time can be overwhelming. From knowing how to correctly shape your piece, to firing and dealing with any beginner mistakes, as with all areas of jewellery making, having the right know how is essential. Let us help you on your silver clay jewellery making journey with our range of top tips… Clay Jewellery Making – Top Tips Practice Makes Perfect – Silver clay is easy to work with but if you’re feeling unsure why not start with copper or bronze clay? These are a cheaper alternative and it’s a great way to build up your skill. Get your workspace ready – A good thing to do before you start making clay jewellery is to prepare your workspace. Get your mat out and ensure you’ve used a good metal clay balm on your tools and your mat to ensure that the clay does not stick Get the right Surface – Use a soldering block or a fibre blanket pillow when firing, this will ensure that your surface is protected when using a torch Preparation is key – Bef...

Perfect for the crafting enthusiast or someone just keen to start a new hobby, jewellery making is exciting, creative and fun. Here at Cooksongold, our how to make jewellery hub is the perfect place for you. We want to help you to understand everything when starting your journey; from understanding what equipment you’ll need, to setting up your workspace, we’re here to get started. Jewellery making is a truly creative skill, from being able to create a simple bracelet to one day making someone’s wedding ring, the possibilities are endless. But getting there may take a little time and patience. When first getting started it can get confusing, from knowing what a rawhide mallet is and what you may need it for to getting to grips with bench pegs and saw frames, so let us help. Our resources include some popular FAQs as well as some must have top tips to get you started. As  we want to help you break down jewellery making a little more to make your life easier. What are the differe...