In an age where productivity and consistency can determine whether a jewelry piece is profitable or not, many manufacturers are discovering a technique first explored during the rubber shortages of world war 2 - the use of metal instead of rubber to create molds. (more…)

Setting a pear or marquise in a V-shaped prong without breaking the stone can be difficult. Moreover, the points of such stones are susceptible to damage during the course of normal wear. Certified Master Bench Jeweler Stephen Hermanson of Galloway and Moseley, Sumter, S.C., says the key to preventing damage is to avoid contact between the point of the stone and the V-shaped prong. He suggests this trick: (more…)