When you put a ring on your finger you are not wearing a piece of jewelry. You have a symbol of you-love, devotion, success, individuality of taste. Yet long before it ends up in your hand, that ring has gone through an incredible process of creation, combining some of the oldest artistry with some of the newest technology. This is the world of the ring maker.
More Than Just a Workshop
A ring manufacturer is not just a mere factory. It is a center of innovativeness, attention to detail and accurate craftsmanship. Although jewelry is often designed and sold by independent jewelers, jewelry manufacturers are the professionals who can make the jewelry itself, commonly on behalf of a well-known brand, retail chain, and/or custom designer.
This starts with designing and prototyping. Most manufacturers today make complex 3D models of the ring using Computer-Aided Design (CAD). This can be incredibly precise, particularly with challenging designs such as pavé bands or tension settings.
The Manufacturing Process: From Raw Metal to Refined Ring
The practical process of crafting the ring takes several steps to complete and requires a great degree of expertise.
- Casting: Lost-wax casting is the most common way of production. The recognized prototype is cast to form a mold, into which is poured molten metal, that is, gold, platinum, or silver. This gives a raw casting, the crude form of the ring, which is in turn cleansed and refined.
- Stone Setting: In rings that contain gemstones, it is an important and very skillful procedure. Each diamond or gemstone that goes into the ring is placed in the ring, by master setters, with microscopes and special tools and great care. Other methods such as prong, bezel, channel, and pavé setting demand a stable hand and a masterful eye in order to achieve both security and optimal brilliance.
- Quality Control: A good manufacturer has a severe quality control department. Each individual ring manufacturer is thoroughly checked in order to conform to specifications of structural integrity, stone security, finish quality and general aesthetic perfection.
Choosing the Right Manufacturer
As a business and designer, it is important to choose the appropriate manufacturing partner. Among the considerations to make are:
- Knowledge and Specialization: There are those manufacturers that are skilled in high volume with more simple designs, and there are those that specialize in complex, hand crafted custom work.
- Materials and Ethics: Make sure that they use materials and gemstones provided by reputable, ethical suppliers.
- Technology and Craftsmanship: The finest manufacturers find the optimal balance between high technology and ancient hand-finishing methods.
- Communication and Reliability: A good partner is one who is transparent, communicative and shows up on time.
Conclusion
A jewelry company is the requisite, but unseen machinery of jewelry is what we adore. They are the guardians of quality, the masters of art and the creators of vision. Next time you see a ring, consider the immense effort, technology and love that went into creating it all combined by the talented ring manufacturer.