Working with Refiners
July 2nd, 2020
Working with Your Refiner Guidelines for developing a refined relationship Help Yourself by Helping the Refiner Jewelry makers must realize that no business arrangement is one-sided. Refiners have to meet the needs of their customers to stay in business, but there are things that those customers can do to help their refiners. Provide as […]
Working with Casters
July 2nd, 2020
How to ensure your castings meet expectations when working with a subcontractor There are many questions to answer before you get involved in contract casting. Do you want raw castings or do you want them finished? Are you going to have the caster set your stones or will you do it yourself? Are you better […]
Working with CAD/CAM Services
July 2nd, 2020
Working with a CAD/CAM Provider A model approach to developing a good relationship By Rachel V. Katz Find a Suitable Partner If you’re just starting out, take the following steps to find a vendor who can fulfill your needs: Determine your CAD/CAM needs. Do you need someone who can take your drawing from concept […]
To Stamp or Not to Stamp
July 2nd, 2020
To Stamp, or Not to Stamp? How to determine when tool & die is your best option A Few Initial Questions If you want to produce a piece in volume, and you’re wondering whether to cast it or to invest in tooling and stamp it out, first take a look at the design itself. […]
Smooth Subcontracting
July 2nd, 2020
How to ensure a good relationship with your contract service providers Tell Them What You Want—and Know What to Expect When beginning a project with a subcontractor, you should have a clear idea of what you would like done. Too many times, subcontractors will receive a model, CAD file, or piece to be repaired or […]
Safe Subcontracting
July 2nd, 2020
How to protect yourself when working with subcontractors Contributed by Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co. Before Entering into an Agreement with a Subcontractor, Do Your Research “Get recent references and look at the Better Business Bureau,” says John Ganga, senior claims examiner at Jewelers Mutual. Also ask colleagues for recommendations, consult with trade associations, and visit […]
Finding & Choosing Subcontractors
July 2nd, 2020
Tips for finding the right subcontractor to meet your needs By Shannon L. Brown Step One: Ask the Right Questions Before you approach a subcontractor about doing some work for you, know what you need. Use the following list of questions as a starting point assessment: What metal(s)/gemstone(s) do I want to work in? How […]
Assaying Basics
July 2nd, 2020
Assaying Basics Understanding a refiner’s metal sampling and analysis processes Preparing the Sample How refiners obtain a sample will depend on the lot. For most metal lots, refiners typically use one of three methods: drill, pin, or dip. To obtain a drill sample, the refining lot is melted down and formed into a bar. […]