Category Archives: Designing

Jeweler’s Lacquer Experiment – Part 2

Jeweler’s Lacquer  To see whether or not jeweler’s lacquer is effective in protecting gold plating over the copper in our pink sapphire pendant, we experimented to see what would happen when we placed an uncoated pendant and one coated with jeweler’s lacquer in a bath of silver blackener. The silver blackener, used to achieve the […]

How to Protect Plating from Tarnishing – Part 1

Protecting plating from tarnishing is the bane of many designer’s existence! Sometimes you simply cannot replate a piece because it’s been set with pearls or porous stones. This is why each gold plated sterling piece in the Amoracast brand is protectively coated with a high-temperature baking process.  Although we love precious metals and try to […]

The Beauty of Bulk Chains

Bulk Chains, or chains by the meter, are a fundamental component for any jewelry designer.  They add length without adding mass and, in the case of thick chains, they add mass without adding weight.  Bulk silver chain; or gold-filled chain, by definition, is simply a chain that has not been finished with a clasp.  Once it’s cut and a […]

Shapes in Freshwater Pearls

Looking at the fashion trend for the last few years, geometric designs are in. You’ll notice this trend increasingly in Balenciaga or Pedro Lourenco. A great way to play off…

Design Shortcuts Using Sterling Silver Components –

Some have struggled for many years and have not found a method that will allow them to easily envision the finished product and make quick tweaks as needed. Here’s a few tricks I’ve learned over the years…