Jewelry Manufacturing Process
The natural components of jewelry (stones, metals, and accessories) will undergo multiple processes. These jewelries are unique and involve a lot of time and skill. Except for personalized jewelry which are handcrafted, most of the jewelries are executed by casting machines. Following is a brief description of all the processes involve in the manufacturing chain.
In order to produce a unique piece, the very initial step is to create a design, this is the point from where the magic begins! An idea of the end product by very talented designers who then makes a sketch of the design. This process of Blueprint Designing is carried out by proficient craftsmen using techniques and methods handed down over decades.
Each piece of jewelry starts off with a concept. A concept is basically a rough design in the mind of the designer. The final design is the result of close cooperation between designer and craftsman giving the art object a real hand crafted origin. The designers concept and drawings are used by the Modelmaker to create the original piece of Jewelry.
Molding
Once the master piece of jewelery is complete, it is used to make a high technology mold, which in turn is used to make wax reproductions of the Jewelry.
After the sketch is complete with all the fine details, it is passed on to the molding section. In the molding department the very experienced professional molders then turn the sketch into a master mold which sets the base for the total process there from. The master mold is a very complex level of crafting as the final outcome rests on the master mold.
Casting
Casting again is a very complex process and requires utmost skilled and experienced casters for the desired final product. The wax replicas are placed in steel containers which are then occupied with investment powder and the containers are heated in a chamber to 550°C which solidifies the powder and melts the wax leaving behind a perfect effect. Liquefied metal is then poured into the flasks, allowed to cool, then demolished to reveal the jewelry in casting form.
Every part must be polished while the mount is being made. The entire mount is carefully made clean and polished to a the highest degree of smoothness so that each and every part is attractively polished off. After stage setting, the polisher is credit worthy for giving the jewelry a concluding polish. All tinctures of the polishing compounds and 'rouge' must be meticulously got rid of either by careful washing by hand, or by use of supersonic cleaning baths.
Embellishments/ Decorative processes
After the product has passed from the polishing and finishing departments, it has to undergo for embellishment process. When the products gets casted and foiled, the required decorative stones of the correct sizes and weight are cut and made with extreme preciseness and are then assorted for the final setting which is done once the products leave the foiling and finishing department.
It requires immense patience and skill to make the master-model and to produce a exquisitely casting free from defects and which needs the minimum of chasing to make it perfect. Applied wire, which may be drawn or stamped out, can also be, classified as inherent decoration.
Finishing
Once the casting process is over and the caster delivered the products to the following department, they are then foiled extreme attention for a smooth and soft finish. These castings are then hand finished in order meet to high standards - adding adjustments and settings before being delivered to all corners across the world.
Plating
Considerable technical improvements have been made in plating, especially as used in the jewelry trade. Most plating is done by electro-deposition, rhodium, copper, chromium or other metals being practiced by passing an electric current through a solution and then channelizing the plating metal from the piece of pure metal to the object set aside in the solution. Deliberate attention must be paid to fabricating and polishing procedures because it is vitally significant that consumes to be plated should be perfectly finished in advance.
Quality Checking
After the plating process is over, the product is brought to the checking department where each and every piece is checked with excessive attention and thoroughly checked for any defects. This process of quality checking is done by very experienced workers and all the defected pieces are send back to the respective departments.
Transporting and Packaging
Last but not the least, once all the products pass through all the inspections and checking, it is then forwarded for final packaging and labeling. Each product is extensively packed into respective boxes in order to avoid any sort of damages.
Thus, each piece of jewelry, regardless of its size and weight, passes through a long and complex manufacturing process forming each piece as valuable, worthful and unique as the process it tolerates.
