What are traditional silversmithing techniques? 

In my product descriptions, I write that I make my jewellery using traditional silversmithing techniques, but what are these? Well, these techniques are the foundations for making jewellery (otherwise called basic fabrication). So the main ones I use are:

·         Drilling – to create holes for jump rings or to help cut silver

·         Piercing – cut shapes out of silver with a fine jeweller’s blade

·         Soldering

·         Filing

·         Polishing

·         Hammering

·         Doming – using a doming block to create a curve in the metal

 For example, to make my flower brooch this was the process and techniques:

  1. Roller mill – silver through my roller mill to put texture on the surface for 2 of the flowers
  2. Piercing – after gluing my flower shapes onto silver, I pierced them out, plus 3 smaller flowers
  3. Filing – I filed the edges of the flowers until I was happy with the finish
  4. Hammering – I hammered on the 3rd flower to add some different texture
  5. Doming – I domed two of the flowers to create a slight curve
  6. Soldering – I soldered all the pieces together, finishing with the pin on the back
  7. Filing & polishing – after soldering the silver is quite dull, so then I filed any solder that has spread & polished the surfaces with different textures 

You can create such a huge variety of finished pieces of jewellery with these basic techniques, that even though I’ve been designing and making jewellery for over 10 years, I’m still so energised to create!

Mandie @ Imogen George Jewellery

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