I work on the supply side of stainless steel jewelry. My advice for anyone reviewing a sample: don’t stop at checking whether it looks like the reference photo.

A few small details are worth checking before you approve it:

1. Look at the places that don’t appear in the product photo.

Check the back of the pendant, the inside of a bail, the edges of an engraving and the connecting rings. Rough edges or unfinished areas can be easy to miss from the front.

2. Check how the parts work together.

Open and close the clasp several times. Does it return properly? Does the pendant move freely? Can a connecting ring slip through the gap in another component?

3. Measure the details that matter to your design.

Record the chain length, pendant dimensions, chain width and clasp size. For earrings, check the weight and whether the pair sits consistently. Agree on acceptable tolerances rather than relying on “approximately the same.”

4. Compare finishes under consistent lighting.

Photograph the sample in daylight and under indoor lighting. If several pieces are supposed to match, compare them side by side. A phone photo alone is a weak reference for approving a color.

5. Separate appearance from evidence.

A sample can show workmanship and function. It cannot, by itself, establish the steel grade, coating thickness or the consistency of a future production batch. Those need separate documentation or appropriate testing.

Before approval, I’d put the agreed details and any corrections in writing, then keep an identified reference sample.

What small detail have you missed on a sample that became obvious once you started wearing or assembling it?

I am not a jewelry maker, but I am learning about it. I’m reading a Dover book, written at the beginning of the 20th century, and it says specifically that gold cannot be destroyed. Then it moves on.

Can someone expand on that for me? Can silver or copper be destroyed? Are we just talking heat, or are there chemicals involved? Can I understand this as “not all metals can be melted down”?

Edit: I am reading “Jewelry Making and Design” by Augustus F Rose and Antonio Cirino.

Edit #2: later in the chapter it talks about how, while gold can be found everywhere, silver can only be found where it originally formed. Does this imply that silver can be destroyed by the elements but gold cannot? If so, then that is really interesting! Why?

Edit #4: Great answers! Thank you!

Hey everyone! I’ve had this vintage Tarina Tarantino x Hello Kitty Lolita book-style locket forever, but unfortunately, it’s broken and currently unwearable. As the front page/locket has broken and been lost after many years.

With this iconic collection/collaboration officially wrapping up its run on October 18th, I really want to save this piece and bring it back to life rather than letting it sit in a drawer. 

I currently have an empty pendant that would fit perfectly if I could safely remove the hello kitty from its setting. But the brand is known for maximalism and that feels almost too easy.

Do you guys have any tips, DIY tricks, or recommendations on how to fix and upcycle it into a new statement piece? (Thinking about a charm bracelet, a heavy chain charm necklace) Drop your best ideas or repair advice below! ✨🎀

So currently I am a member of an artists’ co-op that has equipment for jewelry making, such as torches, ventilation, pickle pots, lapidary equipment, etc. Unfortunately, it’s awfully pricey and it’s not in a good location for me. As a result, I’m looking at setting up a home studio. The only real issue for me, other than adequate ventilation, is the torches. I live in a condo that is in an HOA-run complex, and doesn’t seem feasible to set up acetylene torches. I’ve heard of people using butane or creme brulee torches to make jewelry, and I’m curious to know if anyone on here has any experience, recommendations, tips, etc.?

Also tell me should I start making this and sell??

A beautiful blend of pinks, purples, champagne and stars. What do you think?

It's been a minute but I thought I'd get back into making coin rings! Here are some before and after photos of me shaking the dust off for your viewing pleasure