Jewellery-making requires a variety of tools and equipment to transform design concepts into beautiful, wearable art. Knowing the right terminology is crucial for anyone interested in jewellery design, whether you’re just starting or an experienced craftsperson. This glossary provides clear and concise definitions of essential tools and equipment used in the jewellery-making process, making it easy for both beginners and professionals to understand the techniques and craftsmanship involved.
Accent Gold: A fine product that allows jewellers to add accents of 24K gold to fine silver or sterling silver pieces.
Bead: A small, often spherical object used in jewellery, typically made from glass, stone, or plastic, and strung to create necklaces, bracelets, or earrings.
Bead Tips: Small findings used to attach thread to jewellery components, such as clasps, in beaded jewellery. They often hold knots securely in place.
Bezel Rocker: A tool used to push the metal bezel over the edges of a stone to hold it securely in place during the stone-setting process.
Burnisher: A hand tool with a smooth, rounded surface, used to polish metal by creating friction, resulting in a high shine.
Cabochon: A polished gemstone with a flat back and domed top, typically set into a bezel setting. Commonly used in beginner jewellery designs.
Crimp Bead: A small metal bead that is flattened with pliers to secure jewellery wire or thread. It is essential for finishing beaded designs.
Devcon Epoxy Glue: A strong, two-part adhesive used to securely set stones into jewellery or attach various components together.
Earwire: A hook-shaped finding used to create earrings. It features a loop at the bottom to attach decorative elements such as beads or charms.
Faceted Stone: A gemstone with multiple flat surfaces, or facets, designed to reflect light and create sparkle, commonly used in rings and pendants.
Flux: A chemical compound applied to metal before soldering to prevent oxidation and ensure that the solder flows smoothly.
Gimp Wire (French Wire): A delicate coiled wire used to protect threads from wear at connection points, often used with clasps in beaded jewellery.
Gold Vermeil: Jewellery components made from sterling silver with a thick layer of gold plating. This is often preferred by individuals with metal allergies.
Headpin: A thin metal wire with a flat or decorative end, used to string beads, creating pendants, charms, or earrings.
Jump Ring: A small metal ring, often used to attach jewellery components, such as pendants to chains or clasps to bracelets. It can be opened by twisting the ends sideways.
Kumihimo: A traditional Japanese braiding technique used to create intricate braided designs, often incorporated into necklaces and bracelets.
Liver of Sulphur: A chemical used to create a patina on metals, producing a range of colours from blue and pink to brown and black on silver.
Mandrel: A tapered cylindrical tool used to shape rings and bracelets or to size them accurately during the crafting process.
Pliers: Essential tools for jewellery makers, used for bending, cutting, shaping wire, and holding small components. Variations include flat-nose, round-nose, and chain-nose pliers.
Safety Pickle: An acidic solution used to clean metal after soldering, removing oxidation and fire stain caused by high heat.
Soldering Wig: A tool used to support small or delicate pieces of jewellery during the soldering process, providing stability.
Sterling Silver: A silver alloy containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, typically copper, to increase durability.
Snaptite Setting: A pre-notched stone setting that allows for easy insertion of a faceted stone, snapping into place with minimal effort.
Solder: A metal alloy that melts at a lower temperature than the pieces being joined, used to connect metal components in jewellery making.
Stick Pin: A long pin used in brooches or other decorative jewellery. It may feature a decorative head or gemstone.
Toggle Clasp: A jewellery clasp consisting of a bar and a loop, often used in bracelets and necklaces for easy fastening.
Top Drilled Bead: A bead drilled from the top but not all the way through, commonly used for earrings or pendants by attaching it to a metal peg or setting.
Vermeil: High-quality gold plating over sterling silver, often used in fine jewellery to create a luxurious appearance at a lower cost than solid gold.
Wire Guardian (Thread Protector): A small component that protects jewellery thread or wire from wear at the point where it attaches to clasps or other findings.
Wire Wrapping: A technique where wire is used to wrap around a bead or stone to create a setting, often used to make charms or intricate patterns.
Wraptite Setting: A simple setting for faceted stones, where the stone is held in place by a light wire that wraps around its edges.
Rivets: Small metal pins used to join pieces of metal without soldering. They are commonly used in decorative and structural elements of jewellery.
Resin: A liquid substance that hardens into a clear, durable surface, often used to protect or embed small objects in jewellery.
Burnishing Tool: A highly polished, smooth tool used to refine and polish metal surfaces, particularly useful in settings and delicate areas.
Bench Peg: A notched wooden block attached to a jeweller’s workbench, providing a stable surface for filing, sawing, and shaping materials.
Rawhide Mallet: A soft mallet used to shape and form metal without marring or damaging the surface, commonly used when working with softer metals like silver.
Bezel Pusher: A small hand tool used to push the metal bezel over the edge of a stone to securely hold it in place.
Polishing Motor: A rotating machine used to polish and buff metal surfaces, creating a high shine or smooth finish on jewellery pieces.
Engraving Tool: A tool used to cut designs or text into metal surfaces, allowing for detailed, personalised work.
Jeweller’s Saw: A small, fine-toothed saw used for cutting intricate shapes in metal sheets, commonly used in the initial stages of jewellery making.
Tumbling Machine: A device used to polish small jewellery components or stones by rotating them with abrasive material, mimicking the natural tumbling process.
Pin Vice: A small, hand-held tool used to hold and rotate small objects like wire or drill bits, making it easier to work with tiny components.
