Journal

Notes from the bench

Writing about stones, metal and the business of making things by hand. No newsletters disguised as articles.

Buying · 7 min read

The four Cs are the part everyone knows and the least useful half of the page. Here is what we actually look at.

24 August 2026

Craft · 6 min read

Almost all commercial jewellery is cast. We forge instead, which is slower, more expensive, and the reason our settings hold.

10 August 2026

Materials · 8 min read

Four white metals that look similar in a photograph and behave nothing alike on a hand.

27 July 2026

Commissions · 6 min read

An unusually specific breakdown of where the money goes, including the parts most jewellers would rather not itemise.

13 July 2026

Care · 5 min read

Nearly everything you need is washing-up liquid and a soft brush. The rest is knowing what not to do.

29 June 2026

Commissions · 4 min read

Ninety minutes, no sketches to start with, and almost no questions about budget.

15 June 2026

Commissions open

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