Online Articles Archive
March
2008: Modern Heirlooms
By Tina Wojtkielo Snyder
Borrowing inspiration from Edwardian designs to manufacture thin, elegant production pieces.
February
2008: Hello, my name is Palladium
By John Shanahan
Expert puzzle-solving strategies.
January
2008: Dream Makers
By John Shanahan
December
2007: New Edge
By Tina Wojtkielo Snyder
November
2007: Technology Sourcebook 2007
October
2007: Don't Leave Your Profits in the Dust'
By Tina Wojtkielo Snyder
September
2007: Party Time
By Marlene Richey
August
2007: Casting Challenges
By Tina Wojtkielo Snyder
Expert puzzle-solving strategies.
July
2007: Bridal, Revisited
By Suzanne Wade
When casting or fabricating rose gold alloys, follow the experts’
advice to avoid brittleness and achieve beauty in bold color.
June
2007: Bridal, Revisited
By Tina Wojtkielo Snyder
For some modern brides, a traditional diamond engagement ring won’t cut it. Read about three designer
companies that are putting new spins on bridal—creating new designs for the modern bride. Focus: : Marketing, Technical.
May
2007: The Art of Mold Cutting
By Suzanne Wade
There are intricacies to cutting a successful mold that go well beyond cutting the block of rubber into two parts.
Experts share tips that illustrate mold cutting is more of an art than a science. Focus: Technology, Operations.
April
2007: Tool and Die Today
By John Shanahan
Hand milling? Conventional electrical discharge machining (EDM)? Wire EDM? Read
about how to get the right tooling for the job. Focus: Technology, Operations.
March 2007:
Keeping It Real
By John Shanahan
When using CAD/CAM, jewelers must keep an eye on creating designs that are practical
for manufacturing. Focus: Technology, Manufacturing.
February
2007: Culture Shock
By Deborah A. Yonnick
Three designer attempt to capture the essence of an unusual pearl.
January 2007: Strong Suit
By Suzanne Wade
It’s shiny. It’s white. It’s strong. It takes a high polish or a matte finish equally well. And it costs a dollar or two per kilogram, rather than hundreds of dollars per ounce. In the right hands, stainless steel offers a beautiful and appealing alternative to traditional jewelry metals.
2006
MJSA Innovation Awards Gallery
The MJSA Innovation Awards recognize technologies that are making a
difference in the jewelry manufacturing industry today, and will
continue to
do so in the future. The four products highlighted in our December
issue
were chosen to receive Innovation Awards by an independent, international
panel of nine esteemed judges with jewelry industry expertise.
The stories
in this issue explore the inspiration, research, and development
that went
into creating these award-winning products, and their current
applications
in jewelry design, manufacturing, and repair. Highlights from
these stories,
as well as an excerpt from the article honoring MJSA's first
recipient of
the Innovation Award for Lifetime Achievement, Steven Kretchmer,
are
included in our MJSA Innovation Awards Gallery.
November 2006: Technology Sourcebook
The 11th annual Technology Sourcebook features listings of new and updated equipment for jewelry manufacturing and business, tips for improving your Web site, options for financing equipment purchases, and more.
October 2006: Heat of the Moment
By Glen A. Beres
The past year has been particularly noteworthy for high impact trends in the metals market, including volatile precious metal prices, the entrance of palladium as a white metal contender, and the focus on ethical manufacturing practices. Read about what these trends mean for your business.
September 2006: The Strongest Link
By Glen A. Beres
Just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, a chain manufacturer is only as strong as successful as the weakest component of its operation. U.S. chain companies describe their strategies for serving their customers.
August 2006: X-ray Eyes
By Dr. Jorg Fischer-Buhner
Imagine if you could step inside your casting machine and watch the casting process
unfold before your eyes. With computer simulation, you can get a view inside
the flask. This technology offers improved insight into metal flow and turbulence
during mold cavity filling, as well as the cooling process and solidification
of the metal—factors that can influence defect formation.
July 2006: Mine to Market
Compiled by Glen A. Beres and Shawna Kulpa
When metals prices are volatile, manufacturers must ensure they are managing
their metals with scrutiny. Industry experts share key strategies for maintaining
margins.
June 2006: Selling Stories
By John Shanahan and Tina Wojtkielo Snyder
What would your jewelry say if it could talk? Marketing experts stress that the
message manufacturers and designers convey about their work is just as important
as the quality, style, and appeal of the work itself. Learn strategies for crafting
your story and selling it successfully.
May 2006: New Frontiers
By Glen A. Beres and Tina Wojtkielo Snyder
No one likes talking about moving their jewelry manufacturing operation overseas,
but everyone is thinking about it. Read about the challenges and benefits from
manufacturers who have navigated the waters.
April 2006: Technology of Choice II:
A User's guide to investing in CAM options and business software
Compiled by Glen A. Beres, Shawna Kulpa, and Tina Wojtkielo Snyder
One year ago, we debuted our Technology of Choice series with comparisons of CAD software programs and laser welders. The response from you, our readers, was fantastic, and you asked for more.
In this month's issue, you'll find comprehensive charts comparing the features of the most popular CAM options and business software available to the jewelry industry. Online and in print, you'll find perspectives from various users telling why they chose the product they use and how it works for them.
March 2006: Palladium Premieres
By Bill Libby
The use of palladium in fine jewelry is exciting considerable interest in the
trade, with demand poised to grow. Are you ready to work with this new jewelry
metal? This article outlines what every manufacturer needs to know about casting,
machining, and fabricating palladium.
February 2006: A Step Up
By Deborah Yonick
Jewelry designers are recognizing CAD/CAM's potential as a resource that can
bring their designs to a new level of creativity—and distinction. Read how three
designers created pieces that won awards in the CAD/CAM Distinction category
of MJSA's 2005 American Vision Awards design competition.
January
2006: Advanced Placement
By John Shanahan
Stone-in-Place casting has rapidly become one of the best-known
methods for saving time and labor. Learn how recent developments
such as CAD/CAM, new investments, and improved methods are making
the process even more efficient.
December 2005:
Innovation Awards
The December issue recognizes the winners of the second annual
MJSA Journal Innovation Awards. These awards hoonor technologies that
are making a difference in the jewelry manufacturing industry
today, and will continue to do so in the future. The stories
in this issue explore the research and development that went
into creating these award-winning products; their current applications
in jewelry design, manufacturing, and repair; and their potential
for continued improvement and broader impact in the coming years.
October 2005: Go-to Guys
by John Shanahan
Refiners can offer services beyond just melting down and paying
out. They also have many technical solutions that can be tailored
to customers' needs.
September
2005: Beam Me Up
By Gary Dawson
In the spirit of Captain Kirk, Gary Dawson compares the practical
application of three welding systems—a laser welder, the PUK
2, and the Mini Pulse III—and their effects on the jewelry maker's
enterprise.
August
2005: Getting up to Speed
By Steven Adler and Teresa Fryé
CAD/CAM has seen tremendous growth as an accepted technology
in the jewelry industry. There now exist a growing variety of
sophisticated rapid prototype systems to create the 3-D models
for casting—but the relationship between these models and investment
casting outcomes is not understood in the jewelry industry. Through
a qualitative analysis of various RP models, the authors investigate
this relationship.
July
2005: Standard Procedure
By Gregg Todd
There is currently a lack of uniform standards for designating
karat gold solders in the jewelry industry. In this article,
Gregg Todd proposes a system of designation that is based on
a universal temperature scale.
June
2005: Design Alternatives
By Suzanne Wade
For millennia, jewelry has been made of gold and silver, platinum
and gems—materials the market understands and readily accepts.
In this article, Suzanne Wade examines four jewelry artists who
are working in non-traditional materials and expanding the boundaries
of conventional design.
May
2005: Going the White Way
By John Shanahan
With white gold's popularity on the rise and a new grading system
by which to categorize various alloys, manufacturers need to
know all they can about choosing and working with white gold
in all its forms. This article spans the production process,
from selecting the right alloy to casting to fabricating.
April
2005: Technology of Choice
Compiled by Suzanne Wade and John Shanahan
Of the new technologies available in the jewelry industry, two
of the most widespread developments having a tremendous impact
on manufacturers, designers, and retailers are computer-aided
design (CAD) software and laser welders. Read perspectives from
various users telling why they chose the product they use and
how it works for them.
March
2005: Small Business
by Michael Cortie
For once, instead of encouraging you to "think big," we're
going to ask you to think small—really small. In this article,
you'll be introduced to the field of nanotechnology, the science
of controlling materials at the atomic or molecular level, and
it's impact on the jewelry industry.
February
2005: The Heat Is On
by Gary Dawson
Heat treating metals—particularly gold alloys—can improve their
hardness, adding life to your products without adding much time
and expense to your current processes. Don't be surprised if
goldsmith Gary Dawson's enthusiasm gets you all fired up!
January
2005: Set Your Sites
by Suzanne Wade
Whether you're thinking about building your first B-to-B Web
site or adding to your existing one, creating a site that sells
requires much more than flashy graphics. Read about innovative
ways to make your site a B-to-B success.
December
2004: MJSA Journal Innovation Awards
MJSA Journal announces the winners of its first annual MJSA Journal Innovation
Awards, which recognizes technologies that are making a difference
in the jewelry manufacturing industry now, and will continue
to do so in the future.
October
2004: More than Melting Metal
by John Shanahan
How refiners can help you maximize your returns and hedge your
metal against market fluctuations, among other services.
September
2004: Speedy Delivery
by J. Tyler Teague
How rapid-response, low-volume manufacturing can help companies
remain competitive in an international marketplace.
August
2004: Simple Science
by Tino Volpe
How statistically designed experiments can improve casting quality.
July
2004: Breaking Tradition
by Christopher W. Corti
An overview of the methods used to achieve brown, blue, purple,
and black gold alloys.
June
2004: Creative Freedom
by Suzanne Wade
How technology is allowing jewelry designers to create designs
they once would have considered impractical—or even impossible.
May
2004: Hitting the Mark
by John Shanahan
How improvements in laser marking systems are making the technology
indispensable to large manufacturers.
April
2004: Tool Junkies
by Tina Wojtkielo
Renowned jewelers select their favorite bench tools—and
offer a couple of ideas for tools they wish were available.
March
2004: Cut Loose: Wax Carving Basics, Part 2
by Kate Wolf
Techniques and tips for hollowing, piercing, and more. Features
conclusion of step-by-step wax carving demonstration.
February
2004: Cut Loose: Wax Carving Basics, Part I
by Kate Wolf
Techniques and tips for the wax carving process, including layout,
carving and scraping, and repair. Features part one of step-by-step
wax carving demonstration.
January
2004: Under the Microscope
by Julie Nash and Arthur Skuratowicz
How best to use magnification to identify treated gemstones.
