Halstead Jewelry Articles

Halstead is passionate about supporting small jewelry businesses. Check out our huge archives of helpful articles for makers including technique tutorials, business advice, and connection to resources in our community. Craftsmen and designers alike trust Halstead for supplies and information. Our goal is to help you be successful. Subscribe to keep learning and growing in your profession.

Ayesha Mayadas has advice for jewelers looking to sell their jewelry on consignment, based on her experience as a jeweler and a shop owner.

by Ayesha Mayadas

Consigning Your Jewelry to Retailers:  Taken From Two Points of View

Metalsmith Ayesha Mayadas will give you a few pointers on how to consign your jewelry to retailers, both from a jeweler's perspective and from the shop owner side.

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by Ashley Maldonado

Hiring Your First Jewelry Studio Assistant

Hiring your first jewelry business assistant is a huge step in your business’ growth! It can also make you nervous as you think about inviting someone else into your design process. We talked to jewelers who have been there, either as a new boss or as a studio assistant to give you tips on making this big step successful.

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by Bella Neyman

How to Use Jewelry Exhibition Opportunities to Build Your Business

Being an artist isn’t easy, not only do you need to make work but then you also have to sell it. How do you stand out in the competitive jewelry space? Read Bella Neyman's advice on using jewelry exhibitions as a strategy for getting exposure for your brand.

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by Kelli Vanyek Greene

Jewelry Wire Work Tips from Melissa Muir

Learn wire jewelry frame fabrication tips from one of our preferred studio teachers, Melissa Muir. She shows you step by step how to make this gorgeous wire work cuff using Halstead’s Sterling silver supplies and a beautiful cabochon!

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by Ashley Maldonado

How to Market Your Jewelry on Facebook

Marketing jewelry on Facebook isn’t always an easy task, but with a few tips you’ll be well on your way to success. Updated July 2021.

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by Kelli Vanyek Greene

Wirework Bracelet Making by Brenda Schweder

Brenda Schweder shows how you can use her jewelry making jig tool, Now That's a Jig!, with jewelry wire to make gorgeous wire work bracelet designs.

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by Erica Stice

Setting Up Your Wire Wrapping Jewelry Studio

Ready to wire wrap? Get prepared with this article! We've covered the studio area, gauges of wire, beginner tools and some materials that you can use when wire wrapping.

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by Erica Stice

5 Creative Uses for Jump Rings in Jewelry Making

Play around with jump rings!  I had a fun day playing in the studio with a few extra jump rings I had. Just laying them out on the bench and moving them around  brought up a few ideas. These are quick assembly and soldering pieces that are perfect for beginners.

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by Erica Stice

Top 5 Reasons Silver Solder Doesn't Flow

Solder not flowing? Find out the reasons why. Jewelry soldering can be frustrating at times, but with the right knowledge, you can quickly troubleshoot the problems.

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by Erica Stice

Soldering Gold-Filled: Tips for Success & Troubleshooting

We receive more questions about gold-filled items than any other products here at Halstead. We have addressed many material issues in past articles. But, this piece will focus on how to solder gold-filled jewelry items and the issues that may arise. Soldering gold-filled is tricky and requires knowledge about the material before you attempt it. Briefly, we will also discuss other hot topics dealing with gold-filled items such as sanding, filing, and cleaning.

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by Erica Stice

5 Ways to Elevate your Stamped Jewelry with New Techniques

Hand stamping jewelry is a great way to create a personalized collection. If you add soldering, or any of these techniques, to the mix you'll be able to elevate your collection easily!

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by Ashley Maldonado

Tips For Responding To (And Avoiding) Jewelry Customer Complaints

Nearly every business across all industries has to deal with customer complaints. It’s a natural side effect of being a business owner unfortunately. But knowing how to deal with complaints can make or break your business. We talked to a few jewelry business owners for their best advice on how to handle customer complaints.

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by Erica Stice

Soldering Copper & Brass Metals in the Jewelry Studio

Copper and brass are fun materials to work with in the jewelry studio. They are beautiful in their own right and they are perfect for learning new techniques. But, soldering these metals raises unique issues in design and technical execution. Learn more from our studio coordinator, Erica Stice.

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by Erica Stice

Pattern & Gallery Wire Guide: The 411

Explore pattern wire and gallery wire used in the jewelry studio in this overview guide on essential materials for your design practice.

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by Ashley Maldonado

Halstead's Preferred Studio Schools

We have developed great relationships with jewelry making schools all over the country. They offer a range of 1 day workshops to multi-week classes with experienced instructors.

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by Erica Stice

How to Pick Solder in the Jewelry Studio

If you have a small piece or want a precise join without a lot of solder flowing, learn to pick solder. Pick soldering minimizes solder messes and heat on your jewelry piece to prevent melting disasters. Add this skill to your bench resume today.

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by Erica Stice

Soldering Wire Embellishments to the Surface of your Jewelry Designs

Soldered wire accents allow you to create geometric designs with a line drawing feel. But, soldering thin wires onto sheet metal is a challenge. Our very own Studio Coordinator, Erica Stice, has some tips and a video.

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by Erica Stice

How to Sweat Solder 14kt Gold to Sterling Silver

Use 14kt gold solder ornaments on sterling silver jewelry blanks to create unique mixed metal jewelry pieces. Erica Stice is breaking down the sweat soldering process so you can add this great technique to your jewelry making skills.

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by Erica Stice

Types of Silver Solder Used in Jewelry

Many jewelers remember falling in love with metalsmithing at their first torch soldering experience. That mercurial silver flash when solder starts to flow is magical. But, what is actually happening at that moment? What is the science behind soldering?

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