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Bell and Bird
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Process

 

 

 

OUR PROCESS
The process used to manufacture a jewel contributes significantly to its unique feel and look. Antique jewelry is highly regarded for its craftsmanship, and what often separates it from modern jewelry is the process that was used to create it. We follow these same steps to make our jewels, giving them the same feel as antiques with an updated look. Here is a quick look into our process to create Bell and Bird jewels.
 
All gold alloys are not the same. Commercially available golds have ingredients added to them, such as zinc, to allow for modern production. We blend our gold alloys in-house, allowing us complete control of coloring and hardness without these additions, which change the color and hardness of the metal.
 
Once our metals are blended, bars of metal are made by pouring the molten metal into bars or ingots. By working the metal with forging techniques, the metal is strengthened and shaped.


Ultimately all of our parts are formed using these hardened bars of gold or platinum. This process is laborious but allows us to refine the details of each piece, allowing the most intricate work to remain strong and withstand modern wear. These classic techniques enable the designs to be executed with less metal, emphasizing the stones and reducing the visual weight of the setting. Total control over every millimeter allows the unusual proportions of antique gemstones to be properly framed. Every form is bent to fit the intended wearer.


While computer-aided design (CAD-CAM) and wax casting techniques have found useful applications in the jewelry trade, they cannot achieve the same result as traditional fabrication.
 
Please reach out with any questions about our process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bell and Bird maintains one of the few remaining fabricating workshops in the United States. We do not use shortcuts like computer-aided design or casting. Our jewelers require years of honing their skills to create a jewel from simple raw materials. Our staff have trained with mentors, attended advanced workshops, graduated from collegiate metalsmithing programs, and collectively handled countless antique pieces. We allow our jewelers the opportunity to use all of their existing knowledge and push them to explore new techniques with materials and ideas that stretch their creativity. This rare environment allows a unique space for us to offer unique modern creations with classical craftsmanship.