Tools of the Trade: Ring Shank

Ever wonder how we Artisan jewelry designers make our rings so round?? How do we determine the sizing?

I use two secret weapons. OKAY actually these are specialized tools. The first is this ring shank (officially called a mandrel but often referred to as a shank)  The mandrel is made of the finest quality steel. It’s calibrated along one side so I can determine the size of the ring.

The second tool is this Delrin hammer. Delrin is  a thermoplastic material used in precision parts. Since it is non-marring, I hammer away to my heart’s content. This hammer does not leave any marks on the metal, nor does it skew the metal.

Here is the process I use to design rings.

• Cut the metal to size.

• Stamp the back with my Alene branding (and the .925 if the metal is silver).

• Add texture or fuse metal to the shank

• Anneal it (heat it until the metal softens)

• Insert the mandrel into a vise or other holding device to keep it stable

• Form the metal around the mandrel to round it properly.

[tweet_box design=”box_02″ float=”none”] “Jewelry takes people’s minds off our wrinkles” Sonja Henie[/tweet_box]

Here are two of my new designs.  See all ring designs currently for sale here.

Want to know YOUR ring size?

Download the template here.