How To Get Jewelry Manufactured
Whether you’re a handmade jewelry designer or a seasoned silversmith looking to branch out on their own, getting your jewelry manufactured on a larger scale allows you to reach a wider audience and grow your business. Getting from the point of handcrafting each piece to mass production can seem daunting, but thanks to services offered by companies such as ELF925, outsourcing this task is easier than you might think. Below, we’ve put together a quick guide on getting jewelry manufactured and scaling your business, including what to look for in a manufacturer.
Why mass produce your jewelry?
While an influx of orders is never a bad thing, handmade jewelry crafters often find themselves overwhelmed, especially at busy times of the year such as Christmas. Keeping on top of these orders can be extremely difficult when each component needs cutting, shaping, affixing, and finishing.
Most jewelry makers find they hit a critical limit of orders that they cannot exceed without it impacting their work-life balance and possibly their mental health.
Instead of scaling down production or rejecting wholesale orders, many choose to use the services of a jewelry manufacturing company to allow their designs to be enjoyed by a larger audience.
Outsourcing the fabrication process to a jewel manufacturer gives you ample time to focus on other aspects of your business. This includes experimenting with new designs and seeing how well they are received before arranging for their mass fabrication. It also allows you to focus on marketing and networking efforts, expanding your client list and better establishing your brand.
By using a manufacturer, your creativity is no longer limited by your physical ability to assemble your jewelry.
How does it work?
All manufacturers will have their own unique process, but all ultimately boil down to 4 main steps that can be understood as the following:
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Create and submit your design
Most handmade jewelry designs will be hand drawn and involve a careful eye during production to get things looking right. Creating these on a mass scale, however, requires you to submit your designs so they can be replicated time and time again exactly to your specification.
Ideally, designs should be submitted in digital form as a CAD (computer-aided design) file, but most manufacturers will offer services to produce these from your jewelry itself. This is achieved through scanning technology and computer-aided manufacturing processes.
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Molding, casting, and assembly
With the design digitized, various molds are then made and perfected with a master mold replicating the detail and expression of your original, handmade piece. This master mold can then be used to effectively create an unlimited amount of future molds.
These molds can capture even the most delicate details of your designs, thanks to the skilled workmanship of factory metalsmiths. Silver and other metals are poured in using these molds and allowed to set according to the design.
After casting, the metal components are assembled.
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Finishing stage
With the piece largely assembled, it is then finalized. This involves filing any edges, setting gems and stones, and bringing everything to a high shine with a final polish.
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Shipping
After production, the pieces are shipped to your chosen destination. This could be your own address or a business you have a pre-arrangement with.
Cost and batch size
The cost of mass manufacturing your handmade jewelry depends on the materials used and the production batch size.
Most manufacturers will recommend using high-quality, reputably-sourced precious metals and will be able to explain their own sourcing process. This price of this will largely be the current market value but will sometimes include a sourcing fee.
You will also need to factor in the cost of any gems and stones you want to be included. These may also need cutting and adjusting to fit your design, so this can add some cost to the process.
Manufacturers can produce batches of almost any size, but the biggest profits come from large orders where the cost of mold production (typically $100-$300) and materials can be factored in and offset.
Large batch orders effectively cost less per piece to produce, meaning popular designs can be even more profitable.
Why use ELF925
While there are plenty of local jewelry manufacturers worldwide, Thailand’s ELF925 has established itself as one of the world’s leading jewelry producers.
Crafting jewelry since 1999, here at ELF925, our manufacturing process focuses on quality and capturing the beauty of original designs. We are experts in producing sterling silver pieces with stringent quality-control methodology and compliance with all international safety standards and regulations.
With a state-of-the-art factory and facilities, we can replicate your jewelry exactly. Our process includes the involvement of expert silversmiths who ensure your pieces are produced to an unbeatable standard giving your peace of mind that your customers will be more than happy with their jewelry.
Contact one of our friendly account managers now to find out how to get started and let your jewelry designs reach more people today.