Design Specification Standard
When communicating your designs to us it’s best if you detail your styles with the following design elements and attributes. Obviously if you supply us with samples some of the specs are not necessary to state but even if you submit a sample you may want what to be produced to be somehow different than the sample in which case you must accurately specify a detailed set of appropriate specs:
Dimensions
If we are only supplied with a photo or a drawing of course dimensions are imperative. Thickness can be expressed in B&S gauge, millimeters, or inches. For example 20 gauge is equal to .813 millimeters or .032 inches. Please refer to kitco.com for gauge conversion charts and other interesting information on jewelry metals (scroll down the page, you’ll find it).
Weight
Again, if a sample is not supplied the, weight of the piece should be indicated since when using silver and gold the weight is a large determinate as to how much the cost will be. Weight should be in terms of grams. If a style has a stone in it it is best to weigh it without the stone since stones can vary in weight. Even stone of the same kind and size (width and length) since they can have a different density and height.
Color
If you are not supplying the stone for stone settings then you must be explicit as to which stone you want and also the particular color, grade, matrix, size, cut, degree of translucence, iridescence, etc. desired.
Finish
Specify the type of finish you want. For silver there is mirror finish, antiqued (with high area buffed), or matte. If you have another type of finished that you require then you must request it and possibly provide technical details if you prefer a particular process.
Earring Posts
For some of our manufacturing we use sterling silver posts imported from the U.S. These are about 1 cm long with a very minimal pad but large enough to provide a good surface to solder to the earring. If you require a different length then you must inform us.
Ear-wires
There are many different ear-wire types and configurations. There is basically two ways an ear-wire is attached to the earring. The first is by soldering, producing a fixed ear-wire. There other way is a dangle with the earring being attached to the ear-wire with a loop. There are basically two configuration of a fixed ear-wire. One is with a catch and the other without.
Ear-wires also come with a variety of beads and coils. Some are hammered while others are not. hammering adds strength to silver ear-wires in addition to adding a design element.
Bezels
There are 5 basic types of bezels:
- regular,
- pop in casted bezel,
- prong setting,
- Partial bezel, and
- high wrap over bezel.