The Use of Laser Engraving in Custom Jewelry

The seminar will examine the innovative application of laser micro-engraving technology in custom jewelry, and through real-life examples will demonstrate the technology's high precision, personalized design, and craftsmanship advantages. It will help consumers understand how laser technology can be used to create jewelry that meets their emotional and artistic needs.

Why has laser engraving become the darling of the jewelry industry?

If you have been to a jewelry exhibition in the last two years, you may have noticed that many of the wedding rings with intricate patterns or the pendants with secret messages are made using laser micro-engraving technology.This kind of craft does not rely on the "feel" of a master craftsman as traditional carving does, but rather uses a computer to direct a laser beam to paint on the surface of a precious metal with a precision of one-tenth the width of a human hair.The custom-made initials, anniversary dates and fingerprint patterns are all clear.

The actual applications of laser engraving.

The private mark of a wedding gift.

Just last week a bride came in with a design sketch and wanted to have the longitude and latitude of the place where she and her fiance met engraved on the inside of her platinum wedding band.Traditional techniques make it extremely difficult to clearly etch a decimal point on a surface only 0.3 millimeters wide, but the optical fiber laser machine can complete the job in half an hour. Even under a magnifying glass, the italicized numbers are exactly the same as in the design.

Symbols of family tradition are being reworked.

I've seen cases where a person had his great-grandfather's handwritten family precepts engraved on a gold locket.The handwriting of the old man, written 80 years ago, was already yellowed and blurry. We first did a high-definition scan and restoration, then used pulse laser to create a deep and shallow writing effect on the surface of the lock. Finally, we did some aging treatment, so that the finished product had a sense of age, but wouldn ’ t fade.

The details of the light luxury style add points.

The extremely thin bracelets favored by young people today also have their own special features. The surface of 18K gold is carved with a starry sky pattern using ultra-short pulse lasers. When viewed close up, the pattern is a fine scattering of tiny dots that reflect light, while from a distance it looks as if the gold has been worn smooth with age.This kind of "little trick" is particularly popular on social media.

The pitfalls of choosing laser engraving.

Although the technology is very advanced, there are some situations where we have to proceed with caution.For example, the softness of 24 karat gold means that the carving depth cannot exceed 0.2 millimeters or the piece will deform, and the copper content of rose gold will discolor if exposed to high temperatures, so a special wavelength of cold laser must be used.A reliable studio will first do a material test, taking a small piece of the stone to see how it carves before starting the job.

What new tricks will they come up with?

I've heard that some studios in Shenzhen are beginning to experiment with "dynamic microsculpture," which allows the viewer to see a gradual change in a design as a ring is rotated.Another technique involves combining laser engraving and enamel. First, a 0.05-millimeter deep groove is carved, then the enamel is filled in. This is at least three times more delicate than the traditional filigree technique.But these new methods are more expensive, so friends who want to try them are advised to start with small pieces.