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3D printed jewelry: Why you should start thinking about it?

Introduction

Can Additive Manufacturing be an asset to your jewelry production? Or, you don’t own a jewelry brand yet, and you would like to start one. Either way, it can be interesting for you to know that 3D-printed jewelry can be a real deal on the market. Why does it stand out? What makes 3D-printed jewelry unique? Which technology is the best suited for printing jewelry? How can you start, and where to look for inspiration? In this article, let’s address all the pros and cons of on-demand jewelry manufacturing and find out!

Top 5 advantages of 3D printing your jewelry

There are many reasons to start producing 3D-printed jewelry. What benefits can Additive Manufacturing bring to your business? What can this technology do that others can’t? Let’s find out!

 

#1 Unimagined freedom of design

metal casting 3d printing

We need to start by saying that 3D printing works only thanks to 3D modeling. Whether you’re a beginner in 3D design or an experienced jewelry designer, you need to use the CAD software that you’re comfortable with to design your 3D-printed jewelry and translate your specifications into a 3D file. Without a 3D model, you can’t produce anything.
Now, let’s delve into the exhilarating world of design freedom that 3D modeling offers. The beauty of this technology is that it allows you to bring any design you can dream of to life, layer by layer. The only limit is your imagination.
Traditional technologies would struggle or even fail to produce complex geometry, great detail, and complex pattern on a small scale, such as earrings or pendants. 3D printing gives you the freedom to design abstract shapes or interlocking structures. It can even allow you to close one object inside another and produce them in parallel. You can also consider integrating features into your 3d model, like clasps or unique assembly features.

 

#2 Don’t worry about the weight

metal casting 3d printing

A common challenge is that those parts will be hanging from your customers ears or wrists, so they need to be light and comfortable to wear. However, if you decide to use additive manufacturing technologies, you can forget about that issue. There are many ways to reduce the weight of your 3D-printed jewelry.

First of all, some materials are already pretty lightweight. Technologies such as SLS or Jet Fusion work with plastic powder, which already makes them much lighter than if you were using traditional manufacturing technologies.

Your 3D printed jewelry can also be filled with lattices. Larger dimension designs such as decorative ornaments, brooches, or necklaces don’t have to be solid inside. An interesting solution to lightweight 3D-printed jewelry is lattice structures.

Finally, an important aspect of creating lightweight 3D-printed jewelry is understanding the process of hollowing. While some 3D printing materials may not allow it, there are plenty of options where hollowing is not only allowed but also advised. To learn more about this technique, consult our comprehensive guide.

 

#3 Reach a new level of quality

You might be one of those people who see 3D printing as a low-quality FDM 3D printer, where the layers are very visible. That’s old news. Professional 3D printing technology brings high-resolution quality for your 3D-printed jewelry to the stage.

With HD technologies like DLP or SLA, Additive Manufacturing can reach a layer thickness of as little as 25 µm,  (0.025 mm). For comparison, the average hair thickness is 100 µm. New production techniques and the right material selection allow you to reach the ultimate accuracy at a low cost.

 

#4 Innovative 3D material

metal casting 3d printing

Metal 3D printing can also be beneficial. You can produce your designs in precious metals such as BrassBronze, or Silver with different plating options. As opposed to direct metal printing (such as selective laser melting), those parts will be printed first with castable resin and then cast in the final precious metal. To learn more about Metal 3D printing and Wax Casting, check out the free ultimate guide.

However, as we mentioned above, you can use plastic for your 3D-printed jewelry. Don’t limit yourself to metals; other innovative materials could match your specifications well. One of our clients used 3D-printed bag ornaments for her collection with plastic technology SLS 3D printing, whose parts were finished in different colors.

It’s also important to note the strength and durability of resins. Both plastic and resin for 3D printing are robust and resistant to scratching, ensuring that your jewelry will stand the test of time. For instance, VeroWhite resin, available in 12 colors, can give you 3D-printed jewelry with a smooth surface thanks to UV curing. Other resins, such as EPU, are flexible and can be recommended for bracelets or watch straps, offering a combination of strength and comfort.

#5 Manufacture 3D printed jewelry molds

If you decide Additive Manufacturing is not the right technology to produce your jewelry, it can still be a great asset to your design process. An interesting application of 3D printing is molds. Your production process can be improved thanks to 3D printing as it can provide you with a perfect master model to later be used for mold making.

Creating molds with the help of 3D printing is quite popular, read more about the advantages coming from 3D printed molds.

How to start producing 3D printed jewelry?

The first step is 3D modeling. It can be easier than you think as there are special software dedicated just for jewelry design. Choose the best one for your project with our top 11 of the best jewelry design software. However, if you would like to start by taking baby steps in the virtual world, check out the easiest 3D modeling software of 2024.

It might so happen that you’re very serious about starting your own jewelry brand and about to start selling your art on your own website. There are numerous benefits of that and to make it easier for you, we prepared 5 easy steps to start a jewelry business.

Get inspired with 3D printed jewelry projects

You can already find pretty impressive 3D printed jewelry projects, such as Nylon 3D printed bracelets, luxury rings, or award-winning flexible clutch with our blog post. But we keep an eye on the latest projects, as there are new brands popping up all the time, and they are truly inspiring.

Nervous System

Collections of rings, bracelets and matching necklaces, Nervous System designs beautiful, nature-inspired structures, which would be impossible to achieve without 3D technologies. They use computer simulations of plants, such as leaf venation, to create those breathtaking designs. Maybe your inspiration for 3D printed jewelry is right next to you? Take a curious look at this brand !

RADIAN

 

On the other hand, those creators mastered the precision of geometry. RADIAN says that ‘’working with 3D printing as production method opens up a new world of shapes and aesthetics. It allows RADIAN to use innovative materials and create unique and artistic statement pieces’’.

Their 3D printed jewelry is minimalistic and one could say simple, but how magnetizing is this simplicity of straight lines. Inspired by graphics and architecture, RADIAN sends a clear message about their mission.

HI Jewellery

HI Jewellery is short for Human Interface Jewelry. Ameria Diggle is the founder of the company, and, as you can guess, User Interface designer. She developed her collection of 3D printed jewelry because as she says ‘’Jewelry is something quite personal. It can reflect your style and personality, or it can be sentimental and hold a lot of meaning. People always have stories about the things they wear”.

And therefore, she wanted to celebrate women working in the tech industry, to give them something special and personalized. She commented on her development that ‘It’s about giving women a symbol, like a badge of honor that says they belong in the tech industry, and there’s something made for them because they work in tech”.

Get fully on board with 3D printing

As you can see, 3D printed jewelry is happening now and there is nothing to stop you from making the most of 3D technologies. Get inspired by 3D printed bracelets and other decorative elements to get the idea of what you can achieve with Additive Manufacturing. Start 3D modeling jewelry with one of the dedicated software and discover absolutely new design freedom and level of details impossible to produce with traditional manufacturing methods.

Once you have your models, don’t worry about investing in expensive 3D printers. You can use an online 3D printing service for production. It is as easy as uploading your file to our website and you will get an instant quote! We can also provide you with any design advice you might need, just contact us.

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