How to Use Stipple Finish in Jewelry Design – With a Video
Stipple Finish, Have You Considered this in Your Design?
As a jewelry designer in California it's fun to play with different finishes to get unique looks in my designs. How can banging away on a piece of jewelry with a pokey little tool get me excited? I just love the result. Let's see if you do too.
Stippling, Kind of Like Painting!
An interesting article by Lee Krumholtz in MJSA describes how he likes to apply a stipple finish. I love how he describes doing it:
"The motion when applying it is almost like painting; I move the steel point in a circular pattern as I try to create a uniform texture."
This finish is fairly durable and doesn't show scratches, making it suitable for rings intended to be worn daily." I couldn't have said it better myself!
In the pendant on the left I had a large recessed surface that I wanted to decorate. I used stipple which goes well with milgrain.
The All Textures, All Sapphires Ring
This Fabulous Multi-Sapphire Ring Shows Off Matte, Stippling, Hammering and Antiquing Finishes
When this wonderful project came to me, I loved not only using stipple finish but adding oxidation, (blackening) to it.
In this view of the ring, you can see that the two areas of stippling occur on larger plain gold surfaces.
Adding stippling to a ring changes its look dramatically, adding art and often a playful vibe.
In case you think I've lost my mind calling these lovely gems sapphires. It turns out that in the sapphire family there are a rainbow of colors available.
Stippling the Video
Here is the video I've done with lots of pictures of custom design jewelry projects I've made using stippling finishes. https://youtu.be/-IRSWv_Wp1A
Is Stippling in Your Future?
Hopefully I've intrigued you to try this fun texture to make an existing piece of jewelry pop or to incorporate it in your next personal statement piece of jewelry you have made.
Stipple Loving Jewelry Designer,
Calla Gold
Stippling is a favorite technique for quilters, too. I use it to give the surface of a quilt a pebbly finish. Looks as good on a quilt as on jewelry.
Hi Christine,
I am honored to have a quilting technique blogger come by and share share that we both use stippling in our crafts.
Christine quilts and writes for http://www.quiltersdiary.com.
Stippling Jeweler Calla Gold
Stipple Finish seems kind of cool, I like it.
I like how Calla Gold Jewelry shares these little details of design. As a photographer I am all about the details and feel that this particular post is different and educational and helpful.
I could see myself incorporating stipple finishing in a future jewelry design. Hmmm I wonder who I’d call about that? HaHa. I’d call Calla!
Mady, at MadPhoto
I love your videos Calla! When I am in doubt as to what you are talking about you provide wonderful photos in your videos to illustrate your point. And then your explanations are simple and easy to grasp.
You have made me aware of what a stipple finish is and why I should care. And now I do care! Great job! 🙂
LJ
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for your great feedback on my stipple finish blog and video!
Stipple-Crazy Jeweler Calla
Hi Calla,
It’s fun to learn about jewelry design details that you use in you custom ring designs. That’s a great video on stipple technique. I feel more like an expert now that I’ve seen it.
Do student jewelers ever contact you that they are reading and learning from your blog?
Sue
Hi Sue,
Glad you are up to speed on the coolness of stipple technique. Good question about student jewelers. I have had a number of students call me or email me. One said she was referred to my blog by her teacher. I was so pleased!
Teacher/Jeweler,
Calla