The Top 3D Printing Materials That Jewelry Designers Can Use

If you are a jewellery designer, you probably already know about jewelry resins. You would also be familiar with the wide variety of materials that can be used to make beautiful jewellery. Given the advances in science and technology, the sheer variety of materials that can be used to create jewellery is now immense. While there are the traditional materials, there are also newer options on offer these days, including rubber-like, high detail stainless steel, titanium and even aluminium. Picking the right material is half the battle won in creating the most exquisite pieces of jewellery. 

In case you are looking to create some interesting and unique pieces of jewellery, you need to make sure that you understand about the material properly first. By comprehending all the qualities and how they work, you will be able to create better pieces, reduce the chances of wastage and of course, attain higher levels of perfection. 

H2: So, which are the best materials for jewelry making?

Should a list be made of some of the most popular materials for jewellery making, there would be some that would figure in there for sure. Now, the most widespread misperception regarding 3D-printed jewelry is that it is always made from metallic plastic. However, the fact is that 3D printed jewellery can be made with a variety of materials, including precious metals of your choice.

These are the top metals using which you can create intricate and unique jewellery:

• Gold – Easily one of the most popular metals, gold is highly sought after, because it is pretty, durable and can be converted into the most exquisite designs. The purest form of gold is generally not used in jewellery making, as it might not offer strength, which is why it is often mixed with other metals. The purity of gold is measured in karats – 24k being the purest form with 9909% gold. 22k would contain about 91% gold and 9% of other metals, 18k gold would contain 75% gold and so on. You will also be able to find various colours in gold as well and this happens because of the alloys that are mixed with gold. So, rose gold is mixed with copper, white gold with palladium or silver, green gold with zinc or silver and so on. 

  
  

• Silver – Silver is another popular metal that is often used to make jewellery and is popular for its lustrous appearance, affordability, and versatility. The purity levels are generally standard and marked as sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver with other metals, most commonly copper. What makes silver really great is that when it is shined, there is a high sheen and when the same metal is oxidised, it can give the jewellery has an antique look. A lot more affordable as compared to gold, silver is not as durable either, but sterling silver is less prone to scratching or bending compared to pure silver. When you are looking for the best material for jewelry, then silver would be a good bet, as it can be given a polished finish, brushed finish and corundum blasted, which gives a smooth but matt finish. 

  
  

• Brass – Although not a typical metal in jewellery making, brass is a metal alloy that lends well to 3D printing and is becoming popular due to its unique properties and aesthetic appeal. Brass is a combination of copper and zinc and the composition tends to vary based on the characteristics that are required. In general, brass used for jewellery making could contain around 70-80% copper and the remaining zinc. Given that brass is harder than gold or silver, less prone to scratching and denting and a lot more cost effective, it is being used to create intricate and larger pieces of jewelry. It is also in favour of brass that it is highly malleable and can be used to create statement pieces and ethnic jewelry. If you are looking metals or resins for 3d printing, you need to ensure that you are able to create intricate patterns and brass can do that for you! 

  
  

• Bronze – In ancient times, bronze was used to create coins and today, it is still considered important for making medals and awards. However, this alloy of copper and tin is being used to make jewellery as well. typically, bronze contains around 88-95% copper and 5-12% tin, with trace amounts of some other metals, including aluminum or manganese. The darker reddish-brown colour offers a warm, almost earthy note to the jewellery. Being a really durable metal, it is resistant to corrosion, which means that it is easy to wear on a daily basis. One of the reasons why bronze works well in terms with resin printer jewelry is because of its ability to hold intricate details, making it so suitable for jewellery. 

While these are the best metals that you can use for creating intricate and detailed pieces of jewellery, if you are looking to build proper prototypes for large scale jewellery manufacturing, then you might need 3d printing resins and when you need high quality, you need to look only at D3D Resins. This is where you will be able to find professional grade resins, which can be used to create a wide range of prototypes for jewellery manufacturing. Our resins can assure you wax like casting, with ash free burnout and easy printing as well as easy shrinkage!