3D printing within the jewellery industry continues to grow and has led to independent ventures no longer tethered to traditional jewel commerce. Most of the growth stems from capable software and a burgeoning customer base taking advantage of customizable options online. Two examples of this new wave in the jewellery market are software engineer turned venture capitalist, Tony Davis with his e-commerce site Jewlr.com, and Graham Dicks, the new man in control of Gemvision’s UK subsidiary, which will now be known as GVUK Design. Gemvision is a computer-aided design and manufacturing specialist.
The software developed by different companies allows customers, from individuals to corporate jewellers, an innovative option for their wants and needs. There are different approaches to integration of 3D printing software, but both Jewlr.com and GVUK Design provide pathways to success in the market. Jewlr.com produces and ships most of its product in Los Angeles with about 10 percent done in a small studio, yet it is the online ability to customize jewellery that fosters customer satisfaction. From size to engravings, customers can use the online interface to make personal adjustments which are then cast in a resin mould and used for the finished product. The entire process can be done in days.
In the computer-aided manufacturing world, proliferation has spurred Gemvision to pass control to Graham Dicks. The new entity, GVUK, will continue to be the sole distributer of Gemvision products such as CounterSketch Studio and Matrix CAD solutions as well as the Revo540CX milling system. GVUK recently gained rights to distribute additional CAD and CAM solutions as well as EnvisionTEC 3D printers.
“Gemvision has 42 authorized partners globally, but Gemvision UK was the only wholly-owned subsidiary,” Dicks told Professional Jeweller. “We faced a choice of expanding the range of Gemvision solutions we sold in the UK, some of which are not even appropriate for this market, or to cut ourselves loose and become an independent distributor that can take on a range of solutions from other suppliers. Gemvision agreed with me that the independent route was the best for both of us,” he added.
The Matrix CAD software ought to remain a mainstay in GVUK due to its use by goldsmiths and jewellers. However, new possibilities stir excitement. With the design by CAD software, GVUK offers two solutions for next step manufacturing. The Revo540CX can take the design from screen to wax model ready for casting, or EnvisionTEC’s Aureus and new Micro 3D printer can create prototypes in casting resin or ceramic for direct casting or masters.
“For jewellery designers, there are huge advantages to using 3D printing and milling in-house. Designers don’t have to send CAD files to outside companies, where they might be at risk of being copied. Plus, they can quickly create samples of each design, which allows them to make adjustments straight away. Designers love this ability to touch and feel their products immediately after they create them on the screen,” Dicks suggests.
It should be no surprise that a market so closely tied to unique designs, from ornate to minimalist, that 3D printing has drastically changed the jewellery manufacturing landscape.
Source: Professional Jeweller
