Are Stamps Worth the Money?

Jewelry Discussion
1

I am thinking of buying two jewelry stamps – one that is for rings
and one that is flat, to stamp my creations and I am writing to find
out if you all think that they are worth the money? I have already
decided that it is more cost effective to do this than to buy stamped
tags, as I work in many different metals and am really a small
producer at this stage.

Does anyone have any advice on this? My alternative would be to just
not stamp my jewelry. I just wanted a more professional look and it
also would have given me satisfaction to have my name/logo on my
creations.

2

Annabel.

If you are in the USA and you want to stamp your work with quality
stamps you must by law also stamp the work with your registered
trademark or your name. So if you are stamping your work with a
Sterling, 14k, 18k etc. stamp then you must use a name or trademark
stamp.

Jim

James Binnion
@James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts

360-756-6550

3

Y’all might find even more satisfaction in making your own flat
stamp… Not difficult to do.

Find some oil hardening drill rod or square stock at one of the
machine tool suppliers. Water hardening steel will work too. Using
needle files and rotary tools you’d be surprised at what you can do!

The material is cheap, and if you don’t like the way your first,
second, or third attempt looks - it’s no big deal to file or grind it
off and try again. When you get a result you like, go ahead and
harden the steel and temper it. (There are dozens of instructions on
how to this on line, but I’m willing to post it if enough people get
interested)

Test the stamp on a some copper or a piece of scrap silver. If you
like it - great - if you don’t, you can still anneal it and make
another try…

If you intend to bend the shank of the stamp to use it for an inside
ring stamp, I usually do that before I carve or engrave the logo,
symbol, or letter. Also allow for the curve you’ll need inside the
shank by filing it to shape BEFORE you carve the design.

I think that these handmade stamps have much more character and
personality. If your hallmark is going to require a machine made
look, by all means order one made from any of the dozen or so
suppliers that have been mentioned here over the years.

I have several hallmarks that I made many years ago and registered
in Mexico, while I was residing and working there.

My very first hallmark (from 37 years ago) was an “M” in the
undulating shape of a snake. It has a recognizable head and a rattle
on his tail… (Yes, I was working in the Southwest back then - just
outside of Phoenix, Arizona, to be specific.)

Brian P. Marshall
Stockton Jewelry Arts School
Stockton, CA USA
209-477-0550
www.jewelryartschool.com

4

I made my own trademark stamp, but someone showed me how years ago,
plus it is simple. If your stamp is not too elaborate, you only need
one stamp. Get the one for rings, and when you want to stamp flat,
just use it. If you were stamping “18kt”, or a comparable number of
characters, it will stamp just fine. If it is long, just put one end
of the message down, stamp it, and roll it across going “tap, tap,
tap”, and it will stamp just fine. You might want to practice a
little, but it’s easy…

http://www.donivanandmaggiora.com