Metal Jewelry Stamping

Metal jewelry stamping is the process of hammering a die to make an imprint on a piece of metal. Metal stamping in general has an interesting history, more information about it can be found here.

You may be asking, “what does a finished piece look like?”

Here are some examples.

The best part about metal jewelry stamping is that it is one of the more simple processes of silversmithing, so if you are a beginner, this may be great way to start.

Materials Your Need:

• A stamp (also referred to as a die

• A heavy hammer that is at least 2 pounds in weight. A brass hammer is recommended because it is softer than steel

• Stamping blank (this is your silver piece, which can be whatever shape and size you would like)

• A steel block (I use a 3" x 3” x 1”)

• A permanent marker

• A ruler

• Tape

• Enamel or patina

*some great silversmithing material resources include: Etsy, ImpressArt, Beaducation, Rio Grande, Amazon, Halstead Bead, and FireMountain Gem. I usually find the best stamps on Etsy and Rio Grande.

Steps to Metal Jewelry Stamping:

1. Place your blank on the steel block.

2. Secure the blank with a piece of tape, so it won’t slide around.

3. Use a ruler and permanent marker to identify the proper spacing between the stamping impressions, this way you can get the design centered.

4. Hold the stamp at 90 degrees, between your forefinger and thumb, on the blank. This may be common sense, but make sure that the impression is facing the way you want it to :).

5. Rest the side of your hand on your workspace, and carefully strike the stamp with medium force.

6. Add enamel marker or patina to finish the design and make it stand out.

   ……..and viola! Told you it was easy.

Steps 1-6 are pictured below:

Metal jewelry stamping with the use of a die creates and inward imprint on the metal. If you are interested in how to create and outward imprint, click here. This requires the use of a hydraulic press. A finished piece stamped with a hydraulic press looks like this:

As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out! You can contact me here.