Hand-engraving" for a one-of-a-kind ring
Wedding and engagement rings are the proof of your marriage.
As an option to add a special touch to such an irreplaceable ring, ith offers two types of engraving: machine laser engraving and "hand-engraving," which is the handiwork of a craftsman.
For this interview, we asked Chiaki Sudo, a craftsman working in the ith workshop, to explain in detail the process of hand-engraving.
What is a craftsman's handiwork?
Please tell us a lot about hand-engraving today! Quickly, I heard that it is finished by hand by craftsmen. Is hand-hammered engraving a difficult process?
Sudo: It will be five years in the summer of 2021 since I started working as a craftsman in the ith workshop. I have also had experience in bridal jewelry production before, so I have a total of about seven years of experience as a craftsman.
Practice is essential for me to be able to process not only hand-engraving but also other types of engraving without making mistakes. It took me about a month of daily practice before I could actually hand-engrave a customer's ring.
-Can't you engrave a customer's ring right away?
Sudo: Yes, craftsmen acquire production skills through practice. They repeat the process until their body learns it, and I learned hand-engraving by practicing every day.
Since the engraving is done on a ring that is almost finished, the craftsman must have the skill to withstand the tension, as well as the confidence to do so.
-It's a very pressured process!
Sudo: Of course, concentration is necessary for all the processes, but there is a unique sense of tension.
Can you show us how the work is done?
-How exactly do you do the engraving?
Sudo: The engraving process is similar to the movement of stamps and hanko stamps when compared to everyday movements. It would be easier to imagine if we replace documents with metal rings and stamps with engraving.
The stamp acts like a stamp. As the handles each have the letters "L-O-V-E" on them, each letter can be stamped on the ring by pressing the beak-shaped tip against it.
-It looks like a bird with a long tail.
Sudo: If you compare it to a bird, the head to back part is curved.
This shape allows the engraving to be pressed vertically against the ring.
- I see, because of this shape, it won't hit the ring! By the way, it is surprisingly difficult to press a stamp straight and clean, isn't it?
Sudo: You know what I mean.
Moreover, in the case of engraving, it is necessary to apply force strongly and evenly so that the indentation is firmly placed on the metal. It takes a lot of practice to make sure that the letters are positioned correctly and that the thickness of the lettering is consistent.
-I remembered that sometimes when I stamped a letter, it was bent or grazed, which gave me an idea of the degree of difficulty. Now, could you show us how you actually strike?
Sudo: Yes, first of all, I hold the ring and the engraving.
The engraving is applied to the center of the ring width. Many rings have rounded edges to ensure that they fit comfortably on the finger. Care must be taken so that the engraving is not applied to the rounded area. Flat surfaces are relatively easy to press, but the more rounded the surface, the more difficult it becomes.
Once pressed, apply force so that the depth is even in all areas.
In this way, we engrave the letters.
After all the letters are engraved, remove any burrs (excess metal that has protruded) from the edge of the ring due to the engraving and give it a final polish to complete the process.
What does a craftsman feel is the charm of hand-engraving?
-I often hear people talk about the "warmth of handwork," but I was able to witness that the work is truly done by human hands. From the standpoint of a craftsman, what do you think are the differences between hand-engraving and laser engraving?
Sudo: There are advantages to both. For those who want to have their favorite fonts or handwritten characters transferred, laser engraving would be a good match. If you are looking for a homogeneous finish, hand-engraving is no match for machine engraving using a laser.
The appeal of hand-engraving is the breathing quality of each letter. Although it is only a little, each craftsman has his own way of spacing letters and nuances in the finished product. This is a point that cannot be expressed by a machine.
Since ith is a custom-made workshop, I think it is a good match with hand-engraving.
-Sudo: It's very similar to the difference between printed letters and handwritten letters.
Sudo: It is very close.
And depending on what is engraved, we can sense the mood of the couple who is the client. Laser or hand-hammered, from simple initials only to words of love, it conveys the thought that went into the ring.
Because it is something that is not visible to the public, the couple will probably take extra time to look at it.
-It certainly has a special, secretive feel to it.
Sudo: That's why I want to create a ring that makes the couple feel happy whenever they look at it and say, "I'm glad I made that ring.
The special feeling of a "one-of-a-kind" ring
During the interview, Mr. Sudo showed us the actual process of engraving. It was very impressive to see how he handled the rings and tools with a gentle and careful touch.
Hand-hammered engraving, which gives shape to the customer's special requests, seems to be one of the most special processes for our craftsmen.
If you have a yearning for something special and one-of-a-kind, please take a look at the texture of our hand-hammered engraving.
＞ Click here for more information about ith's custom-made products.
