3D Printing in the Jewelry Industry

In recent years, 3D printing technology has made significant strides across many industries, including jewelry. By utilizing 3D printing, jewelry designers and manufacturers can produce intricate designs more quickly and cost-effectively.

One of the most significant advantages of 3D printing in the jewelry industry is the ability to create personalized designs. With traditional methods, specific customer requests are often difficult to realize. However, 3D printing can produce virtually any design that is technically feasible. This is particularly beneficial for small jewelry companies that cannot rely on mass production.

Another benefit of 3D printing in jewelry is the rapid and low-cost production of prototypes. Previously, jewelry designers might have had to wait weeks or even months for a prototype. Now, 3D printing can create a prototype within hours, significantly accelerating the development of new designs.

Furthermore, 3D printing offers the possibility of using a variety of materials for jewelry creation. While gold and silver remain the most popular materials, 3D printing can also utilize other materials such as plastics, synthetics, and even ceramics. This opens up new design possibilities, giving jewelry designers the freedom to unleash their creativity.

Today, many entrepreneurs and designers offer 3D printed jewelry. For example:

Cloud Factory from Estonia. This startup secured millions in funding in October 2022 and focuses on 3D modeling and 3D printing of jewelry. Customers can have jewelry printed in metal or other materials based on sketches.

An example from Austria is the company Boltenstern. This jewelry brand has existed since the 1960s. In 2015, Marie Boltenstern took over the brand from her father and introduced modern technologies, including additive manufacturing. Since then, the company has also launched jewelry pieces made using 3D printing technology.

A few years ago, it was still possible to quickly get an overview of businesses and designers offering 3D printed jewelry, but today, due to the sheer number of products, this is no longer feasible. In our ongoing coverage, we highlight key players in this field.

Here you can find a list of manufacturers producing 3D printers for the jewelry industry.

• Rapidshape (Germany): This German company offers industrial resin printers primarily aimed at the jewelry industry.
• HP (USA): HP has also introduced metal 3D printers using Metal Jet technology. These printers are also suitable for producing rings and pendants.
• Solidscape (USA): Founded in 1994, Solidscape later became part of 3D printing company Stratasys. In 2018, this company focused on 3D printing for jewelry was sold to French 3D printer manufacturer Prodways. However, Solidscape continues to operate as an independent brand.
• 3D Systems (USA): This 3D printing pioneer offers not only printers but also specialized materials for jewelry production. The provided 3D wax printing technology allows for printing casting models. Additionally, there are various methods available for prototyping.
• Formlabs (USA): Formlabs’ resin printing technology also provides an exclusive ecosystem for jewelry manufacturers. Models can be printed for casting. Formlabs also offers specialized materials for this purpose.
• EOS (Germany): This German manufacturer offers industrial metal 3D printers. These printers are also suitable for 3D printing jewelry. EOS has published several case studies on this topic.

Here you can find some service providers that manufacture jewelry using 3D printing technology.

• Cloud Factory (Estonia): This company from Estonia is entirely focused on producing 3D printed jewelry.
• Shapeways (USA): This New York-based company offers a variety of materials for jewelry production. The company also has an office in the Netherlands.
• Sculpteo (France): Sculpteo, part of the chemical company BASF, is headquartered in France. One of its business focuses is the luxury goods industry.