MJSA Podcast

Master goldsmith, author, professor, and jewelry expert, Charles-Lewton Brain is renowned for his 'printmaking' approach to working with metal, the work is done in separate steps, groups and layers building towards the finished piece. In this episode, Charles shares the tools he considers most essential for achieving a safe and efficient workflow. Sponsored by:  Rio Grande To see the video edition...

Nanz Aalund is a freelance jewelry designer, production consultant, and jewelry apprenticeship educational designer. A renown author and educator, Aalund has also won multiple awards for her jewelry design and goldsmithing. In this episode, Nanz shares her most essential tools and explains how they help her create her award-winning pieces. Sponsored by:  Rio Grande To see the video edition of this...

Christopher Taylor Timberlake's interest in jewelry stems from a childhood fascination with the chemical formulas of gems and minerals. Today, he creates artistic jewelry using recycled metals (including his own handmade alloys) and ethically sourced gemstones he often mines and cuts himself. In this episode, Christopher shares five tools that play critical roles in his shop. Sponsored by:  Rio Gr...

Jeweler and metalsmith Patrick McMillan has spent the past 15 years building his personal business as well as teaching jewelry and metalsmithing. He is currently the director of The Bench, located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, a creative and educational studio offering personalized instruction, tools, and workspaces to aspiring and experienced jewelers. Sponsored by: Rio Grande To see the video edit...

Matthew Tuggle (Tuggle Designs, Denver) utilizes time-honored techniques to create jewelry that exhibits a modern take on traditional design. Tuggle and his wife Lauren are owners of Tuggle Designs in Denver, where they focus on helping clients create emotional connections to their hand-crafted custom pieces. In this episode, Tuggle shares the top tools in his arsenal and explains how they assist...

Kyle Sharos has been in the world of jewelry his entire life, taking over family-owned Olde World Jewelers after his father's retirement in 2020. In this episode, he shares the tools on which he most relies (beyond his eye for quality craftsmanship) to create one-of-a-kind wearable art. Sponsored by:  Rio Grande To see the video edition of this episode and the complete "5 Favorite Tools" series, v...

Jewelry artist Michelle Pajak-Reynolds handcrafts small collections of one-of-a-kind designs featuring unique gemstones, pearls, and ethically sourced precious metals. Sponsored by:  Rio Grande To see the video edition of this episode and the complete "5 Favorite Tools" series, visit:  mjsa.info/5favorites 

Custom jeweler Cady Carlson Dill specializes in working with renewable, ethically sourced materials and updating family heirlooms. Dill relies on a assortment of essential tools that allow her to develop creative solutions to fit her customers' needs. Sponsored by:  Rio Grande To see the video edition of this episode and the complete "5 Favorite Tools" series, visit:  mjsa.info/5favorites 

Best known for his pieces that highlight the vivid contrast between high karat gold and oxidized sterling silver, Denver-based jeweler Alex Boyd also teaches at workshops across the country. Sponsored by:  Rio Grande To see the video edition of this episode and the complete "5 Favorite Tools" series, visit:  mjsa.info/5favorites 

Andrew Bugher is a custom jeweler specializing in creating unique, handcrafted pieces utilizing his expertise in casting, forging and sculpting. Bugher's style combines rugged nature-inspired shapes and textures with more polished and refined details and finishing. Sponsored by:  Rio Grande To see the video edition of this episode and the complete "5 Favorite Tools" series, visit:  mjsa.info/5favo...

A goldsmith and founder of WEND Jewelry in Seattle, Wendy Woldenberg taught high school jewelry/metals for 22 years while making custom jewelry on school breaks. After a two-week backpacking trip around Mount Rainier, everything changed. She founded WEND Jewelry, a rugged fine jewelry brand focused on ethical sourcing and nature-inspired designs. Sponsored by:  Rio Grande To see the video edition...

Melissa Muir is a jewelry artist and teacher who's renowned for her high quality, incisive instructional videos and tool reviews. In this episode, Melissa shares five of her most essential tools and explains the role each plays in making her more efficient and productive at the bench. Sponsored by: Rio Grande To see the video edition of this episode and the complete "5 Favorite Tools" series, visi...

Lee Krombholz , owner of Cincinnati-based Krombholz Jewelers , longtime member of the MJSA board of directors, and vice chair of the MJSA Education Foundation, is a third-generation jeweler who has won multiple awards for his custom designs. Krombholz blends cutting-edge technology with old-world craftsmanship to achieve heirloom quality results. In this episode, Krombholz explains his go-to techn...

Bette Barnett , owner of Studio Migoto , in La Mesa, California, is recognized for her expertise fusing steel with gold utilizing various techniques. In this episode, Bette discusses her transition from a career working in corporate communications to one in jewelry-making, how she discovered her love for working with steel, and her forthcoming book aimed at passing down the techniques she has deve...

David Huycke is an internationally renowned Belgian silversmith, best known for his innovative approach to metalwork, specifically the use of granulation techniques in larger sculptural silverware. In this episode, Huycke discusses his creative process, sources of inspiration, and how he approaches testing and developing new techniques and methods. • Click here for video, show notes, links, and ot...

Christina Miller  is the founder of Christina T. Miller Sustainable Jewelry Consulting, providing strategy, education, and guidance to small and medium-sized companies in the jewelry and fashion industries. In this episode, Miller, shares her insights and tips for building and supporting a sustainable jewelry business. • Click here for video, show notes, links, and other resources. • Learn more ab...

Maarten de Witte  is one of the world's premier diamond cutters and experts, renowned as a craftsman, innovator (he created the American Rose Brilliant Cut), and educator. In this episode, de Witte discusses the lessons he's learned during his 50 years in the trade, his approach to art and creativity, the future of man-made diamonds, and the importance of passing skills to the next generation. • C...

Jewelers tend to be innovators, especially when it comes to altering and creating tools. We spoke with three jewelers— Jeanette Caines , Jayne Redman , and Ronda Coryell —who not only developed their own tools, but successfully brought them to market. In this episode, they share their stories and explain the key factors that inspired their respective journeys from jewels to tools. • Click here for...

Judy Hoch of Marstal Smithy (author of Tumble Finishing for Handmade Jewelry ) discusses the benefits of mass finishing, why it might be right for your shop, and why she considers it the safest most effective way to finish jewelry. • Click here for video, show notes, links, and other resources. • Learn more about MJSA

Bead artist and metalsmith Valerie Hector ( Valerie Hector Designs ) brings a background in anthropology, deep knowledge of Asian bead styles, and a passion for pushing boundaries to her work. In this episode, Hector discusses her creative approach to design and why she's driven to develop new techniques. • Click here for video, show notes, links, and other resources. • Learn more about MJSA

Scott Bradford understands the relationship between good design and a good casting. In this episode, Bradford shares his advice on how jewelry makers and designers can achieve better cast items, especially when working with a contractor. • Click here for video, show notes, links, and other resources. • Learn more about MJSA

While cybercriminals and scammers continue to target jewelry businesses, a recent uptick in brutal robberies and thefts point toward a frightening trend. In this episode, John Kennedy , president of the Jewelers' Security Alliance , shares what jewelers need to know about the recent rise in violent crime and reviews key security procedures that business owners need to take to safeguard their lives...

No official certifications currently exist for responsibly sourced colored stones—so Eric Braunwart , president of Columbia Gem House , created his own system to provide his customers with the origin story of each gem. In this podcast, Braunwart—a longtime leader in responsible practices—tells his own story in selling colored stones, promoting responsibility and sustainability, and advocating for...

The market for lab-grown diamonds continues to grow, prices continue to drop, and growers are working around the clock to meet demand. In this episode, JCK News Director Rob Bates explores what buyers and sellers should consider regarding lab-grown diamonds, including their levels of quality, their value, and the lingering sustainability concerns regarding their production. • Click here for video,...

Breaking or damaging a gemstone is every stone setter's worst nightmare. In this podcast, jeweler  Joel McFadden , a renowned setter and frequent contributor to  MJSA Journal , shares insights and techniques that can keep a gemstone intact and securely set—and a customer happy. • Click here for show notes, links, and other resources. • Learn more about MJSA