Bench notes
The casebook
Six things we get asked often enough that we wrote them down. No sales copy in here, just what the instrument does and where it stops.
Bench cleaning notes
What goes in the ultrasonic tank
Cavitation cleans jewelry by imploding microscopic bubbles against metal and stone surfaces. We build our ultrasonic tanks to strip stubborn oils fast, but that same mechanical force destroys fragile, porous, or fractured gems.
Tanks and steamersCleaning guide
Choosing between ultrasonic and steam cleaning
Ultrasonic tanks and steam cleaners serve distinct roles at the bench. Understanding how sound waves and pressurized vapor interact with metal and gemstones ensures you remove stubborn debris without risking shop rework or damaged stones.
Tanks and steamersBench scale calibration
Carat scales and understanding readout resolution
Capacity sets the heaviest load a load cell accepts, while readability defines the smallest division the display reports. Jeweled balances designed for finished mountings will not resolve single melee points, and high-precision diamond balances cannot survive heavy scrap lots.
ScalesMetal testing basics
How electronic gold testers read karat
We design electronic gold testers to evaluate metal conductivity at the surface using specialized probe tips and electrolyte fluid. These benchtop instruments display a karat range for common jewelry alloys but do not replace a full destructive fire assay.
TestersBench testing notes
Diamond or moissanite and tester response
Thermal testers separate diamond from common simulants, but silicon carbide conducts heat at a rate that tricks a thermal probe. We build dual testers that measure both thermal and electrical conductivity so you can distinguish between the two stones at your bench.
TestersLoupes and microscopes
Holding a 10x triplet loupe correctly
A ten-power triplet loupe is the baseline inspection tool across the jewelry trade. Using it effectively requires anchoring the optic to your face and bringing the work into focus rather than hovering in open air.
Loupes