Hand Engraving - Getting Personal

Hand engraving is a traditional and specific technique of creating surface decoration in precious metal.  The tools, gravers, are made by the artist from steel which is then anchored in wooden handles.  The steel is shaped and honed at particular angles so that the precious metal can be cut then lifted from the surface.  While good and careful cutting is critical, the layout of design comprises 90% of a successful job.

The differences between hand engraving and machine engraving are important.  Hand engraving cuts deeper into the surface and the groove goes from thin to thick as the graver lays over on it's side while cutting a line; the resulting edge is reflective.  When two or more lines echo each other, the light basically dances over the surface of the piece.  Machine engraving does not have a reflective inner edge because the machine stylus cuts straight down into the metal without lifting out pieces and basically forms a ridge on either side of the cut.  The cuts are more shallow and are not artistic in design.

Older presentation platters and trophies have 'entries' that are hand engraved.  They endure over time because the words/dates do not wear down from handling and polishing.  I have felt honored to cut platters and trophies for more than a couple of years in a row, adding to its history my 'hand' to the pieces.

I am interested in making pieces that are personal using hand engraving.  While I am a traditionalist with this technique, I am exploring ways to loosen up and have some more fun making designs on my jewelry pieces.  I am thinking of commemorative jewelry - of people or pets... Let's see what develops!