Gerhard C. Herbst
Exquisite handcrafted jewelry

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© 1984-2024 Gerhard C. Herbst. All rights reserved.

How our Jewelry is Made

 Jewelry-making is an alchemy - a blend of art and technology. The craftsperson applies his skill and expertise to transform basic elements such as silver and gold, into beautiful and lasting works of art. At Gerhard's studio, each piece is created entirely by hand. Working closely with one trained assistant, manufacture is a labor-intensive process whereby each piece undergoes several stages of development. First, a sheet of metal is cut to shape. Next, it is formed utilizing traditional handforging and anticlastic raising techniques.

Initial blank for earring style 608 shown below. Cut from SS/14K Gold sheet.

Forging and anticlastic raising are processes in which hammers are used to shape the metal by simultaneously stretching and compressing the material. Like a sculptor who develops his forms from a block of clay, the accomplished metalsmith skillfully demonstrates the intrinsic plastic quality of metal and generally renders the original shape unrecognizable in the finished form.

Sequential stages of the anticlastic forming process for earring style 608

The images above illustrate some of the various stages of the manufacturing process of earring style 608. Once the forming process is complete, the metalsmith then sands and polishes the piece, resulting in a beautiful piece of jewelry.