3D Printing with Silver: Transforming the Jewellery Industry

In recent years, 3D printing has found its way into nearly every industry – from engineering and medicine to art and design. One of the most exciting areas where it is making a strong impact is jewellery making. Traditionally, jewellery was crafted entirely by hand or through casting methods, which allowed for mass production but often limited creativity. With the rise of additive manufacturing, jewellers are now able to produce intricate and unique pieces faster than ever before.

Silver, however, presents a special challenge. Unlike other metals, it reflects laser energy at a high rate and conducts heat very efficiently, which makes it one of the most difficult materials to 3D print. In addition, silver powders are expensive, and the machines capable of printing them directly can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Despite these hurdles, progress is being made and several companies are already successfully producing silver jewellery with advanced printers.

There are different types of 3D printing technologies used in jewellery production. SLA printers, which work with liquid resins, are common in smaller studios because they are affordable and easy to use. They are mainly used to print resin or wax models that later serve as the basis for casting silver jewellery. More advanced systems include SLM (Selective Laser Melting) and DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering), which use powerful lasers to melt fine metal powders, building pieces layer by layer. Another promising technology is Binder Jetting, where a liquid binder fuses silver powder together before it undergoes heat treatment. Each approach has its pros and cons: SLA is accessible and ideal for mold-making, while metal printers like SLM and BJT make it possible to create silver jewellery directly without casting.

The benefits of direct metal printing are significant. Jewellers can design highly complex shapes that would be impossible to achieve by hand or even by casting. The process can also reduce production time when creating individual or small-batch items, making it ideal for designers working on unique or custom orders. On the other hand, traditional casting remains more economical for mass production, and the surface finish of cast jewellery is often superior to that of 3D-printed pieces without extensive post-processing.

In a comparative study, smaller printers such as the MYSINT 100 (SLM) and InnoventX (Binder Jetting) stood out as potential solutions for small and medium-sized jewellery businesses. While the SLM printer offers high precision, the Binder Jetting system is more efficient for printing larger batches. Both, however, still require significant investment and technical expertise.

Across Europe, companies such as Progold in Italy, Cooksongold in the UK, and Cloud Factory in Estonia are already proving that direct silver printing is not only possible but commercially viable. They demonstrate that despite the costs and challenges, this technology opens new opportunities for creative jewellery design and production.

Although silver remains one of the toughest materials to 3D print, the future looks promising. As technology advances and prices come down, direct 3D printing with silver may become more accessible for independent designers and smaller jewellery studios. For now, it represents an exciting frontier – a blend of tradition and innovation that could reshape the jewellery industry in the years to come.

BJT prinitng (InnoventX)

BJT printing results

SLM printing