A recent research reveals 3D printed jewelry Industry will grow up to $2.51 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 22.14%.
The jewelry industry has always symbolized newness as its foundation is creativity. Innovation is a must here, whether it’s a stunning new design or a trending new technology . The increasing popularity of 3D printing in the gem and jewelry industry today is a game-changer. Designers and jewelers are excited about this new technology yet also hesitant to embrace it, no need to mention its potential future . Here is an exciting insight into how 3D printing has become a synonym for revolution in the sector
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How is 3D Printing Shaping the Jewellery Industry?
From the data above in the subheading, one thing is clear, 3D printing in the jewellery sector will not die down and will only progress manifold. Out of the total $320 billion jewellery industry, it has a small but speedily growing share of $13 billion today, which hints the acceptance of 3D printing. For several reasons, the companies in this sector want to try their hands with 3D printed jewellery designs. The technology is known to createhighly customized patterns in less time.
Despite an increase in the use of 3D technology in the industry, specific concerns are always there. One considerable argument is that the 3D printing wax is always more expensive than the wax of traditional moulds. Maybe not the big brands, but the small-scale jewellery business owners are concerned about the cost factor. However, some technological enhancements may offer affordable options in the future.
High competition always makes jewellery companies looking to attract more buyers to go for unconventional options. 3D printed designs sound like a great idea to some companies as they provide immediate benefits .
Brands like Endswell, Skraep, Rapidshape, and Ross Lovegrove already use 3D printing technology. The changed buying patterns and choices of customers made the businesses rethink their products as well as a business strategy. Take the example of Ross Lovegrove, which offers nature-inspired designs because today, human civilization talks more about the environment and environment-friendliness.
People don’t see jewellery exclusively as an asset; they have emotional connections with it as well. It will not be an exaggeration to say that their ornaments express their ideology. Endwell, a famous brand, creates designs for working women between 25 and 35, and they are inspired by urban life. Endwell’s designs are modern, handy, and trendy, especially for salaried women.
Such trends keep changing, and 3D technology helps the brand customize the jewellery in time as short as three weeks.
Advantages and Limitations of 3D Printing in Jewellery
Every change has pros and cons, and the world embraces it with both. Just like the traditional design has its plus and minus factors, 3D printed jewelry has its benefits and disadvantages. The business owners in the industry keep a sharp eye on both because the helps make them better decisions. If they apply a new tech in their business, they also need to know about its challenges and benefits. On the other hand, if they want to stay with the conventional designing procedures, they need to understand what stands as a roadblock.
Let’s look at the two sides of the coin:the advantages and disadvantages of 3D jewellery designing.
Benefits
Bands that are actively trying to innovate jewellery designs . To present something innovative to the buyers, many jewellers are ready to try a new way of creating patterns. Only time will tell how widely it will gain popularity. Currently, the global market is excited about the following qualities of this new design application.
Extreme possibilities of customization
Customers today have higher expectations, and they have creative demands. They want to break norms and not depend on designers anymore. With individualistic patterns, they come to get their designs crafted in the actual jewellery form. 3D printing technology gives the liberty to make the designs desired by the customers by leveraging digital 3D files.
Simpler and faster prototyping
Indeed the traditional ways of designing jewellery have been more popular for centuries. But today, when customers want faster results in every product, the time-saving feature of 3D printed jewellery is undeniably important. 3D printers today can create a perfect blueprint of a trendy motif. It decreases the overall market time, which benefits jewellers and jewellery lovers.
Impressive detailing
Designing jewellery demands minute attention to details and geometrical accuracy, which can be difficult or impossible to check using traditional ways. With 3D printed results, stunning detailing can be achieved. Also, the quality is unaffected due to the absence of human error. A machine never goes wrong because it is programmed on specific parameters to create perfect results.
Limitations
Despite its increasing acceptance, 3D printing in jewellery design has its shortcomings. Many factors make the business owners doubt the capacity of this new technology, and they hesitate to accept it completely. Let’s look at some of the disadvantages of 3D printed designs.
More energy consumption
Businesses always have to reduce their expenses and overall production cost. According to research, the 3D design procedure consumes 50% to 100% more energy than traditional methods. Yes, 3D printing technology has its strengths, but its shortcoming of being expensive cannot be avoided. This method is not considered budget-friendly for mass production, and only small-scale production is possible due to higher costs.
Limited choice of material
The use of high temperature is a part of the process in 3D designing; the designers cannot use all metals and plastics. Not all materials can bear a hike in the heat level. Gold, brass, sterling silver, and bronze can be used for 3D printed jewellery design. Besides these four materials, other metals are sparsely used for this designing method. However, the industry is working on other materials viable options, but the process and experiments will take time. By that time, most companies will be more inclined to use traditional ways due to the increased costs of 3D designs.
Copyright infringement is a considerable issue
Anyone with a blueprint of a product can easily copy a jeweller’s design, which negatively affects healthy competition. It can be difficult for the copyright holders to protect their rights because identification of the fake imitation of a pattern is difficult. The commercial entities with creative ideas may feel defeated against this threat. Moreover, it is unsuitable for customers who may miss buying the product from the original creator.
Every change takes time to take shape, and 3D printing in technology may be walking slowly today, but it is making its place. New ways of production are always in demand in every industry, as customers today have higher expectations. It is perhaps time to try novelty and alter the practices of jewellery making. Traditional will have their timeless importance if they make space for innovative and next-generation methods created to support progress, doesn’t it seem so?