The Magic of Annealing in Jewelry Making

If you’ve ever joined one of my silver jewelry workshops in Amsterdam or some of my video's, you’ve probably seen me or the workshoppers heat up the silver until it glows a warm red.

This beautiful moment is called annealing, and it’s one of the most magical steps in the goldsmithing process.

When we shape, bend, or hammer silver during a workshop, the structure of the metal changes. The tiny molecules stretch and line up like little grains of rice, which makes the silver harder and more brittle over time.

That’s when it starts to resist your tools: the metal becomes hard and less easy to bend and shape.

By gently heating the silver, those molecules relax and return to their natural, round shape. This makes the metal soft and bendable again, ready to be formed into your unique handmade silver ring or pendant.

Annealing is like giving the metal a fresh start, and watching the silver slowly cool down after glowing red is always a magical moment in the studio.

Would you like to see this process up close?Join a silver or solid gold jewelry workshop at Atelier May in Amsterdam and experience the art of goldsmithing for yourself. From annealing, shaping, sanding and stone setting, to polishing your own handmade jewellery.

Can't wait to meet you all!

X Marisha