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PGI, Cooksongold Create 3-D Printed Platinum Pieces
Two U.K.-based designers made the first pieces to be produced using Cooksongold’s new platinum powder and will display them at the upcoming Baselworld show.
PGI chose two designers to create the first 3-D printed platinum jewelry made using Cooksongold’s new platinum powder. Clara Breen’s statement cuff is pictured on the left while Joseph Jackson’s cufflinks are at right.
London--Cooksongold, in collaboration with Platinum Guild International, has unveiled pieces in platinum made using a 3-D printer.
Cooksongold, a global supplier of fabricated precious metals based in the U.K., combined their established Precious M080 printing machine with a new, advanced metal powder, 950Pt/Ru, to make printed platinum jewelry a viable commercial opportunity for the first time, the company said.
The alloy was developed specifically for 3-D printing, ensuring that once designs have been printed, they can be processed, milled and polished as required.
The technology will be “vital in bespoke and low volume jewelry production,” Cooksongold said.
The advantages for manufacturers include that parts can be customized without the need for tools and molds, prototypes can be produced within hours, and the use of powdered metal stock allows for rapid re-use, high yield and minimal scrap, according to the company.
For designers, the technology will allow them the ability to easily create lightweight, hollow and articulated parts without having to change the aesthetic of the design, as complex shapes or transitions between thick and thin sections that would’ve been hard to cast are more easily produced.
PGI chose two U.K.-based designers to create the first pieces to be printed in platinum using the technology. Clara Breen created a bold statement cuff inspired by patterns on an ancient Chinese vase and Joseph Jackson created a pair of cufflinks that were printed in one piece.
The pieces will be showcased at the upcoming Baselworld show, scheduled for March 17 to 24, in the Heimerle + Meule Group booth (Hall 2, Booth G68).
“This technology opens up new frontiers in platinum jewelry designs, just at a time when consumers are increasingly looking for differentiated and highly personal solutions and experiences,” PGI CEO Huw Daniel said.
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