Engraving turns a well made piece into one that is unmistakably yours. Two techniques are offered at the Hatton Garden studio, laser engraving and traditional hand engraving, each with its own character and uses. This guide explains the difference, helps you choose the right one for your piece, and sets out how the work is done.
Laser engraving starts from £30. Hand engraving starts from £85. Laser work takes one to three working days and hand engraving five to ten. Engraving is quoted with your commission.
The two techniques
Laser engraving
A laser removes a thin layer of metal under computer control, giving crisp, uniform lines that follow a digital artwork file exactly. It excels at consistency, fine detail, and surfaces a hand tool cannot reach, such as the inside of a band or the interior of a bangle.
It suits dates, initials, coordinates and most text. Depth is adjustable, so it works on platinum, 18ct gold, silver, titanium and most contemporary metals without distorting a thin band. A light laser inscription can often be polished out later if you ever want to change it. See the laser engraving page for more.
Hand engraving
Hand engraving is one of the oldest crafts in fine jewellery and one of the most demanding. A hardened steel graver is pushed directly through the metal, leaving a softly shimmering line that no machine reproduces. Each cut catches light a little differently, so the surface reads as made by hand.
It allows ornamental flourishes, seal engraving, monograms in period scripts, wriggle-work borders and pictorial cuts that are not possible by laser. Because every stroke is guided by eye and hand, no two hand engraved pieces are identical. See the hand engraving page for the full range.
How to choose
The right technique depends on what is being engraved, where it sits on the piece, and the feeling you are after.
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Choose laser engraving for perfectly consistent text, dates inside a wedding band, small lettering, fingerprints, a handwritten signature, or any inscription on a slim or delicate piece.
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Choose hand engraving for a visible decorative detail on the outside of a ring, a classical monogram, heraldic devices, signet seals, or when the character of handwork matters as much as the words.
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Consider both for a hand cut exterior motif with a personal laser inscription hidden inside.
Typography and lettering
An inscription is only as beautiful as the lettering that carries it. The studio works from a library of scripts refined for jewellery, including:
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Classic serif: timeless lettering, best for dates and initials.
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English roundhand script: flowing copperplate, traditional for romantic inscriptions.
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Italic calligraphy: a softer, slightly more modern script.
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Block capitals: bold, architectural, modern.
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Old English gothic: for heraldic monograms and heirloom lettering.
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Your own handwriting: send a photograph of a handwritten signature or phrase and it is laser engraved faithfully onto the piece.
Symbols, music notation, other scripts (including Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese and Cyrillic) and custom artwork are all possible. Share your reference.
Common uses
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Wedding bands: dates, initials, or a short phrase inside the band, often in a script the couple chose together.
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Engagement rings: a proposal date, a meaningful coordinate, or a first name inside the band.
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Eternity rings: anniversary dates, children's names, or a commemorative message.
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Pendants and lockets: monograms, portraits in miniature, or handwritten notes.
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Signet rings: hand engraved seals, family crests, and initials in Old English.
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Cufflinks: initials, crests, or a motif of your own.
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Heirloom restoration: re-cutting worn or partly lost hand engraving on inherited pieces.
Process and timeline
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Consultation. In person at the studio in The Goldsmiths' Centre, by WhatsApp, or by video call, to look at the piece and settle placement, script and tone.
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Proof. For any wording a digital proof is sent for approval before any cut is made. For hand engraved commissions a pencil transfer is laid on the piece and shown to you for sign off.
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Engraving. Laser engraving usually takes one to three working days. Hand engraving usually takes five to ten, depending on complexity and the engraver's availability.
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Finish and quality check. Every engraved piece is cleaned, lightly polished and photographed before collection or dispatch.
Pricing
Laser engraving starts from £30 for a short inscription. Hand engraving starts from £85 depending on the design, with seal engraving and heraldic work priced individually. Engraving is quoted with your commission. Please ask at consultation.
Ready to engrave?
Book a consultation to discuss your piece. A piece from another jeweller is welcome: bring it, or post it insured, to the studio at Unit 1.02, The Goldsmiths' Centre, 42 Britton Street, London EC1M 5AD.
