by Lea NogueiraBlog: jewellery, techniques and care
Guides and stories from the Ignis atelier bench: filigree, traditional goldsmithing, caring for and repairing your jewellery, and how to start making your own.
Portuguese filigree: what it is, where it comes from and how it's made
Portugal's most iconic jewellery technique explained wire by wire: its origins, the iconic pieces and the bench work behind every jewel.
Read articleThe Viana heart: history, meaning and how it's made
Portugal's most recognisable jewel: where it comes from, what it represents and the filigree work behind every heart.
925 silver, sterling silver and gold plating: what each term means
925 silver, sterling, gold plating, vermeil: a clear guide to what you're buying and how each metal ages.
Portuguese hallmarks: how to read the marks on gold and silver jewellery
The tiny stamps on gold and silver jewellery say a lot. Learn what they guarantee, where to find them and what they mean.
Lost-wax casting: how a jewel goes from wax to metal
One of humanity's oldest techniques, still at the heart of jewellery: the full process and how to prepare a good model.
From sketch to jewel: how an author piece is born
From first idea to final finish: the stages of creating an author jewel, and what happens when you commission a bespoke piece.
How to find your ring size: a practical guide to measuring at home
Three ways to measure your finger at home, the mistakes that throw the size off, and how to get it right when the ring is a surprise.
Can a ring be made bigger or smaller? What a jeweller does (and doesn't)
Stretching, cutting, adding metal: resizing techniques, the rings that need special care and the cases where it's better not to touch.
Broken jewellery: what can be repaired and what to do before you see a jeweller
A guide by type of damage: chains, clasps, earrings, rings, prongs and dented pieces. What can be fixed, what can't and how to keep the piece safe meanwhile.
Turning heirloom gold into a new jewel: options, care and expectations
Rings that no longer fit, broken chains, single earrings: ways to give heirloom jewellery new life and what to know before melting.
Filigree restoration: how an antique piece is brought back
Viana hearts missing infill, dented earrings, pendants coming apart: what happens at the bench when filigree is restored.
Goldsmithing or jewellery making? The differences between the crafts
Goldsmith, jeweller, stone setter, lapidary, chaser: who does what, where the words come from and how the crafts overlap today.
The jeweller's bench: essential tools and what they're for
From the saw frame to the rolling mill: a tour of a jewellery atelier bench and what you need to start working metal at home.
How to start making jewellery: a beginner's guide
Where to start, which technique to learn first, how much to invest and the mistakes every beginner makes. A realistic path into jewellery making.
Giving a jewellery workshop: a gift that's lived and kept
For birthdays, couples, mothers, friends or teams: why a workshop makes a different kind of gift and how the voucher works.
Author jewellery vs mass-produced: what changes in a handmade piece
Processes, price, durability, repair: what sets an author piece apart from mass-produced jewellery, and how to tell them apart.
Jewellery workshop in Lisbon: how it works, step by step
From booking to your finished piece: what to expect from a session at the atelier, what to bring and the most common questions from first-timers.
Forging, repoussé and filigree: three traditional goldsmithing techniques
Hammer, relief and wire: what sets apart the three techniques we use at the atelier, the pieces each one creates, and which to choose first.
A unique thing to do in Lisbon: make your own jewellery
For couples, friends, visitors or a meaningful gift: three hours in a Lisbon atelier and a jewel made with your own hands.
How to clean and care for silver jewellery
Why silver tarnishes, how to keep your jewellery looking new, and when a professional clean is worth it.