The enamel technique applied to jewelry, in most cases, is what we call a low-temperature enamel process. Basically, it is a special colored material painted onto the metal surface. This material is usually liquid or oil-like, so some people also call it oil enamel or drip enamel.
After the color is applied, it is fixed through heat curing or UV light, depending on the material and production method. This process allows jewelry makers to add soft color, fine details, and a hand-painted feeling to metal pieces.
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Two Common Ways to "Paint" Enamel onto Jewelry
1. Filling Color Inside Ready-Made Metal Outlines
This is the more common method on the market. First, the metal part is made with clear sections by raised edges or borders through molds. Then the worker mainly needs to apply different colors inside the prepared sections.
This method is easier to control because the design lines are already fixed during production. But in many cases, the result can look a bit too uniform, stiff, or repetitive.
2. Using Enamel More Like Paint
The second method is much more free. Instead of only filling color into prepared shapes, the enamel is used more like paint on a canvas. The maker needs to control the lines, color flow, balance, and details by hand. This way of working feels more natural, expressive, and alive.
But it is also much harder because it depends heavily on the skill, experience, and visual judgment of the maker. It also makes quality control more difficult.
This is why most enamel jewelry on the market uses the first method.
Why We Chose the More Difficult Way
For our brand, design always comes first.
We are not interested in jewelry that looks generic or mass-produced. Our goal is to create pieces that feel unique, thoughtful, and full of character.
The second approach fits our design language much better. It gives our jewelry a more artistic and personal feeling.
From Home Sampling to Working With Skilled Makers
When we first started exploring enamel, we tested and sampled pieces ourselves at home.
Later, as the brand grew, we knew we needed outside support for production. But for us, outsourcing was never only about capacity. It was about finding the right people not only with strong technical skills, but also with a good eye for beauty and detail, who could truly understand our designs.
So we travelled to China and visited multiple workshops and studios in person. Luckily, we found a small group of skilled makers who can share our values and appreciate the artistic side of our brand.
What Makes Our Handpainted Enamel Jewelry Different
- Enamel jewelry is already a niche category, and we apply an even higher-standard approach.
- Our process requires more skill, care, and craftsmanship.
- The result feels more unique, alive, and reliable in quality.
If you are looking for unique enamel jewelry with an artistic, handcrafted feeling, check out eenPorcelain, a brand based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to discover how design and enamel come together in each piece.
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