3D printing a threat to handcrafted jewellery?

We hear about the advent of 3D printing in jewellery making. It's a welcome change in the world of sparkle and shine. While it has made bulk production easier, even turnaround time has drastically come down. But did this technology pose any threat to the traditional hand-crafted designs? How has it affected the prospects of karigars who create them? These concerns have sent the whole industry in a tizzy.

But there are two sides to the same coin and so does 3D printing. While it looks like a threat to the prevalent set-up, there is a silver lining too. It has created jobs for the new crop of technicians who are trained to man these machines. Even CAD designers have new avenues to explore. Not just replicating designs has become much easier but also time-taken is far lesser now. More and more manufacturers are therefore embracing this technology.

But the ease of production is not just the only reason why manufacturers are warming up to 3D printing. The next generation karigars do not want to carry on the family legacy. Not their mistake. The working condition and meagre pay are not motivating at all. The children of karigars, therefore take up other high paying jobs. In the light of declining number of karigars, this technology is again a boon.

Depite innumerable pluses, there is a quarter of the industry that is not convinced about 3D printing. They see it as a threat to the popularity of the hand-made jewellery. They feel, the machine-made jewels will replace the hand-crafted ones and with that, sideline the existing karigars.

To them, I say, need not worry. The co-existence of hand-made and machine-made segments is not a far cry. Thushi cannot be strung by machines, the beautiful Meenakari designs cannot be achieved without a hand finish and so does the perfection of a Kundan setting. So when it comes to hand-crafted masterpieces, irrespective technological advancement, they are here to stay.

Author: Deepa Mishra

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