Send us Fan Mail

There’s a point in your work where starting from scratch every time just doesn’t make sense anymore.

In this episode, I sit down with Peter Gilroy of Bonny Doon Engineering to talk about how the hydraulic press can shift your process from one-off making into something more repeatable and intentional.

We get into what it actually does beyond cutting discs, how it changes the way metal moves, and why it can open up entirely new possibilities in your designs and production.

This is not about buying more tools. It is about understanding when the right tool becomes a turning point.

We cover:

• What die forming and coining actually mean
• Why press work creates strength, detail, and efficiency you cannot get by hand
• How one die can turn into an entire collection
• The difference between hobby presses and professional systems
• The idea of the “upgrade tax” and how to think long term
• How the press integrates with engraving, stone setting, and more

If you have been wondering whether a hydraulic press makes sense for your work, this conversation will give you a much clearer way to think about it.

You can explore more about Bonny Doon at https://bonnydoontools.com
and see what might actually fit your studio.

If you want to go a little deeper, I share key takeaways and additional teaching from each episode through my email list at https://courtneygrayarts.com
.

And if you have the chance to watch this one on YT, it is worth it. The visuals really help bring these concepts to life.

Support the show

Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer. Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.

💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe!

– Courtney
Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they

need to achieve goals they once thought impossible.

Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at

www.CourtneyGrayArts.com

🤗 Linktree: All the Things

🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers and

...

Send us Fan Mail

Let the Work Lead: Choosing Jewelry Tools Without Wasting Money

Courtney Gray introduces The Jeweler’s View and explains that many jewelers slowly waste thousands on tools they don’t need, often buying out of aspiration or avoidance rather than necessity. She returns “back to the bench” to argue that a basic setup can produce a wide range of work and that progress comes from skill, repetition, and understanding materials—not accumulating equipment. As consistent work develops, it should dictate which tools to add, creating a bench tailored to real workflow instead of speculative purchases that cause clutter and distraction. She shares an example of an indispensable, modified tool (a bent eyeglass screwdriver) to highlight how personal solutions matter most. Before investing, she asks: what problem it solves, how often it occurs, and whether it’s a tool or skill limitation, and encourages learning from community regrets. Ultimately, tools support the maker’s unique eye and instincts.

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast
00:47 Why Tools Drain Money
01:16 Back to the Bench
02:18 Start With the Basics
03:08 Let Work Lead Tools
03:42 Avoid Tool Distraction
04:22 The Bent Screwdriver
05:30 Three Questions to Buy
06:15 Ask the Community
06:44 What Matters Most
07:41 Final Sendoff

Support the show

Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer. Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.

💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe!

– Courtney
Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they

need to achieve goals they once thought impossible.

Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at

www.CourtneyGrayArts.com

🤗 Linktree: All the Things

🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers and

...

Send us Fan Mail

Appraisals, Documentation & Insurance: Protecting Custom Jewelry Before Something Goes Wrong

Courtney Gray introduces The Jeweler’s View and explains why jewelers and clients should prioritize appraisals, documentation, and insurance before a loss occurs. She shares a story of a client who lost a custom sapphire ring in a public restroom, but because it was professionally appraised and added to a homeowner’s policy, the loss became an insurance claim and a rebuild rather than a devastating event. Gray outlines what an appraisal includes (materials, stone details, design features, replacement value) and why appraisals may need updating as markets change. She emphasizes the jeweler’s role in normalizing appraisals and providing bench documentation—photos, records, stone details, and pre-setting documentation—to support insurance, remakes, and client trust. Additional examples include preserving molds for recasting and using CAD files, 3D printing, and digital scans to make custom work reproducible.

00:00 Welcome to the Show
00:51 Why Documentation Matters
01:20 Lost Ring Insurance Win
03:23 What an Appraisal Covers
04:26 Bench Documentation Basics
05:35 Recasting with a Mold
07:01 Modern Digital Records
07:42 Trust and Protection
08:28 Process Checklist and Wrap
09:13 Outro and Next Steps

Support the show

Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer. Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.

💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe!

– Courtney
Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they

need to achieve goals they once thought impossible.

Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at

www.CourtneyGrayArts.com

🤗 Linktree: All the Things

🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers and

...