When I initially decided to venture out to further my knowledge on 3D printing in the jewelry industry, I had hoped to do this with the ultimate goal of creating a design file to produce a printed piece of jewelry. Although things did not go exactly according to plan, I was able to learn a ton of new information about 3D printing in the jewelry industry through this process.
One of the things I wanted to find an answer to through this process was to the question, “so what?” with respect to 3D printing and the jewelry industry. I wanted to learn more about what the introduction of 3D printing technology meant for the jewelry industry both from the overall perspective of the industry as a whole and what it meant for the average consumer. Based on my research, the two key elements 3D printing technology brings to the table of the jewelry industry is (1) new designs that only 3D printing makes possible and (2) high customization at prices that only 3D printing makes possible.
Both elements were interesting to further explore but I found the second element to be of more interest. The consumer market in general in recent years has been making a shift towards customization, moving away from mass production. More and more consumers are willing to pay a premium to have products made that are unique and specially made for them. Based on my research, 3D printing technology makes this absolutely possible in the jewelry industry. Some companies are already utilizing this technology to make custom made products available to their customers at prices that are lower than their competitors.
3D printing technology is said to be a disruptive technology as it changes the traditional process of manufacturing. 3D printing is doing this in the jewelry industry by cutting costs in inventory because 3D printing technology allows for fast on-demand production. Also, 3D printing may eventually make the value that consumers see in jewelry change. Currently, consumers pay premiums for brand products. However, if in the future, higher value is placed on unique customized designs more so than the value that a consumer places on a brand, that can mean a complete revolution in the jewelry industry.