1 October 2026
At the bench: how a silver ring takes shape
From a strip of silver to a polished ring — what actually happens during a silver class in Klungkung.
Klungkung has a long metalsmithing heritage, and the bench is still where everything happens.
In a Vishakawa silver class, your ring starts as a small piece of silver. Over a couple of hours, guided by a silversmith, you shape it, form it around a ring mandrel, join it, file it and polish it until it is something you would actually wear.
Shaping
Silver is soft enough to move with hand tools, which is why it suits a first class. You bend it, hammer it and texture it — the marks you leave are part of the design.
Finishing
Most of the time goes into finishing: filing the edges smooth, sanding out tool marks, then polishing until the surface catches the light. It is slow, careful work, and it is what makes a piece feel finished.
Why small variations are normal
Because every piece is shaped by hand, no two come out exactly alike. That is not a defect — it is what handmade looks like.