What is riveting in jewellery making?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Riveting in jewellery is a cold-connection technique for joining two or more pieces of metal without using heat or solder. Holes are drilled or punched through each piece, a small wire or tube made from the same or a compatible metal is passed through the holes, and the protruding ends are then hammered and spread flat to lock everything together permanently. The result is a visible, functional join that many jewellers choose to leave exposed as a design detail. Riveting is popular in mixed-metal work, art jewellery and pieces where soldering would damage adjacent materials.
Frequently asked questions
- Why use riveting instead of solder in jewellery?
- Soldering requires heat, which can damage stones, metals with very different melting points, resin, wood or other non-metal elements in the piece. Riveting is a cold join so it works safely with mixed materials and also allows components to pivot slightly if a tube rivet is used.
- What materials can be joined with a rivet?
- Rivets can join metal to metal, metal to leather, metal to wood, metal to acrylic and other combinations that solder cannot handle. The rivet wire itself needs to be soft enough to spread without cracking, so fine silver, copper and fine gold are all common choices.
- Are rivets used in fine jewellery?
- Yes, particularly in contemporary and art jewellery where the industrial aesthetic of visible rivets is part of the design language. Some makers use tiny tube rivets to join hinged sections of cuffs or articulated pieces where an invisible join would not be possible.
Designing a ring
Talk through riveting with us
Tell us what you have in mind, even if it is only a budget and a piece of jewellery type, and we will help you weigh up the options. We reply to every enquiry, usually within one business day.
Contact the studio