What is a Ring Mandrel? Which One Should I Buy?

Mandrels are cylindrical tools used to round out wire and metal. Mandrels can be made of wood or aluminum and steel.

Home Learning Center Jewelry and LapidaryWhat is a Ring Mandrel? Which One Should I Buy?

By Megan Coward, Graduate Jeweler Gemologist, GIA, Graduate Gemologist, updated on January 18, 2023

Mandrels are cylindrical tools used to round out wire and metal. Mandrels can be made of wood or aluminum and steel and come in a variety of lengths and widths.

A ring mandrel can have grooved ring sizes marked on it to assist with sizing rings. Gesswein has extremely well-made, marked mandrels.
An unmarked ring mandrel is a good choice if you want the mandrel to assist with shaping wires for earrings or bending metal for rings. Keep the marked mandrel simply for sizing rings. Amazon has a nice collection of marked and unmarked ring mandrels.

By Megan Coward, Graduate Jeweler Gemologist, GIA, Graduate Gemologist, updated on January 18, 2023

Mandrels are cylindrical tools used to round out wire and metal. Mandrels can be made of wood or aluminum and steel and come in a variety of lengths and widths.

A ring mandrel can have grooved ring sizes marked on it to assist with sizing rings. Gesswein has extremely well-made, marked mandrels.
An unmarked ring mandrel is a good choice if you want the mandrel to assist with shaping wires for earrings or bending metal for rings. Keep the marked mandrel simply for sizing rings. Amazon has a nice collection of marked and unmarked ring mandrels.

A bracelet mandrel is shorter and usually oval-shaped to assist with the shaping of bracelets. Amazon and Gesswein have oval-shaped bracelet mandrels on their website.

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By Megan Coward, Graduate Jeweler Gemologist, GIA, Graduate Gemologist, updated on January 18, 2023

Mandrels are cylindrical tools used to round out wire and metal. Mandrels can be made of wood or aluminum and steel and come in a variety of lengths and widths.

A ring mandrel can have grooved ring sizes marked on it to assist with sizing rings. Gesswein has extremely well-made, marked mandrels.
An unmarked ring mandrel is a good choice if you want the mandrel to assist with shaping wires for earrings or bending metal for rings. Keep the marked mandrel simply for sizing rings. Amazon has a nice collection of marked and unmarked ring mandrels.

Unmarked Ring Mandrel

A bracelet mandrel is shorter and usually oval-shaped to assist with the shaping of bracelets. Amazon and Gesswein have oval-shaped bracelet mandrels on their website.