Japanese-style engraving and Western-style engraving—even when the finish is the same—is there really that much of a difference? You can’t tell just by looking at them, and I’ve never even thought about it. I think most people feel the same way, and there are even some who say it doesn’t really matter either way, right?

Our store specializes in traditional Japanese-style jewelry. Why are we so committed to this style, and why do we create so many original designs—such as rings, pendants, necklaces, and earrings—featuring dragon motifs?

In this post, I’d like to briefly introduce the differences between traditional Japanese tattooing and Western-style tattooing, so if you’re interested, please stick with me.

A typical example of Western-style engraving is the metal engraving found on famous Hawaiian jewelry.

As an example of Western-style engraving

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An 18K gold ring with Western-style engraving.

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SV925 (silver) Western-style engraved pendant.

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SV925 (silver) Western-style engraved bangle.

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Similarly, an SV925 (silver) Western-style engraved bangle.

Western carving involves pushing and cutting, while Japanese (Wabori) chisel carving involves striking and pulling. These are completely opposite techniques.

Japanese chisels are extremely delicate and come in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from thin to thick.

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Here are some of the chisels actually used by craftsmen in their work.

A chisel is a tool used for carving, which is necessary when performing metal engraving.

Chisels come in a variety of shapes—from flat to pointed—and thicknesses. The optimal chisel is selected based on the material being worked and the desired design, and used to create intricate details.

Most craftsmen use chisels that they have modified themselves or made by hand.

Some top-tier metal engravers own more than 100 chisels and can handle them with ease.

One of the most representative chisels is the single-edged chisel. Its blade is angled, allowing you to create brush-like lines, sweeping strokes, curves, and other effects.

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This image shows our original "Dragon God" series, featuring traditional Japanese-style engravings.

Japanese metalworking and traditional Japanese engraving techniques produce a more intricate and delicate finish than Western-style engraving, such as that found in Hawaiian jewelry.

What do you think? I think you'll notice that the engraving is much finer and more delicate than Western-style engraving.

Chisel carving is a technique that was originally used to carve the tsuba (guard) of Japanese swords.

From then on, chisel engravings were applied to areas such as the locks on dressers.

In this way, it has been passed down as a traditional craft and continues to underpin the jewelry industry today.

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These items are also part of our store’s original collection of traditional Japanese-style engraved jewelry.

To create a single piece, it may be necessary to make chisel marks at anywhere from several thousand to several ten thousand locations.

Naturally, some pieces take several months or more to complete. As shown in the image, the chisel work gives the figure striking facial features and a lifelike finish.

The final result can vary greatly depending on the craftsman's skill and artistic sensibility.

Our chisel-carving artisan has over 40 years of experience and specializes particularly in dragon motifs, so I believe you’ll find the finished product—as shown here—to be truly impressive.

What do you think? I hope this has sparked your interest and given you a better understanding of the traditional art of Japanese engraving. By carrying on these traditions and honing their skills over hundreds of years, these artisans continue to support today’s jewelry industry.

I believe you’ll come to appreciate the artisans’ dedication, the preservation of traditional techniques, and perhaps even see these products in a slightly different light—as well as the differences between them and mass-produced items, particularly in terms of price and originality.

We are also currently working on new pieces featuring dragon motifs created using traditional Japanese tattooing techniques, and we will be updating our website with these as they become available. If you're interested, please be sure to check back.

We look forward to receiving your inquiries.

◾️We have artisans who specialize in Western-style engraving, so please feel free to contact us.