AuctionsApr 27, 2026
12 Years Later, the ‘Ocean Dream’ Diamond Resurfaces at Christie’sThe largest known fancy vivid blue-green diamond could fetch more than $12 million at its second auction appearance.
OtherApr 09, 2014
Industry vets partner to sell 3D printers
Two longtime industry players have teamed to start a new company called Proto Products that sells products for 3D printing and casting and provides support for the trade.
New York--Two longtime industry players have teamed to start a new company called Proto Products that sells products for 3D printing and casting and provides support for the trade.
J. Tyler Teague, an independent consultant in the jewelry industry and owner of JETT Research, and Jeff Hoover of Jeff Hoover Designs launched the specialized rapid prototyping company, which will be a licensed reseller of Asiga 3D printers, software and related products for 3D printing and casting.
The company also will offer tech support and manufacturing consultation to companies in the jewelry trade.
The Asiga 3D printers print in a variety of UV curable resins, including some that are used for direct manufacture.
Complete startup packages for the products through Proto Products, which includes choice of machine configuration, one-year warranty, support software, and accessories, start at $9,900. The new, larger-format machine complete startup package is $24,990.
Teague said that the Asiga 3D printers offer technological advancements that allow for ease of use, such as the slide and separate system of getting the parts to easily release from the build tray with smaller and fewer support structures. He also noted that the machines can use resin acquired from other sources instead of that which can be purchased from Asiga.
Teague and Hoover have more than 50 years combined experience in design and manufacturing, including using the equipment themselves on a daily basis and taking a product from design to completion, as well as fixing, standardizing and setting up jewelry manufacturing facilities.
Both operate out of small manufacturing labs in the United States. Teagues’ JETT Research/Proto Products Central office is in Fairview, Tenn., and Hoover’s JETT Research/Proto Products East location is in Midlothian, Va. They also have backup contractors in various locations to act as on-call support staff.
Teague said that there are currently no plans to merge the two labs but that the Nashville-area lab will likely expand in the next year or so and will offer some additional training classes and services to a number of industries, including jewelry.
“We understand the downstream consequences of RP implementation and can assist you with starting the design process all the way through casting,” Teague said. “We have personally either owned or operated many types of RP equipment--milling machines, Perfactory, DWS, and SolidScape--and have witnessed firsthand the positives and negatives of these different technologies. We can tell you realistically what
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
you can and cannot expect from your machine.”
The company already has been taking orders and making deliveries, but was waiting until they were sure they could service all customers and the machines were ready before they made the announcement.
The Proto Products website will launch late this spring, but until then, they can be contacted through JETT Research’s website.
The launch of Proto Products is the latest jewelry industry launch in the area of 3D printing. Last month, U.K.-based Cooksongold announced a partnership with consultancy firm A3DM Technologies to bring the 3D printing of precious metals to customers in North America.
RELATED CONTENT: Metal supplier introduces 3D printer for jewelry
The company is making its M 080 direct metal laser sintering machine, along with its associated precious metal powders, available for order, producing jewelry designs in 18-karat yellow and red gold right now, and sterling silver and 18-karat white gold by the end of the year.
More on Other
The Latest
ColumnistsApr 27, 2026
Stop Treating Mother’s Day Like an AfterthoughtEmmanuel Raheb says jewelers need to start marketing early and make it easy for customers to pick a gift for mom.
IndependentsApr 27, 2026
Longnecker Jewelry Celebrates 30 YearsIn honor of the milestone, the Nebraska jeweler has debuted Leslie & Co., its new in-house jewelry brand.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
MajorsApr 27, 2026
JBT Re-Elects Jeff Corey as Board ChairThe trade organization, which held its annual elections earlier this year, also added five new board members.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
Events & AwardsApr 24, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
