We are pleased to officially welcome Matt Tuggle (@tuggledesigns ) as a BUSCH Partner.
From his first jewelry class in high school, Matt Tuggle knew he’d found his calling — and has spent his career proving it at the bench. Matt’s work centers on heirloom-quality custom pieces crafted entirely by hand - no CAD, just traditional fabrication, ornamental hand engraving, and meticulous stone setting. He brings that same hands-on philosophy to life in the Tuggle Designs studio every day, creating jewelry with soul that tells a story because of the human touch behind it. Committed to both learning and teaching, Matt has studied under some of the industry’s finest masters and loves passing that craft on to students and fellow artisans.
Matt has been closely connected to BUSCH for years, especially as a demonstrator at JCK Show in Las Vegas (@jckevents ), where he supported us live at the bench in the last years. We are exited to have him back again this year and cooperate even more closely going forward!
Welcome to the BUSCH family, Matt!
This customizable workholding solution from Matthew Tuggle is an affordable way to hold various sizes and shapes of pieces. Use acetone in a beaker with an ultrasonic cleaner to quickly remove all the glue!
What a great tip—thanks for sharing, Matt!
Matthew is an expert jeweler and stone setter with many additional tips and tricks. If you want to learn more from him, follow @tuggledesigns or check out the TC Schedule link in the bio!
It’s time to celebrate… Happy 40th to the man behind the bench!!! Matt has never been one to seek the spotlight, today I’m shining it on him anyway. 🔦🔦 If you own a piece of ours, have a funny story or memory about Matt, or just want to wish him a happy birthday, please drop a comment below!! 🙏🙏🙏
Matt, everyone lucky enough to be let into your world is genuinely better for it. You are wild and loving, endlessly knowledgeable, fiercely loyal and also silly - just super fun to be around. When you want it, you’re an absolute force, and you’ve inspired me more times than I can count.
17 years in and I’m still in awe - proud doesn’t begin to cover it. I love you more than yesterday, but not as much as I will tomorrow. 😘💗
Help me wish Matt a massive cheers to the next 40 years!!! 🎉🍻🥳👏🎈🎁🙌🪅🎊
Tuggle Tool Time!
New tool alert: the DiproMini filer for your NSK micromotor.
This micro filer hooks right up to your existing NSK and gives you serious control in tight, hard-to-reach areas.
I’ve been reaching for it a ton-especially for cleaning up bezel tops, refining fancy flush settings, and dialing in gallery work (even on platinum).
Honestly, it keeps earning a spot on my bench. One of those tools you don’t think you need... until you use it.
What do you think-something you’d add to your setup? Drop a comment below and let me know 👇
Ordinary wasn’t an option…
Her husband surprised her with a 6.38ct emerald-cut lab diamond, and we knew a standard solitaire wasn’t going to cut it!
So we went wide.
Hand-fabricated platinum.
Crispy milgrain edges.
Black rhodium bright cuts for that signature contrast we love so much. ✨
Heavy, intentional, and built to last.
We love that this one carries presence.
What do you think - would you go this bold? Let us know 👇
If you’ve got a custom project in mind, shoot us a DM and let’s start designing something that’s anything but ordinary. 🔥
Our client came to us with a pair of earrings featuring these big, briolette rose quartz drops. She hated the earrings, but loved that soft pink and wanted something bold…
We had a pair of killer modified kite fantasy cut rhodolite garnets custom cut by @kosnargemco , and fabricated 14k yellow gold caps for incredible 360° of bold sparkle, with graduating rows of brilliant cut diamonds.
What do you think, did we understand the assignment?!
POV: You were told platinum would last forever... but your ring didn’t even make it a few years.
This client came to us with a cast platinum ring that had completely worn down after only a short time of daily wear. Prongs thinning, edges soft, structure compromised.
So, we did what we do!
We carefully removed every diamond, melted down the original platinum, and started over. This time? Hand forged, built with intention, and meant to last.
Same stones. Same metal. Completely different outcome. Craftsmanship matters!
If you have old jewelry sitting in a drawer that didn’t hold up the way it should have, let’s talk about it!
#HandFabricated #BenchBuilt #PlatinumJewelry #HeirloomQuality #CustomJeweler BuiltToLast
We’ve been pretty quiet over here… but don’t mistake that for slow. Between long days in the studio and raising two wild little boys, sharing via social media has definitely taken a backseat. But trust us - we’ve been cranking them out!! Like this wedding ring remake for a local client who came to us with her diamond and one request - a chunky band. That was it.
So we dug deeper, and it didn’t take long for Lauren to uncover what really brings her joy to look at - the view from her back porch. The Colorado mountains, a reminder of home and what makes her feel alive! 🏔️
So, we recreated her view in abstract form, starting with that chunky 12mm wide band. Each layer of the ring represents the mountain peaks she takes in daily, with her bezel set diamond rising in the center. Each layer has its own distinct texture, with high polished ridges for contrast and separation.
Bold. Dimensional. Personal.
This is what custom should feel like… not just a ring, but a story you wear! 🥰
What do you think - would you wear your happy place?!
POV: Your first time making a piece of jewelry with a stone you cut yourself.
This started as rough and emerged as a 0.84ct steely blue spinel that I concave cut in a free-form shape right here in our Evergreen studio. Before I even had a design in mind, the stone was claimed!
My client gave some direction with creative freedom, so I fabricated a 14k yellow gold pendant with a diamond halo and radiating hand engraved bright cut rays to make that blue absolutely explode!
There is something special creating a piece around a stone you faceted yourself…The connection hits different.
Should I keep incorporating stones I cut into future designs? Drop a comment below and let me know 👇
What happens when the guy who fabricates the jewelry starts cutting the stones too? 👀🔥
Matt has been diving into lapidary work, and this is his latest — a 1.22ct umbalite garnet, cut from rough right here in our shop.
No setting yet. No design on the bench. Just a freshly cut stone with a whole lot of potential.
There’s something powerful about starting at the very beginning — shaping the stone first, then building the piece around it.
That rich raspberry tone is unreal.
So now we need your input 👇
Should this become a bold ring?
A pendant?
Or something completely unexpected?
Drop your vote in the comments and help us decide what this garnet becomes.
And if you already know this one needs to be yours, send us a DM. We’d love to design something completely custom around it — just for you.
Follow along as we take this from rough to finished heirloom.
Messy bench? That’s costing you time.⏰=💵
Nothing slows productivity like hunting for tools mid-project. Organization isn’t aesthetic — it’s efficiency.
I’ve got @storotools organizers all over my shop and they’ve completely changed my workflow.
My go-to lineup:
• FAB tower
• Graver Tower Max
• Graver Turret
• Storo Spacer (perfect quick-change holder for whatever I’m working on)
Clean bench. Faster workflow. Better focus.
Drop a comment below with which organizer you’d want on your bench - or if you have a favorite one let everyone know with that comment!
Want a discount code?
DM me “Storo Tools” and I’ll send it over.
