Sunstone Permanent Jewelry Welders

A permanent jewelry welder is a pulse arc welding machine that uses a precise electrical discharge to fuse the ends of a small jump ring together, creating a clasp-free bracelet, anklet, or necklace that sits flush on the skin. Unlike soldering or heat-based methods, pulse arc welding delivers energy in milliseconds — fast enough to close the link cleanly without generating heat that could burn a client. It's the technology that makes permanent jewelry both safe and commercially viable.

For most beginners, the Sunstone Zapp Plus® 2 is the best starting point. It offers a 1–30 Joule digital energy dial with a lockable setting, a 72" stylus with enough reach for anklets, and a wide enough power range to handle every common chain style — all at a price that makes launching a business financially realistic. The Zapp™ is a step below at a lower price point if budget is the primary constraint. Both are purpose-built for permanent jewelry and made in the USA.

The three welders cover three distinct levels. The Zapp™ is the most affordable entry point, with a 3–10 Joule range and a manual dial — solid, safe, and straightforward. The Zapp Plus® 2 expands that to a 1–30 Joule digital dial with a lockable power setting, a longer 72" stylus, and more portability in a 1.9 lb frame — the best balance of capability and price for a growing business. The Orion mPulse® adds Tru-Fire Technology® for fewer misfires, 0.5-Joule precision increments from 1–15 Joules, a touchscreen interface, front-facing ports, and a built-in power supply — the professional standard for high-volume studios.

Most artists invest between $2,400 and $5,000 to get fully set up, depending on the welder and kit they choose. The Sunstone Momentum Kit starts at $2,399 and includes the Zapp™ welder, tools, 21 ft of certified chain, argon, and training — enough to run your first events and see a return. The Dream Kit at $3,199 upgrades to the Zapp Plus® 2 and adds one-on-one mentoring and more inventory. At typical pricing of $60–$90 per bracelet, most artists recover their initial investment within their first handful of events.

Either works, but a starter kit typically saves you 25–30% versus buying the welder, tools, chain, and argon separately — and it removes the guesswork of making sure you have everything you need before your first event. If you already have tools, chain, or argon from another source, buying the welder standalone makes sense. If you're starting from scratch, a kit is almost always the better value.

Yes — when performed with a certified, purpose-built welder like the Sunstone Zapp™, Zapp Plus® 2, or Orion mPulse®, permanent jewelry is safe. All three machines are ETL or CE certified and engineered to prevent the unintentional shocks associated with off-brand welders. Standard safety practice includes placing a leather safety patch between the chain and the client's skin during welding, ensuring proper grounding, and using appropriate eye protection. The energy pulse lasts milliseconds and never comes close to the client's skin.

Yes. You don't need a jewelry or welding background to learn permanent jewelry. The technique is learnable in a matter of hours with practice, and all three Sunstone starter kits include access to Sunstone's PJ University — a 40-lesson professional training program covering welding technique, metals, client safety, pricing, and business operations. The Dream and Legacy kits also include one-on-one mentoring for hands-on guidance during your actual launch.

Sunstone welders work with gold-filled, sterling silver, solid gold, and stainless steel chain in all the most popular permanent jewelry styles — box, cable, curb, paperclip, satellite, figaro, enamel, and more. The Zapp™ handles most fine chain styles within its 3–10 Joule range. The Zapp Plus® 2 and Orion mPulse®, with their 1–30 Joule ranges, cover heavier chain and jump rings in addition to all delicate fine chain work.

No — all three Sunstone welders work without argon. However, welding with argon shielding gas produces noticeably cleaner welds with less oxidation, which is particularly visible on gold-filled and sterling silver chain. The difference shows up in the finish quality and is the kind of detail clients notice and photograph. All Sunstone welders are argon-ready, and the Sunstone Argon Mini is a popular portable option for pop-ups and remote events.

If you're starting from zero, a starter kit is almost always the better choice — not just because of the savings, but because it ensures your welder, tools, chain, argon, and training are all compatible and properly matched. Buying components individually risks gaps (wrong argon regulator, wrong electrode size, insufficient chain quantity) that slow down your launch. If you already have some of the pieces, buying the welder standalone and filling in what's missing is a perfectly reasonable approach.