Burin

Burin is the main tool of an engraver, with which the master cuts lines on metal, creating elegant images and ornaments. It is a steel graver with a wooden handle, and the shape of its tip can vary from flat to V-shaped. Such differences allow achieving various effects—from deep shadow to the finest strokes.

This technique is especially valued in jewelry and medallion art, where precision and expressiveness of the line determine the artistic value of the piece. Engraving made with a burin looks lively: light plays on the cuts, adding volume and dynamics to the image.

Interestingly, 18th-century masters often had their own secrets for sharpening the burin, and a good tool was passed down as part of professional heritage. Today, the technique of hand engraving is experiencing a rebirth among jewelry designers and creators of limited series.