Jewelry at the studio begins as an ingot (a block of gold), that is forged and cold rolled into sheet from which goldsmiths sculpt, form, and weld into a work of art. This process is called hand fabrication. Jewelry made in this way significantly increases the hardness and tensile strength over cast jewelry that make up most of the market.
The benefits are real. Harder metals offer better resistance to everyday dings and scratches. Their greater tensile strength allows rings to hold their shape since forged metal is more difficult to displace; an essential quality for securing gemstones in their settings.