What Studebaker Metals does

Studebaker Metals is a Pittsburgh-based, privately held maker of hand-forged metal jewelry and lifestyle accessories founded in 2013 by Michael Studebaker and Alyssa Catalano. The company produces cuffs, bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings, keyholders, wallets, and barware in brass, copper, stainless steel, sterling silver, and 10K/14K solid gold, alongside a metalsmithing education program called Studebaker University. All products are made-to-order by hand in a workshop and retail storefront at 3101 Smallman Street in Pittsburgh's historic Strip District, housed in a 1903 former Crucible Steel "Park Works" plant, using die-striking and traditional forging techniques with tools spanning three centuries.

The underlying technology stack is deliberately low-tech: hand-forging, rolling mills, presses, and die-striking rather than automated manufacturing. The company's IP is concentrated in craft process, brand storytelling, and location-based authenticity rather than in software, patents, or proprietary tooling. Production is constrained by manual labor — typical lead times are 5-7 business days, with some orders extending to two weeks — which caps unit volume but supports premium pricing.

Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) direct product sales via the studebakermetals.com Shopify storefront and the physical Strip District retail location, (2) wholesale distribution through the Faire marketplace to independent stockists, and (3) paid metalsmithing workshops and private instruction through Studebaker University, priced from $250 to $1,200 per participant. Free shipping is offered on orders above $250, and international shipping is available via FedEx. The company markets through Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and an email newsletter, and serves individual consumers, gift buyers, workshop participants, and wholesale stockists. No external funding has been disclosed; the business is bootstrapped and founder-owned with a team of six.

Name

Studebaker Metals

Legal name

Studebaker Metals

Website

https://studebakermetals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Studebaker Metals is a privately held, bootstrapped Pittsburgh workshop founded in 2013 that designs and hand-forges metal cuffs, bracelets, rings, barware, and accessories sold direct-to-consumer online, through a Strip District storefront, wholesale via Faire, and via its Studebaker University metalsmithing workshops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handcrafted Jewelry & Metal Accessories

NAICS

Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (33991)

SIC

Jewelry, Precious Metal (3911)

akta.pro primary industry

Fine Jewelry Manufacturing (Precious Metals & Gem-Set) (CRAKAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Precious Metal Jewelry (Gold/Platinum/Silver) (CRAKAAAD), Artisan/Hand-Fabricated One-of-a-Kind Jewelry (CRAKAHAI), Children’s & Men’s Jewelry Manufacturing (CRAKAIAN), Ornamental Ironwork & Artistic Metalwork Training (EDAOADAO)

Keywords

• Hand-forged jewelry
• Artisan metal accessories
• Metalsmithing workshops
• Handcrafted cuffs bracelets
• Made-to-order jewelry

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sales of hand-forged metal goods including cuffs, bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings, wallets, keyholders, barware, and accessories through e-commerce and retail storefront. Products available in brass, copper, stainless steel, sterling silver, and solid gold.
2. Metalsmithing Workshops: Educational workshops including Forging 101: Cuffs ($250), Fabricated Rings ($350), Forge Your Own Forever wedding band course ($1,200), and Independent Study private instruction ($200/hour).
3. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale sales to stockists through Faire marketplace, allowing independent retailers to carry hand-forged wearables and accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Studebaker Metals designs and hand-forges artisan metal jewelry and lifestyle goods in its Pittsburgh workshop, including cuffs, bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings, bifold wallets, keyholders, and barware in brass, copper, stainless steel, sterling silver, and solid gold. Each piece is made to order using traditional hand-forging and die-striking techniques. The company also runs Studebaker University, offering paid metalsmithing workshops (Forging 101: Cuffs, Fabricated Rings, Forge Your Own Forever wedding band course, and Independent Study private instruction).

Product overview

Studebaker Metals is a Pittsburgh-based hand-forged metal jewelry and lifestyle products company founded in 2013. The company operates as a unified product portfolio built around handcrafted metal goods, primarily offering cuffs and bracelets (in Brass, Copper, Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel, and Solid Gold), rings, earrings, necklaces, and accessories (wallets, keyholders, keychains, tie bars, collar pins). A complementary Barware collection features hand-forged cocktail tools. The company also operates Studebaker University, offering metalsmithing education workshops including Forging 101: Cuffs, Fabricated Rings, and Forge Your Own Forever wedding band workshops. Products are made to order by hand in their Strip District workshop, with customization options including sizes, materials, finishes (Work Patina, Polished, Brushed), and weight variations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Studebaker Gold: Premium solid gold collection featuring cuffs, rings, earrings, and jewelry pieces in 10K gold with yellow and rose gold options.
• Studebaker Stainless
• Studebaker University

Products and services

• Workshop Cuff Hand-forged metal cuff bracelet available in Brass, Copper, and Stainless Steel with multiple finish options (Work Patina, Polished) and weight variations (Lightweight, Standard, Heavyweight), from $78.
• Classic Cuff Classic hand-forged cuff bracelet in Brass, Copper, and Stainless Steel with Work Patina, Polished, and Brushed finish options, from $78.
• Studebaker Cuff Brand-signature hand-forged cuff bracelet available in Brass, Copper, and Stainless Steel, from $78.
• Champion Cuff Hand-forged cuff bracelet with distinctive design in Brass and Copper with Brushed and Polished finishes, from $78.
• Signature Chain Bracelet Hand-forged chain bracelet in Brass and Copper with Work Patina and Polished finishes, priced at $128.
• Signet Ring Classic hand-forged signet ring available in Brass ($108) and Sterling Silver ($358) with Work Patina and Polished finishes.
• Studebaker Gold Collection Premium jewelry collection in Solid Gold (10K and 14K) including Yellow Gold and Rose Gold options for cuffs, rings, earrings, and necklaces, with prices from $1,118 (Avanti Ring) to $22,358 (Heavyweight cuffs).
• Studebaker Stainless Steel Collection Durable stainless steel jewelry collection featuring cuffs and accessories with corrosion-resistant properties.
• Studebaker Bifold Wallet Hand-finished bifold wallet in leather with brass hardware, available in Green and Brown, priced at $148.
• Workshop Keyholder Hand-forged metal keyholder available in Brass, Sterling Silver, and Stainless Steel with Work Patina and Polished finishes, starting from $68.
• Barware Collection Hand-forged bar accessories including Cocktail Spoon ($198), Cocktail Picks Set of 5 ($298), Bottle Opener ($218), and Cocktail Strainer ($298).
• Studebaker University Workshops Educational metalsmithing workshops including Forging 101: Cuffs ($250/person), Fabricated Rings ($350/person), Forge Your Own Forever wedding band workshop ($1,200/couple), and Independent Study private instruction ($200/hour).
• Independent Study Private metalsmithing instruction with full workshop access, priced at $200/hour with options for one or two people and 2-3 hour sessions.
• Forging 101: Cuffs Introductory direct forging class for non-ferrous metals where participants create a cuff bracelet. Includes materials (Brass and Copper) and torches, priced at $250 per person.
• Fabricated Rings Ring-making workshop using rolling mills and hand tools to create fabricated band rings from Sterling Silver wire, priced at $350 including materials.
• Forge Your Own Forever Comprehensive wedding band workshop covering melting, pouring, milling metal, forming, soldering, texturing, and finishing. Includes consultation, 6 hours instruction, and bubbly celebration, priced at $1,200 per couple.
• Digital Gift Card Digital gift card available from $25 for gifting hand-forged jewelry and accessories.

Quantifiable outcome

• Every piece made by hand, to-order

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FairecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distribution partnership through Faire marketplace, allowing independent retailers to become stockists of Studebaker Metals hand-forged wearables and accessories.
• Commonplace Coffee X Studebaker MetalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative product collaboration between Commonplace Coffee and Studebaker Metals, creating a branded coffee and metal goods partnership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catbird: Brooklyn-based handmade jewelry brand offering small-batch, in-house crafted pieces. Catbird shares Studebaker's emphasis on local production, handcraft, and small-team maker identity within the DTC jewelry category.
• Mejuri: DTC fine jewelry brand focused on gold and sterling silver essentials sold direct-to-consumer. Mejuri operates in the same precious-metal jewelry space as Studebaker Metals with overlapping customer demographics and gift-occasion positioning.
• Gorjana: California-based DTC jewelry brand offering everyday gold and silver pieces across bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Gorjana operates in the same DTC precious-metal jewelry channel as Studebaker Metals with comparable price-point accessibility and gifting positioning.
• John Hardy: Handcrafted artisan jewelry brand using traditional metalsmithing techniques (including chain-making and forging) executed by skilled artisans. Like Studebaker, John Hardy's value proposition rests on craftsmanship heritage and handmade production methods applied to precious metals.
• Aurate: DTC fine jewelry brand offering gold and diamond pieces direct to consumers with a transparent-pricing, modern-luxury positioning. Aurate competes in the same precious-metal DTC jewelry category as Studebaker Metals with similar gift and self-purchase occasions.
• Miansai: Men's jewelry brand specializing in handcrafted cuffs, bracelets, and chains. Miansai occupies the same DTC men's/unisex accessory niche as Studebaker Metals, with overlapping product categories (cuffs, bracelets) and a similar premium-positioned, modern-craft aesthetic.

Others

• The Crucible: Oakland, CA-based industrial arts education center offering metalsmithing, welding, and metalwork classes. The Crucible is comparable to Studebaker University's educational programming model and shares the same craft-heritage teaching tradition.

Broad incumbents

• Shinola: American-made craftsmanship brand built on Detroit heritage, producing watches, leather goods, and accessories. Shinola shares Studebaker's American-heritage craft narrative, urban manufacturing revival story, and premium accessible-luxury positioning, though it operates across a much broader product portfolio.
• David Yurman: Established American luxury jewelry brand known for hand-finished designs in precious metals. David Yurman competes in the same handcrafted precious-metal jewelry category but operates at a much larger scale with broader retail distribution and brand recognition.

Emerging players

• Crafthouse by Fortessa: Premium barware and cocktail tool brand. Crafthouse overlaps directly with Studebaker Metals' new Barware collection (cocktail spoons, picks, strainers, bottle openers) in target use cases and gifting positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBaFIzUlCZPsHs7HeewtSnA
• Facebookfacebook.com/studebakermetals
• Instagraminstagram.com/studebakermetals
• TikToktiktok.com/@studebakermetals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studebaker-metals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Studebaker Metals