The bench peg — also known as a bench pin, jeweller's peg, or V-peg — is a small, wedge-shaped block of hardwood fixed to the front edge of a jeweller's bench, projecting outward at approximately chest height when the craftsperson is seated. Its defining feature is a V-shaped notch cut into the leading edge, which provides a stable, adjustable fulcrum against which metal, stone, and setting work can be braced during sawing, filing, engraving, and hand-finishing operations. Deceptively simple in appearance, the bench peg is among the most essential fixtures in a working jeweller's bench setup, present in virtually every professional workshop worldwide.

Form and Construction

Bench pegs are traditionally fashioned from close-grained hardwoods — maple, beech, and hornbeam being the most widely favoured — chosen for their resistance to splitting under the lateral pressure of a jeweller's saw frame and their ability to hold a clean edge over years of use. The standard profile is a tapered rectangular block, typically 150–200 mm in length and 50–70 mm in width, narrowing toward the front. The V-notch, cut centrally into the working end, ranges from shallow and wide to deep and narrow depending on the jeweller's preference and the nature of the work; many craftspeople cut additional slots, holes, or recesses into their peg over time, customising it to specific tasks such as supporting a ring shank or cradling a small collet.

The peg is secured to the bench via a metal clamp plate or a purpose-made bracket that bolts through the bench top, allowing the peg to be removed and replaced as it wears. Replacement pegs are inexpensive consumables, and an experienced jeweller may go through several in a year of heavy production work.

Function at the Bench

During sawing, the workpiece is held flat against the upper surface of the peg while the saw blade passes vertically through the V-notch, giving the blade clearance without the metal deflecting. This arrangement allows the jeweller to rotate the work freely with one hand while maintaining a consistent cutting angle. For filing, the peg acts as a third point of contact, bracing the piece against the force of the file stroke and reducing hand fatigue. Stone-setters use the peg as a resting surface when burnishing or pushing bezel walls, and polishers may use it to steady small items against a hand-held buff.

The height at which the peg sits — flush with or just below the jeweller's sternum when seated — is not incidental. This ergonomic positioning keeps the work within the natural focal distance of the eye, reduces shoulder strain, and allows the jeweller to brace their forearms against the bench edge for fine motor control. The leather or canvas bench skin suspended beneath the peg catches filings, saw dust, and small components, preventing material loss.

Variations and Specialist Forms

Several specialist variants exist alongside the standard hardwood peg. Engravers' pegs are sometimes fitted with a leather pad or a rotating ball vice to allow the work to be repositioned without being lifted. Setters' pegs may incorporate a small steel pin or post against which a ring can be braced during stone setting. Some contemporary workshops use composite or high-density polymer pegs, though traditional hardwood remains the professional standard for its tactile feedback and ease of on-the-spot modification with a saw or chisel.

In the Trade

The bench peg is so fundamental to jewellery making that its condition is often taken as an informal indicator of a jeweller's working habits: a well-worn peg, carefully notched and adapted, suggests an experienced hand, while an untouched or poorly maintained one may indicate inexperience or infrequent bench work. Suppliers of jewellery tools — including the major trade houses in the United Kingdom, Germany, and North America — stock bench pegs as standard catalogue items, typically sold individually or in packs of five to ten.