Is the Sunstone Dream Kit worth buying?
If you want the most help getting started, this is the kit. The Dream puts the Zapp Plus 2 (1 to 30 joules, 1.9 lb, 72-inch stylus) in a box with PJ University, one-on-one mentoring, the PJ Tool Kit, 27 ft of chain, 24 connectors in a display case, two Argon Mini tanks and a regulator. It was $3,199 on November 13, 2026, down from a crossed-out $4,265.33. It's No. 2 overall, one tenth behind the Pepetools Helix kit, which costs $800 less but teaches for 30 minutes.
Buy it if
- You've never welded and want a person to ask, not only videos
- You want a light, wide-range welder you won't replace
- You plan to weld with argon, as Sunstone teaches
Skip it if
- You want a darkening screen and can do with less teaching: the Helix Starter Kit is $2,399
- You'd rather skip argon: the Everlinx Starter Kit is built around welding without it
What does one-on-one mentoring add to a video course?
Videos teach you the motion. A mentor answers the question you actually have: why did this ring blacken, what do I charge at a bridal shower, do I really need a second tank for Saturday. Sunstone's first kit, the Momentum, has the online course only. The Dream adds a named person. The page doesn't say how many sessions or over how long, and that's the first thing to ask before you pay.
The course itself, PJ University, is described by Sunstone as online video training with business resources, and the brand says it is ICOES accredited. An accreditation of a course isn't a state license, and no certificate replaces your local business paperwork; we explain the difference in our training and certification guide.
On our scale this is the top level of training, shared only with Sunstone's Legacy kit. It's the main reason the Dream sits at 9.5/10.
Is the Dream worth $800 more than the Momentum?
Yes, and the welder alone nearly explains it. The Momentum carries the Zapp (3 to 10 joules); the Dream carries the Zapp Plus 2 (1 to 30 joules, a 72-inch removable stylus, a dial lock). Bought separately those welders are $450 apart. The remaining $350 buys the mentoring, 6 more feet of chain and 24 connectors with a display case you can stand on your table.
Against the kits from other brands, the Dream's argument is different. The Helix kit and the Everlinx kit both include a darkening screen and no gas. Sunstone includes gas and glasses. If you believe Sunstone's case for argon ("a stronger weld", says its blog), the Dream is the only top-three kit that arrives ready for it.
A break-even sum, with the assumptions on the table: $60 a bracelet and $15 of materials (the cautious end of the range in Permanent Jewelry Solutions' FAQ) leaves $45. $3,199 divided by $45 is 72 bracelets, before booth fees, insurance, tax and your time. Arithmetic, not a forecast.
Video: "How to Set Up Your Zapp Plus 2 | Permanent Jewelry Welder Setup Guide", Sunstone Permanent Jewelry on YouTube. Not made by us; chosen because it shows the welder or the topic clearly.
What's in the box?
The Zapp Plus 2 welder, the PJ Tool Kit, PJ University access, one-on-one mentoring, 27 ft of certified chain, jump rings, 24 connectors with a display case, two Argon Mini tanks and an Argon Mini regulator.
How do you set it up, and what should your first welds be?
Book your first mentoring session early and start the course while the box ships. Set up the Argon Mini and regulator, lock the dial once you've found your setting on scrap rings, and keep the shade 5 glasses on for every pulse.
What does it really cost to start with it?
$3,199 on sale on November 13, 2026 (crossed-out price $4,265.33) with the black or silver welder and black stylus; other finishes went up to $3,308. After that: chain, jump rings and connectors as you sell them, argon as you use it, and an auto-darkening lens ($312 or $510) if you want one. Sunstone advertises "Buy Now, Pay Later" without publishing terms. Insurance and local licenses are yours to arrange.
What do we like, and what should you know?
- One-on-one mentoring on top of Sunstone's online course
- Zapp Plus 2 inside: 1 to 30 joules, 1.9 lb, 72-inch stylus
- 27 ft of chain, jump rings and 24 connectors in a display case
- Argon ready to go: two Argon Mini tanks and a regulator
- 3-year warranty on the welder, made in the USA
The catch: Eye protection is shade 5 glasses, where two rival kits include a screen that darkens. It costs $800 more than the Helix kit and $200 more than Everlinx's. Colored finishes push it up to $3,308. Returns cost 10%, about $320.
What protects your eyes, and do you need argon with it?
In the box: shade 5 welding glasses (PJ Tool Kit). A pulse arc weld is a bright flash a few inches from your face, dozens of times a day. Sunstone's own guide says it plainly: "You don't necessarily need an auto-darkening lens, but you must use eye protection" (Sunstone, optics guide). For shade numbers, the reference is OSHA's eye protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.133, which asks employers for a filter shade matched to the work. Your client looks away or wears a pair too, and a leather patch sits between the chain and their skin.
Argon: 2 Argon Mini tanks and a regulator in the kit. Brands disagree on whether you need it at all. Everlinx says no and points to a tensile test on fine jump rings (Everlinx, argon page); Sunstone says shielding gas makes the weld cleaner and stronger (Sunstone, argon article). We lay out both sides in do you need argon for permanent jewelry. This isn't safety or legal advice: read your welder's manual first.
Sunstone Dream Kit specifications
| What you get | Starter kit built around the Sunstone Zapp Plus 2 |
|---|---|
| Power range | Zapp Plus 2 welder: 1 to 30 joules on one dial |
| Power steps | 1 J steps |
| Controls | Dial with a lock |
| Stylus | 72-inch Advanced Orion stylus |
| Welder weight | 1.9 lb |
| Welder size | Welder: 13.3 × 15.5 × 6.9 cm |
| Runs on | Wall outlet |
| Argon | 2 Argon Mini tanks and a regulator in the kit |
| Eye protection in the box | Shade 5 welding glasses (PJ Tool Kit) |
| Training in the price | PJ University online training plus one-on-one mentoring |
| Chain and findings | 27 ft of certified chain, jump rings, 24 connectors in a display case |
| Tools and extras | PJ Tool Kit, connector display case |
| Built in | Welder made in the USA (Utah) |
| Safety certification | Sunstone says its Orion and Zapp welders are certified safe (NRTL, ETL and CE, "now or in the process") |
| Warranty | 3-year manufacturer warranty on the welder |
| Returns | 30-day return policy with a 10% restocking fee; refunds are paid by check (Sunstone refund policy) |
| Financing | Sunstone offers "Buy Now, Pay Later" financing (terms not published) |
"Not stated": not on the pages we read on November 13, 2026. Every figure is Sunstone's own.
Why 9.5/10? The score, criterion by criterion
Each criterion is scored out of 10 from what Sunstone publishes; what isn't published scores 2. A kit's price is compared with the median of the kits, not with bare welders. The full method is public.
| Price (20%) | 6.8/10 |
|---|---|
| Power control (15%) | 9.5/10 |
| Eye protection in the box (15%) | 6.0/10 |
| Training and support in the price (15%) | 10.0/10 |
| Warranty (15%) | 8.5/10 |
| Portability (10%) | 9.0/10 |
| Return window, minus restocking fees (5%) | 6.0/10 |
| Where it is built and safety certification named by the brand (5%) | 10.0/10 |
How much is the Sunstone Dream Kit, and where do you buy it?
$3,199 on Sunstone's own US store on November 13, 2026. Sale price shown on November 13, 2026; the crossed-out price on the page was $4,265.33. Price with the black or silver welder and black stylus; other finishes go up to $3,308.
If that is more than you planned, the Everlinx Starter Kit costs $2,999 and scores 9.4/10. The welder inside, the Sunstone Zapp Plus 2, sells alone for $1,699. We link to the brand's store because that is where we read the price and the stock.
What should you ask Sunstone first?
- How many mentoring sessions are included, how long is each, and until when can I use them?
- How long does an Argon Mini last, and what does a refill or replacement cost?
- What are the financing rate and term?
- Which metals and styles make up the 27 ft of chain?
What should you compare it with?
The two kits closest in price: Everlinx Starter Kit ($2,999, 9.4/10) and LINKED Luxe Training Kit ($2,997, 8.1/10). Put all three side by side.
Head-to-heads: Sunstone Dream Kit vs Sunstone Momentum Kit, Sunstone Dream Kit vs Sunstone Legacy Kit, Sunstone Dream Kit vs Everlinx Starter Kit.
Rankings with this starter kit: permanent jewelry welders, all ranked, permanent jewelry kit, permanent jewelry welder for beginners, mobile permanent jewelry.
Guides that mention it or help you decide: how much does it cost to start, do you need argon, training and certification, insurance and waivers.
Where do these figures come from?
- permanentjewelry.sunstonewelders.com/products/sunstone-dream-permanent-jewelry-…, read November 13, 2026
- permanentjewelry.sunstonewelders.com/collections/sunstone-permanent-jewelry-sta…, read November 13, 2026
- permanentjewelry.sunstonewelders.com/policies/refund-policy, read November 13, 2026
We compare what brands publish: this isn't safety, legal or financial advice, and it promises no income.
