Comparison

Bench Reference vs iRock

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Bench Reference

This professional jeweler's reference guide provides comprehensive information on gemstones, metals, and bench techniques. It includes calculators for pricing, measurements, and 3D printing, along with a personal library and learning tools. Essential for jewelers needing quick access to data and procedures without an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Gemstone and material reference
  • Bench technique guides
  • Metal properties and working notes
  • Repair procedures
  • Measurement and data conversions
  • Professional calculators
  • Personal library system
Features
Read full description

Bench Reference — The Professional Jeweler's Pocket Guide Everything a bench jeweler needs, right on your phone. Bench Reference puts 30+ reference sections, professional calculators, and a personal library system in your pocket — no internet required. GEMSTONES & MATERIALS Browse 100+ gemstones with Mohs hardness, specific gravity, refractive index, care instructions, setting tips, steam safety, and cleaning methods. Filter by hardness or steam safety to make quick decisions at the bench. Plus dedicated sections for pearls, birthstones, gemstone origins, and stone shapes. BENCH TECHNIQUES Step-by-step reference guides for stone setting (prong, bezel, pavé, channel, flush, tension), soldering, casting, polishing, engraving, wax carving, repairs, annealing, torch & gas, laser welding, rhodium plating, patina & oxidation, and chemical safety. Each section built from real bench experience. 23 METALS Melting points, annealing temps, hardness, specific gravity, and working notes for every metal you'll encounter — from 24K gold and platinum to palladium, steel, and titanium. REPAIRS HUB Sizing up, sizing down, shank replacement, prong rebuilding, chain repair, clasp replacement, soldering guides, porosity troubleshooting, and more. A complete repair reference when you're at the bench. MEASUREMENTS & DATA Ring sizes (US/UK/EU with conversions), wire gauge reference, MM-to-carat weight charts by stone shape, chain styles, necklace and bracelet lengths, finding sizes, and formulas for weight, pricing, and alloy calculations. IDENTIFICATION & TESTING Gemstone testing methods, acid testing procedures for gold, silver, and platinum, hallmark identification, metal allergy reference, and a Stone ID table with SG and RI values for quick identification. PROFESSIONAL TOOLS Ring Blank Calculator — stock length for any ring size Metal Weight Calculator — weight by dimensions and alloy Job Pricing Calculator — materials, labor, and markup Temperature Converter — Fahrenheit and Celsius Weight Converter — grams, dwt, troy oz, carats Bench Timer — burnout and casting countdowns 3D PRINT & CAD Castable resin profiles, resin comparison charts, shrinkage calculator, burnout schedules, support placement guide, troubleshooting, post-processing, printer settings, and stone-in-place casting. Plus MatrixGold CAD shortcuts and workflows. MY LIBRARY Your personal database. Store product specs, component details, alloy recipes, consumable inventory, and supplier contacts. Add photos, SKUs, links, and notes. Organized by category, searchable, and always with you. LEARN & PRACTICE Flashcards and quizzes covering gemstones, metals, setting techniques, and bench skills. Study at your own pace. Perfect for apprentices and seasoned jewelers brushing up. GLOSSARY 200+ jewelry industry terms defined clearly — from bail to burnisher, firescale to findings. NEW IN v8.1 Redesigned splash screen and home page Expanded and fact-checked reference data across metals, solders, gemstones, and casting Added Wire Gauge reference, Patina & Oxidation section, and new gemstones to Stone ID Fixed display issues and icons throughout the app General polish and performance improvements BUILT FOR THE BENCH No ads. No subscriptions. No internet required. Bench Reference is built by jewelers for jewelers — a single purchase that works offline, everywhere you need it.

About

iRock

Instantly identify rocks, minerals, and gemstones from a photo using advanced AI. Get detailed information, organize your discoveries in a personal diary with location tagging, and sync across devices. Ideal for students, rockhounds, and the curious.

Highlights
  • AI-powered rock identification
  • Detailed geological information
  • Personal discovery diary
  • Location tagging for finds
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Data export (JSON/CSV)
  • Privacy-focused data handling
Features
Read full description

iRock uses advanced AI to identify rocks, minerals, and gemstones from a single photo. Simply snap a picture or choose from your photo library — get detailed results in seconds. KEY FEATURES: • AI-Powered Identification — Photograph any rock and get instant recognition with confidence scores • Detailed Information — Learn about composition, hardness, formation, and common uses • Personal Diary — Save and organize all your discoveries with notes and tags • Discovery Map — Track where you found each specimen with location tagging • iCloud Sync — Access your collection across all your devices seamlessly • Export Data — Back up your records as JSON or CSV • Privacy First — Your data stays on your device and your iCloud account Whether you're a geology student, rockhound, or just curious about what you found on a hike, iRock is your pocket geologist. Terms of service: https://sealedace.github.io/iRock-terms-of-service.html

Screenshots

Bench Reference4 screens
iRock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iRock at Free against Bench Reference's $4.99. iRock also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.2). Bench Reference's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On rating, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

iRock is free to download; Bench Reference costs $4.99 up front. iRock sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Bench Reference asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Bench Reference against 5.0 for iRock. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bench Reference ships an update weekly, iRock monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Bench Reference versus iRock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBench ReferenceiRock
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.217.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB95 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAaron brown高强 许

In-app purchases

None

Bench Reference

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

iRock

One-time3
  • 3 Scans Pack$0.49
  • 10 Scans Pack$0.99
  • Lifetime Pro$11.99

Questions

Is Bench Reference free?
Bench Reference costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is iRock free?
iRock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bench Reference or iRock?
Bench Reference and iRock are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Bench Reference or iRock have ads?
Neither Bench Reference nor iRock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bench Reference or iRock?
Bench Reference ships an update weekly, and iRock monthly. Most recently, Bench Reference was updated on October 12, 2026 and iRock on October 14, 2026.

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