Handmade Jewelry Prices- Why such a Difference?
Handmade
Jewelry Prices- Why such a Difference?
CYN BERGSBAKEN JEWELRY·MONDAY, MAY 6, 2019·READING
TIME: 7 MINUTES
I know
for me, it’s been a hard road figuring out my jewelry prices. One road I took
had me selling my jewelry and actually going in the hole in money. Another road
I took, gave me lots of profit, but no clients due to too high of a price.
A
jewelry maker needs to find a middle road that provides adequate profit to stay
in business. Many jewelry makers are artisans selling art-their jewelry. It’s
hard to put a price on art. But here is my thoughts on the matter. I write this
in hopes of helping people understand the price differences you see in handmade
jewelry.
Handmade
jewelry is priced according to: time spent making the piece(labor cost),
materials cost, taxes, any extra fees, and if the piece comes out excellent or
just good.
Material
costs would include the price of the metal wire used, stones, and any other
item used in making the piece of jewelry.
There is a large price difference when you compare Gold-plate wire vs Gold-filled wire vs Gold. Difference between Gold-plate vs Gold-Filled: Gold-plate is a base metal that has had a mico-thin layer of gold electroplated on to it. The layer is so thin, that it is easily scratched off or worn off within weeks. Gold-Filled is a base metal that has had a substantial amount of karat gold, as required by Federal regulations, placed on the base metal. This layer is solid gold. There are different karats- minimum being 1/10 or 10 karat gold to 1/20 or 20 karat gold. And solid gold is a solid karat rated gold, 1/10-1/20 karat gold. (taken from http://www.watchbatterybuyers.com/sell-gold-plated.php ) Similar to Silver. There is Fine silver 99.9% solid silver, Sterling silver 95% solid silver there is Silver-plate and there is Silver-filled. Silver plate being the least costly due to the micro-layer of silver. Here are prices of precious metals as of 5-5-2019 Silver $14.91 Gold $1278.50 Platinum $861.00 per troy oz. Information from https://www.riogrande.com
As of January 15, 2021, precious metals prices are: Silver $25.27 Gold $1840.50 Platinum $1090.50
Beads.
There is a difference between cost of wood beads, shell beads, glass beads,
crystal beads, stones, gemstones, and pearls. I use pearls, gemstones, and
stones and so I’ll talk about these. When I go to buy a semiprecious stone,
such as Lapis Lazuli, there is a big price difference. One difference is how
much Lapis Lazuli is actuaaly in the bead? This would come under grades. An “A”
grade would be virtually solid Lapis Lazuli where a “D” grade would have a lot
of other minerals added in it. The difference between these other then how much
Lapis is also in looks. A better quality stone will have a nice sheen with no
additives. Some stone beads come looking pretty good, but they are filled with
dyes, synthetic additives, and binding chemicals. Other lower grade stones will
be drilled poorly leaving broken holes. When I buy stone/gemstone beads, I try
to get the highest grade with little or no dyes. The more the stone has been
altered, the less value (energetically and physically) it has to me. Another
factor with stone beads for price would be it’s shape. Recently I bought some
cylindrical shaped Lapis Lazuli beads. Beautiful, shiny, deep rich natural high
quality Lapis, but they came at a higher price. Pearls also are similar. The
higher price provides you with a shiny, luminous rich looking and feeling
pearl. Lower prices will give you haphazard shapes with dullness and a lot of
ridges.
Stringing
materials: Is the piece of jewelry put together by an elastic band, bead
stringing, or is it put together with metal? Precious metal, plastic that
resembles metal, toxic metal mixes, or metal? Big difference in cost here also.
Time!
The more the piece of jewelry is a piece of art, the more time it took to make
it. That is my thought from my own experiences. When you see some amazing,
intricate wire work on stones, you know the artisan took at least many hours to
make it. I’ve worked on one necklace that has taken me a week or more to make.
To make a piece of jewelry, one will get an idea first. The next step is to
write it down in picture form. Figuring out what shapes of beads would look
best. How long. What shape of link to make and how to mix other ones in. How to
wire wrap that pendent so it stands out. Next I will take inexpensive wire and
I’ll try to make what I wrote on my paper. After many tries, I may finally get
it made, but only to find out it doesn’t look right. I need to go back to my
paper and re-figure it out. After all of the paper work and models have been
done to satisfaction, I make sure I have I have the materials I will need. If
not, I’m ordering the materials at my favorite source for them. After all of
this, the necklace can be started. It’s not uncommon to run in to problems
making a particular aspect of the necklace, such as a new wire wrap I’m trying
out. Or a new wire link. Even if I’ve done the links or wrapping many times, I
may still have problems getting it made to how I would like it. Each metal link
made is measured, cut, filed, formed and refiled. Each link made needs to be
fitted together, making sure it will sit correctly. Yes, one necklace may take
a week or so to finish. And so, the labor cost will show the time spent on the
piece of jewelry. Each jewelry maker will pay him or herself a different amount
of money/hour.
Added
extra fees would include: shipping, handling, jewelry boxes & cards,
packaging, fee for giving back a small percentage of the money back in to the
business, taxes from the state, or other type of costs. Even if the price of a
piece of jewelry says it has free shipping, typically the shipping price would
be added back in to the price.
Jewelry
makers may also add on an extra charge because the piece of jewelry came out
exceptional!
Pricing
jewelry is or can be hard to do. But I think it’s even harder for a person who
does not understand what goes in to a piece of jewelry to price it. In the
past, I was at a vending show with my jewelry. I spent about 30 minutes talking
to a lady who was interested in a bracelet I had made. She really seemed to
like it. She left saying she would come back later. Well she came back later
only to show me that she bought a bracelet that had a similar stone in it for
only $18.00 vs $50.00 I was asking. Well, she did get a bracelet cheaper, but
at what sacrifice? The bracelet she bought was made with a elastic band and
some round beads, I’m not sure if it truly was real quality stones. These bands
break within weeks of wearing them. The bracelet I had for her may have also
broke, but less likely due to it was made with a beading string. (stainless
steel)
And so
when you look at all the different types of handmade jewelry or even department
store or jewelry store jewelry, remember there is a difference. So it all
depends on whether you’re looking for jewelry that you can have for years,
handing it down to your relatives or for a piece of jewelry that if it breaks
in weeks, no problem. Whether you’re looking for a healthy metal or a metal
that who cares if it has heavy metals mixed in it or if it is plastic. Or
whether you’re looking for a natural stone that brings beauty and health or a
bead that just looks cute or a perfectly cut stone. Or are you looking for
unique pieces of wearable art or you just want something that is like other
women. It’s your call, but now, hopefully this article has helped you make a
more informed decision.
Written
by Cynthia Bergsbaken ,May 6, 2019
Cyn Bergsbaken Jewelry
Https://www.cynthiabergsbakenart.com
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Reiki in the Prairie LLC is a legal Entity under law, 2015.
April 11, 2020
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-Cynthia Bergsbaken
Reiki in the Prairie LLC, April 11, 2020
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