Hand made jewellery: Why does it matter?
Independent jewellery designers have their own unique, signature style and their collections are made with passion that is not possible to replicate in mass produced jewellery. However, convenience, availability and price point of mass-produced jewellery is all too tempting and you can quickly find your jewellery box full to the brim with poorly made pieces.
Quality materials in Handmade Jewellery
The material value of hand made jewellery often exceeds that of mass-produced jewellery which is frequently made of cheaper, more readily available materials like steel, copper and plastics. Although mass produced items can be made using precious metals, the quality and consistency of the materials used can vary greatly. Jewellery makers usually feature precious materials, from gold and silver, to semi-precious stones and diamonds. The quality of the materials combined with craftsmanship is what makes handcrafted jewellery truly valuable.
Sustainable Jewellery
If you’re trying to be conscious with your purchases, handmade jewelry is the best way to ensure that your next piece is both ethical and sustainable and made to last. As independent jewellers run a much smaller operation, it is easier for jewellers to trace where their materials come from and how they are used. Independent jewellers also benefit from being able to use local sources and suppliers, meaning your pair of earrings could not only benefit the benefit the jeweller, but also their local community. Deborah is very proud that the whole process of creating her jewellery from designing and moulding in wax in her studio, to casting, gold plating and stone setting takes place within a very small area of North London.
Supporting independent jewellery designers
The design of mass-produced jewellery is dictated by consumer habits and trends in fashion. When you support independent designers, you are supporting talented craftspeople with innovative and unique approaches to centuries old techniques. Like artists, independent jewellers leave their signature on every handmade jewellery piece that they create, making for an incredibly diverse marketplace and leaving us spoiled for choice.
As handcrafted jewellery is made on a smaller scale, there is more time available to allocate to each piece. With more time, jewellers can afford to scrutinise every aspect of your item, resulting in jewellery finished to perfection every time. During the mass production process, it is not guaranteed that every piece will be inspected to the same level or at all. It is too easy for imperfect or faulty jewellery design items to pass through quality control where it often ends its journey as waste.
Handcrafted jewellery is a thing of magic.
There is nothing more incredible than seeing an idea you have translated into gold or sterling silver necklaces, rings or earrings. With mass-produced jewellery it can be impossible for you to customise each item or have a say on the design. Independent jewellers offer jewellery lovers the ability to create a piece that is meaningful, sentimental and exclusive to you. Independent jewellers continue to ensure that hand made gold jewellery or hand made silver jewellery keeps evolving, with each craftsperson bringing new ideas and methods to the forefront.