The 7 C's - Why to Buy Handmade Jewelry

 

Those who know fine jewelry, may be familiar with the 5 C's of diamonds.  That got me thinking, what are some of the reasons people might purchase hand-crafted jewelry?  

There are some people who will only wear fine jewelry.  And there are others who wear very little jewelry.  In the middle are the individualists who love to wear hand-crafted jewelry. They peruse the art shops and festivals in search of their next wearable treasure. But why? 

What makes handmade jewelry so desirable?  Let's take a look at the 7 C's of Handmade jewelry - and yes, this is my own list from my experience.  There's not much scientific about it.

• Chic!  

• Handmade jewelry is usually designed with current trends in mind. Much of the handmade jewelry today is made in a jeweler's home studio and supplies are purchased from local bead shops or specialty shops online.  This enables designers to pivot with the trends.  An example of trendy jewelry is the recent use of tassels.  They are see in earrings, as bracelet charms and as focal elements in necklaces.  This one was handmade from leather and chain with a brass bead cap.

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• Colorful!  

• Handmade jewelry can be colorful!  Unlike fine jewelry, which is often designed in a single color like gold or silver, or features gemstones of a single color like a sapphire or emerald, jewelry designers use colorful elements to create moods or add pizzazz.  

• This is appealing to those who like to have jewelry that color-coordinates with what they are wearing.  Collectors of handmade jewelry will often collect jewelry in their favorite colors.  (True confession:  I tend to pick things with green or orange-red hues.)  

• These earrings are an example of hand painted wood elements in a bold color.

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• Commanding

• Handmade jewelry often makes a statement.  From bold design features, to oversize elements, to eye-catching color combinations, handmade jewelry can make a statement about the wearer.   

• Have you ever heard someone say, "I saw a necklace that looks like something you would wear!"  Accidentally, or maybe "accidentally on purpose," you have made a statement with the style you wear.  

• The necklace below is very stylized and is a prime example of a statement necklace.  When worn, it would command attention.

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  Complex

• Handmade jewelry often has some complexities.  Whether it it features wire-wrapping, special beading techniques, soldering, hand-painted features or some other artistic element, you can bet that handcrafted jewelry is often more than just a bead on a chain.  

• Complexity in design often makes a piece intriguing and one-of-a-kind.  The set below features handmade features of wire wrapping on top of beads and to make dangles used in the design.  These handmade elements add a complexity to the design.

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  The bracelet below was made from three separate butterfly components which were riveted together to make the bracelet band, then hand painted for a Boho vibe.

  
  Customized

• One of the great things about handmade jewelry is that it can be customized.  If you get to know your designer, you can have them make something uniquely for you.  

• Whether it's a particular style, color, or made from your favorite design elements, a good designer can take your vision and make something unique to you.  I recently ran a contest, the prize being a customized pair of earrings.  

• The earrings below feature the winners choice of metals, color and basic design.  She wanted sterling silver earrings to match a scarf she got while on vacation in Scotland.  The earrings below feature a bead that matches her scarf with Bali silver accents and Sterling silver earwires.

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• Cost-Effective

• Fine jewelry is often expensive, running into the hundreds to thousands of dollars. However, good designer jewelry from a local artisan can cost far less, and although it may not be made of precious metals and fine gemstones, it still can be made of high quality materials and semi-precious stones which still can make the piece a nice addition to your jewelry collection.   

• The bracelet below was listed at $32 and features a variety of natural semi-precious gemstones, making a pretty, well-made, every day bracelet.

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• Collectible

• Many jewelry designers have a following.  People often fall in love with a designer's style or typical elements used. 

• This is common in department store jewelry.  People tend to buy favorite designer-name jewelry.  But often those designers, while offering "collections,"  mass produce their pieces in factories and although there may be value assigned to the name recognition, often the metals are not real gold or silver.  They also often lack the artisan feel of true handmade piece.  

• Although the jewelry below is not from a particular line of jewelry, you can tell the pieces are made by the same designer.   The pieces below are my own, and you can see the pieces all have a similar feel.  Part of it is usage of components (color, weight, style), but part of it is simply the way the designer (in this case, me)  approaches designing  pieces.    

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• If you are a fan of handcrafted jewelry, I would love to hear what draws you to buying handmade.  

• If you are a jewelry designer, I would love to hear what inspires you to create your pieces, and if you feel you have a particular style.

• One things for sure, handcrafted adornments can bring joy to the wearer and catch the eyes of on-lookers.

• If you don't currently have hand-crafted jewelry as part of your accessories, or maybe you don't wear jewelry very often.  I highly encourage you to give handmade a try!  Consider what type of apparel is in your closet and pick just one piece that will go with a couple of items.  You can shop with me at Bee City Studio, or peruse Pinterest as there are a lot of links to handmade jewelry there.   

• Thank you for visiting the hive!  If you like what you read, please share the buzz on social media!

• Gleam on!

        Janet

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