Sunday, February 23, 2014

custom jewelry:) and why do the best ideas always come at the last minute

I get it. Some minds are just at their best when last minute pessure is on. In school, I wrote my best essays the period before they were due. Won contests with them. It was unbelievable. Panic brought on clarity. Valentine's Day is over, so at least That pressure is gone, and hopefully this post will help out for later holidays, like Mothers Day(?)
Where I work, we don't send our jewelry out to be worked on. We have our own shop and we do it all there. The work we do is a mix of things we sell and things that people have been passed down for generations. When people call up to ask about repair work, they always want to know," How long does that take?" And the answer is this: It's not that the job Itself is time consuming, it's that 15 other people have dropped off things for us to do and they all want it done the same day as you.
Disappointing people is never fun, and I do my best to avoid it, But your best bet when considering custom work(unlike a general repair) is to plan ahead. Holidays like Mothers Day and Christmas are HUGE for custom jobs, and a lot of works goes into constructing a one of a kind piece of jewelry.
There are drawings, wax model after wax model, then you move on to casting and finishing, stone setting (if there are any)... The process can take weeks if not months depending on the job. If you want a necklace for your wife for Christmas, you shouldn't start the planning process on December 1st. Overestimate rather than under.
Every shop is different. There is no standard of things to be kept in Stock at all times that applies to goldsmiths around the world. It could be that what you want requires a special part that takes 3 weeks to get, or the stone you want has to be color matched, or cut specifically for your job. While I would love having everything at my fingertips, it simply can't be. Money is lost when things are kept in Stock, but not used, So items that are needed frequently are what's available. I say again, plan ahead!

Lastly, it's best to discuss these kinds of deals in person, rather than over the phone. Set up a consultation with your jeweler where you can go in and talk about your ideas, or ask any questions to get the ball rolling. Don't call them up and expect a quote or 30 minutes of their time over the phone. Remember that other people have gone ahead of you and are expecting their jobs to be completed on time, and that won't happen if they're having an impromptu phone conversation.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Why size Does matter, and get your mind out of the gutter.

I'm obsessed with my job. I take it everywhere with me. When I'm out and about, I look people up and down for jewelry and analyze it as best I can from where I'm standing. Two things bother me the most about rings though...
1- seeing someone leave them on to handle raw meat or bread dough
2- when it's obvious that it doesn't fit. Today I'm going to talk about the latter.
For some reason, people think of their rings the same way they think about their jeans. If I can get them on, they fit...... NO! First of all, as soon as you start to feel that things are getting a little too snug about midway, stop. That goes for jeans And rings. You should never force yourself into either. It doesn't fit, and we all know it. Getting a bigger size doesn't make you look fat, walking around in something 2 sizes too small does.
The general rule is that the ring slides on fairly easily, but gives a little resistance when coming off. I say again, a LITTLE resistance. If your finger is turning purple and it hurts, that's too much resistance.
People don't realize how important this is.
If you ever find yourself needing emergency surgery, they need that ring off. And they'll do whatever they need to get it off. The results are never pretty. Stones fall out, shanks are ruined, and repairs can get expensive. You need to take it off daily, for the ring, and for you.
Rings are meant to be worn as adornments, they're not supposed to be attached to you at all times. Wedding rings especially. Taking them off doesn't mean you're getting a divorce, It means you're taking care of it. Trust me, jewelers are not impressed when you brag about how it's never left your finger since you were married 5, 10, 20, or even 50 years ago. We find that gross. And the first thing we're gonna do when we get a hold of it is drop it in some very powerful cleaner, because by now you've probably grown a super bug that will start the zombie outbreak.



Friday, February 21, 2014

A piece I designed and crafted for a raffle

"I'm a Goldsmith..." this statement is almost always followed by blank stares and the inevitable question," What's that?". All my life I wanted to have a job I could be proud of. Something to wow other people and capture their interest. I believe I have that job.... other people just don't understand what I do.
Come to think of it, very little is actually known about the jewelry industry in general! I'm frequently asked questions by acquaintances and friends alike regarding their belongings, and through that I realized that misconceptions are everywhere. The Internet is Full of information on Diamonds and jewelry, but one can Easily be overwhelmed by it all. There is such a thing as too much information. In my opinion, it leads to unrealistic expectations and confusion, but I'll get into that later. For now, this is me starting a blog about what I know and love. Answering questions and hopefully making this industry a little more understandable.