One Of A Kind Jewelry

One thing we can all agree on…we love jewelry!  In our never-ending search for beautiful bangles and baubles, it is always exciting to come across one of a kind jewelry.  You know the feeling – you see it, those beautiful bits of metal, wire, and beads – and your heart stops for a second.  It might sparkle, it might shine, or maybe it just has a wonderful glow, but it always sends a smile to your lips.  Those of us who appreciate one of a kind jewelry designs know they have been lovingly created by artisans who take their craft very seriously.  There are some things you should keep in mind when searching for these treasures.

First, know your artist.  Make sure he or she has the knowledge and training to put together a quality piece of jewelry.  Find out who the artist is, and do what we all do nowadays…Google him/her!  You will come up with tons of information if your artist is worth his/her salt.  Find out where they sell their pieces, how long they have been creating artisan jewelry, and possibly where they got their training.

Second, know your retailer/buyer’s outlet.  Are you at a craft fair?  A retail boutique?  A flea market?  A mass retailer?  A gallery?  True one of a kind designer jewelry will be more likely to be found at craft fairs, galleries and boutiques.  Many artists like to showcase their artisan jewelry at craft fairs, where the audience will most likely be huge.  Galleries and boutiques love to showcase unique one of a kind jewelry, as having those types of items boosts their credibility and attracts the type of clientele they are looking for.  Mass outlets and flea markets may not be the best places for searching for one of a kind jewelry because they tend to sell items that have a lower wholesale price and likely have not been handmade, much less one of a kind jewelry designs.

Third, know your materials.  There are so many materials that any jewelry can be constructed from these day, it pays to do a little research before buying.  Always ask what types of materials a piece is made with before you buy anything.  You should know the difference between sterling silver and china silver (china silver isn’t real silver at all, and may contain high amounts of lead!)  If a piece has lampworked beads, make sure they are well made and that the holes are smooth – this is important because rough edges may rub the stringing wire, and eventually cause it to break.  If there is metal wire incorporated into the design, is it sterling or gold, or is it colored brass or copper?  If there are crystals in a piece of handmade beaded jewelry, are they high quality crystals, such as Swarovski, or are they cut glass?  All of the above factors can affect the quality as well as the price of unique one of a kind jewelry designs, so make sure you know what you are getting before you buy!

A little research can go a long way before any purchase, but with one of a kind jewelry, it is very important!  Yes, definitely fill your jewelry box with those beautiful baubles and bangles!  Just know what you are getting before you buy, where you are getting it from, and maybe most importantly, who created it.  If you pay attention to all of those things, you will have the most gorgeous collection of one of a kind handmade jewelry around, and it will last for years to come!

If you liked this, you may also want to know more about cubic zirconia rings!

Check out Pearl’s Amazon Store for everything on your jewelry wishlist.

Happy Shopping!