Handmade jewelry is mainly gaining in popularity lately as men and women all love to adorn themselves with unique handmade jewelry. People from ancient ages onwards had a practice of decorating themselves with flower garlands, woven grass bracelets, stones, and shells, etc. Historical studies have shown that humans wear jewelry back from as far as 75000 years ago.

Over the last millennium, styles, patterns, and materials of jewelry have evolved step by step with the advancements in modern civilization. From stone age to the Bronze Age, and then through the iron age and during the industrial revolution of the last century, ornamental styles have revolutionized and modernized a lot. However, at all times, we can see there were some classic trends remained the same and there were returns to these basic forms and elements.

As we know, most the jewelry products are machine cut now with precision and style. Producing uniform jewelry by meeting the standard measures are much easier and economical now when compared to the traditional method of handcrafting of ornaments. Metal casting machinery can now quickly process various types of components as metals, stones, or resins, etc. to make intricate designs of jewelry with uniformity. There are mechanical punch presses and tools like forges to make any complicated designs possible.

The scope of handmade jewelry

Even though machine casting is the largest accepted practice in jewelry industry; in the last decade, however, there is a resurgence of demand for handmade jewelry. People started to admire that hand-crafted jewelry holds greater value and dignity as being unique with a touch of class and tradition. With this resurging hype, jewelry makers across the globe also make use of the talents and skills of traditional artisans to come up with innovative hand-cut jewelry designs.

In the following Q&A, we will discuss the differences between mass-produced jewelry and handmade jewelry as well as the benefits and drawbacks of both techniques.

Q: What are the typical characteristics of handmade jewelry?

Ans:

As the name suggests, handmade jewelry is custom crafted by the hands of an artisan instead of using a mechanical mold and press.  Using simple tools and the traditional metal-smith skills, an individual or group of individuals work on each piece of ornament to create a unique design and form.  What makes handmade is the uniqueness of each item, vis-à-vis, its dissimilarity even with the similar other pieces.

With handmade ornaments, you can sense the individuality regarding culture, meaning, and also the history behind each such design. Handmade jewelry making requires optimum concentration, blessed artisan skills, a lot of time, creativity, and dedication towards work. Handmade is easily recognizable as a finished piece, which can stand out in the mass at the sell gold in NY stores.

Q: How can the buyers differentiate between real handmade pieces and mass-produced jewelry?

Ans:

With a bit of experience and insight to it, you can find out the fact that real handmade jewelry will not be identical to other pieces even of the same design. Even for a newbie, it is easier to examine a piece of jewelry with a considerable artwork and decoration on to it to compare and find out if it’s unique.

One should carefully examine every component, and you can easily understand how the components are constructed and combined. The mass-produced jewelry made in machines may appear more uniform as well as rigid. These may mostly have a perfect appearance and finish. Some handmade or traditional type jewelry appears to be lesser perfect than machine-cut. However, handmade jewelry is made to last for long really.

It is found that machine-punched jewelry used to break often than hand-made. Many of the so-called hand-made jewelry nowadays may not be made by hand. Even if some components are combined with the skillfulness of an artisan, most of the components in the handmade varieties which are sold cheaply may be machine made. The top-end handmade jewelry will have artisan’s name and the reputation attached to the product. However, uniqueness and quality regarding handmade jewelry is not so easy but can be typically apparent to an observer with skills and exposure.

Q: What are the advantage of buying handmade jewelry?

Ans:

Handmade pieces of jewelry often hold a unique blend of individuality and class. Like a beautiful painting or a sculpture made by a blessed artist, handmade ornament also is a creative artistic expression of a real artist.  This creativity signature is tied to each piece of handmade jewelry to make it a unique piece of art. You can find that the mass-produced jewelry items have no soul.

Handmade jewelry also reflects the personal touch and taste of the wearer. It airs a unique taste of individuality. Wearing a mass-produced piece of jewelry often gives the wearer an appearance of being something mass-produced. It is a fact that mass-produced items may always be lesser expensive and readily available than handmade but lacks individuality and life.

Instead, when you wear a beautiful piece of handmade jewelry, it’s always a pleasure to the wearer to explain the story behind it to the admirers. Moreover, it is also found that hand-made jewelry is stronger and long-lasting too when compared to mass-produced items. Above all these, it is a special feeling to wear a piece of artwork by an expert artist who made with a lot of care and passion by hand.

All in all, there is a story and history behind each handmade article which is shared with you and to those who are going to handle it in future. Apart from the standard machine possibilities, for a creative and thoughtful consumer, handmade jewelry making set many open possibilities to be discussed with an artisan regarding custom designed prices of jewelry for special events as a wedding function or reception.

The only thing which makes handmade jewelry a second choice to many is the higher prices when compared to machine cut items. However, the benefits and qualities of handmade jewelry will surely outrun these drawbacks if you are getting the right piece of handmade ornament from the right place.