[Jewelry making - Article 00008] - [Orchid] Quality stamping

[adornisan]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========


Dear Friends,

    I really need to revisit the issue of quality stamping pieces that
    incorporate multiple metals. My first-ever retail show is just
    around the corner, and I want the work to go out the right way. 

    I have read the archives, and I have read the FTC rules, but I still
    cannot decide how to stamp my work or if I should stamp it at all. 

    Most of my pieces combine sterling and 18k. The different metals are
    distinctly different parts, but they are soldered together, thus
    making them a whole. 

    From the archives, I get the opinion that I should not stamp at all,
    other than with my logo, as, if you were to melt a piece down, you
    would get neither sterling nor 18k. But after reading the FTC site,
    I wonder if the "exemptions" rules could be used to justify stamping
    each section with its respective mark. 

    http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/jewel-gd.htm 

    If the body of the piece (silver) and the accents (gold) that are
    soldered to it are clearly different and separate (other than that
    pesky solder joint), then there is no deception. Wouldn't this be
    just like using a finding that is marked with a quality stamp? If I
    put gold posts on silver earrings, or vice versa, those posts are
    quality stamped. If you were to cut what was clearly gold away from
    what was clearly silver, you could melt each part down and get the
    quality it was stamped. 

    I am concerned that if I don't stamp, then customers will not know
    the quality of the piece. Also, the piece needs a stamp if it needs
    to be repaired by someone other than me. A customer was unable to
    have a part of a sterling ring I made him re-soldered because it was
    not stamped. The repair person did not want to take a chance that it
    was something other than silver. 

    Other reasons for stamping are that I darken my silver with liver of
    sulphur, so it is not immediately apparent to some people that it is
    silver, and I want my 18k pieces to stand apart from bimetal. 

    I really appreciate insights into this. I would like to know what
    other people are doing and if the laws or industry practices have
    changed since the original discussion in 2001. Thanks for helping me
    to get off on the right foot. 

Karin


____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________