[Jewelry making - Article 00054] - Re: [Orchid] Cost of materials

[Len and Judy Bjorkman]

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    Since I look at gold from the viewpoint of a person who likes both
    to make and to wear larger pieces of jewelry, I can say that,  much
    as I love gold, I have  no plans to work with it or buy it.  To do
    so would get into matters of safety -- it's prudent to watch that
    thieves do not steal either the jewelry or the raw materials and to
    collect all the gold dust from sawing and abrading.  That's more
    than I want to bother with. 

    I work in base metal and feel very free in experimenting with it in
    all kinds of ways.  Most of my customers are folks who can (and do)
    afford gold jewelry, but my pieces are for fun and for not having to
    keep in a safe or safety deposit box.  And for those folks who are
    more middle-class (like I am), if they like my designs, they can
    afford the larger pieces of jewelry.  

    I'm glad that there are all kinds of jewellers out there, making all
    kinds of things.  I simply can't (or won't) afford the kinds of
    jewelry I like -- that's part of the reason I went into
    jewelrymaking, and it's very satisfying. I remember when, in 1966, my
    husband and I were looking for gold wedding rings. I personally don't
    care for diamonds, but I thought that at least this once I could buy
    a gold ring whose style I really liked. I was deeply disappointed in
    the traditional and uninteresting gold rings that were available
    (this was in the Philadelphia area). We bought one I like well enough
    and am still wearing!  But now I make (and sell) my own rings. Base
    metal is my "niche" in the jewelry market, and I enjoy it.  My own
    customers keep telling me I should raise my prices (which I do,
    sometimes). I should make more things in sterling silver, but just
    don't find the time. Sometimes I add silver accents to my pieces, and
    I do think it increases saleability.  Well, enough rambling! 

Judy Bjorkman

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