[Jewelry making - Article 00118] - Re: [Orchid] [Michigan] Repair trade shops?

[Jim Zimmerman]

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Hi Gerry,

>>     Same thing over here in Toronto. There is one jewellery company
>>     asked if I would like to do some setting for them. I declined, why?
>>     They would pay me .06 to .10 cents a stone for wax setting and then
>>     .40 cents for claw setting. "Overseas wages" on Canadian soil. 

>     So I've just got to ask. Where did they go to get stones set a
>     .40, cents Canadian or .38 cents US? What companies is charging
>     this and is, still in business on this side of the ocean? Is there
>     a setter that, reads orchid charging .40 cents per stone and
>     laughing all the way to, bank. Hmmmmmmmmmm I don't think so. So
>     where did this cheese go? 

    It's been about four days without a response. I would conclude that
    there are no setters in North America charging the above prices, at
    all. That would mean the jobs have been orphaned and are still out
    there. If anyone wants that type of trade work. I notice rather hostel
    remarks being made about go east for those prices. I would say this
    is the wrong tack to take. I would say leaving your price list and
    saying if would still like to do business in the future give me a
    call, might be a better idea. This grubby little orphan job may come
    back to you. It takes a certain size company to jump the ocean for
    cheap labor which means smaller sized companies have to do business
    here. 

    I will not miss good bad olds day of having to set a 1000 oval 6 x
    8mm in one ring style. I still shudder when I think of those job
    runs. I will cry no tears over the loss of three carat Christmas
    trees. (Christmas tree is a pile of three hundred .01 pointers to set
    at Christmas in one day). Usually six stones a ring same style. Will
    I miss the unimaginative grunt work, absolutely not. My company is
    based around the Idea of no two job the same,and from many sources.
    I've only had one multiple single design job to do and that was for
    corporate ring for the Canadian Post office. That was nice, but
    enough. I still make a good living. This has to do with just in time
    philosophy of stocking more common to jewellery companies today. 

    Looking for finger grinding work, intentionally. 
    Why would any base a modern company on that? 

Jim
Jim Zimmerman
Alpine Custom Jewellers & Repair
http://www.handengravingcanada.com
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