[Jewelry making - Article 00592] - Re: [Orchid] Article: Minimal Metalsmithing

[Carla M. Fox]

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>     My customers don't really care what the original form of the
>     silver was, just that it is silver, and are often in need of
>     education about the difference between fine silver and sterling. 

    My post is not just for Pat, but all who seem to think that there is
    no need to stamp metal clay as such. 

    I think customers care very much about what their pieces are made
    of. Especially considering the lower density, meaning they are paying
    money for less metal then traditionally made pieces, add the fact
    that poorly made metal clay is less durable (many posters have
    commented poorly made metal clay pieces will fall apart and are very
    difficult if not impossible to repair because its hard to solder on
    them) then jewelry made with cast or sheet metal fine silver. In my
    mind not stamping it and disclosing it as metal clay is dishonest.
    Just as me not telling someone my pad sapphires are lab grown. Well
    heck, they are the same thing as the real sapphire, the same on the
    molecular level. Frankly, I would never consider not telling
    customers up front my pad sapphires are lab grown. I also write on
    their receipt. Its the ethical thing to do. We jewelers have
    traditionally held ourselves to a higher level of truth then other
    industries. To not say & stamp metal clay as such with great clarity
    is what Stephen Colbert would call truthiness. It also smacks of
    QVC's "diamonique." 

    Its deceptive to not be completely honest with the customer. And if
    the metal clay proponents continue this deception it will cast a bad
    rep on even the best made pieces of metal clay and poison your whole
    industry. It is fine silver but it is also metal clay. Educate your
    buying public, don't hide behind 1/2 truths. 

Carla

Hazel whether you posted the email or not is not the issue. You did
fire Nanz. Continued shame on you.

 
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