Make jewelry making profitable. Our Business and Marketing articles cover topics such as advertising, customer service, pricing, and social media.
For more than 30 years, Linda Goldstein Dunay has devoted her career to helping fine jewelry manufacturers reach their customers. The founder of Goldstein Com-munications in New York City, she has worked with a range of clients, including The JCK Show — Las Vegas, Hearts on Fire, and her husb and, Henry Dunay. Yet regardless of the client, achieving great PR relies on following a few basic tenets, which are outlined below.
While Limoges, France was celebrating its 200th anniversary as the city of the “Arts of Fire” this year, July and August will also hold the 10th international Biennial of Enamel exhibiting some of the most exciting new enamelwork worldwide. In…
Saul Bell Design Award Winners Named. Rio Grande honored the winners of its 17th annual Saul Bell Design Competition at an awards dinner held during the Santa Fe Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The following is a sampling of winning designs. Best…
About 30 miles north of Buffalo, New York, less than 10 miles downstream from Niagara Falls, is a unique facility called Artpark. It is not so much a place as a program; in fact more than that, it is a…
The statement below could well have been made by many individuals upon reflection on their friends and colleagues. But in this case it is an excerpt from the International Exchange panel of the 1985 SNAG conference. Our professional ties, and relentless…
The Johnson Matthey/Society of North American Goldsmiths Platinum Jewelry Design Competition celebrates its third anniversary this year. The competition represents a coordinated effort on the part of SNAG and Johnson Matthey to promote the use of platinum in the design…
What if They Gave a Conference and Nobody Came? In this article, Donald Friedlich offers his insight and review the 1987 SNAG Conference. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Despite an exciting program, this year’s annual conference of the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG)…
What is the purpose of a SNAG conference? Why do people come? What are their expectations? Why do some cease to come? Were their expectations not met? Each conference chairman imprints his/her vision onto the conference. He sets the tone,…
“What’s in it for me?” is probably the thought of each SNAG member when the information on the annual conference arrives in the mail. This year was no exception. High on my checklist was the opportunity to travel to a…
This article is a review by Betsy Douglas of the 1990 SNAG Conference held in San Francisco, CA on March 14 – 17, 1990. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bridges bring people together. “Bridges,” the theme of this conference, brought 500 enthusiastic metalsmiths to the Cathedral…
Cu3, as a national metal competition, was a sequel – albeit more than ten years later – to Copper 2 (1980) and to the Copper, Brass and Bronze Competition in 1977. The first two exhibitions were shown at the Museum…
In times of increased price competition and global producers, cooperation with designers is also an important factor for large jewelry companies in order to develop new collections in a rapid and targeted manner. Increasing numbers of companies are attempting to sharpen their profiles by drawing on the services of (freelance) designers. Unfortunately, very few of the jewelry designers have an education that equips them for this kind of service. Simple rules and a check program for constructive cooperation facilitate the work and increase the probability that both sides will experience success.
Our second conference was a success! The conference started promptly at 9 a.m., August 18 – a beautiful sunny day. Ben Caldwell’s demonstration of his double-torch, large-scale enameling was first up. He setup on the Thompson’s loading dock thus providing…
The overarching theme in major presentations for the diamond and jewelry industry during the JCK Las Vegas Show in June is that times are changing and how we adapt to these changes will determine our success. The following are insights gleamed…
Some designers find inspiration in the night sky, others in the natural world, and some in flowing architectural lines. This year’s winners of the MJSA Vision Award competition reflected all of that and more. On the following pages you’ll find…
In the 1971 Film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, the title character invites Charlie (and us viewers) to “come with me, and you’ll be, in a world of pure imagination.” While you won’t find any golden tickets or chocolate…
Pantone’s picks are comforting, enveloping, and easy to wear. Warm. Comforting. Effortless. These are just a few of the words being used to describe Pantone’s top 10 colors for Fall 2017. The palette for the upcoming season is bookended by dynamic Grenadine…
Discover the 2017 Top Jewelry Trends in gold, silver, and platinum—and an update on the metals markets as compiled by Shawna Kulpa. Gold Trends Flowers, Well-done Buddha Mama With darker colors and heavier fabrics gracing the fall runways, Amanda Gizzi,…
In addition to miles of aisles of beautiful finished jewelry on display, the JCK Las Vegas show offered attendees the opportunity to discover the latest in jewelry trend research. At the show in June, trend forecasting service TrendVision as well…
Quality matters to Michael Bondanza; he has been known to rebuild entire finished pieces — some containing hundreds of precisely inlaid stones and articulated component parts — to ensure that the gems aligned exactly, the hinges opened smoothly, and every detail met his exacting standards. Such dedication to craftsmanship has earned him world renown over his 30 – year career, as well as a clientele that includes The Johnson Familys Diamond Cellar, Lux Bond ‘ Green, and Tivol, to name just a few. Yet not every detail requires great investments of time or money to produce. In this arti cle, Bondanza describes three small improvements that can be made at very little cost, but which can transform the quality of a piece from average to exquisite.
Editor’s Note: Looking ahead at the coming year, it’s just as important to consider the challenges facing the jewelry industry as it is to focus on the trends. Turning those challenges into opportunities will be key to increasing the competitive…
Some production obstacles are unavoidable, but many can be overcome by addressing a few key areas of your business Whether you’re a large manufacturer producing hundreds of pieces a day or a small shop turning out a couple of pieces…
Peter Drucker claims that 60% of all business problems result from faulty communication. The percentage is even higher in our jewelry repair shops. The major problems attributed to the shop are the result of miscommunication – Miscommunication between the customer, the salesperson, and the bench jeweler.
Amid the holiday craziness that will be descending on the industry this month, it’s important to take time and give some thought now to what you’ll be selling to next year’s customers. To help make things a little easier, Adorn Insight…
Since the advent of the Information Age, the marketing landscape has undergone a radical transformation. Pre-internet, businesses used to be in control of their relationships with customers, and could use the traditional sales funnel model to push prospects through the…
This article highlights some 4 tips to boost refining returns that will prove dollar wise and useful for you. You’ve done your homework and found a reputable refiner whom you trust to process your scrap. You have solid housekeeping practices in…
Five German jewelers who chose not to follow the traditional vocational training of “master goldsmith,” but rather opted to study as artists in an academic context, having completed their education, are now confronted with the reality of earning a living…
The hazy days of summer aren’t too soon to begin thinking of designs for the holidays—and how to best cast them. During these hot summer days, the last thing you want to think about is the cold winter that’s just a…
Are you reminding the types of people who like your jewelry that you’re online, active, and open for business – on a daily basis? Here are some very helpful tips to improve your social media presence to help you get noticed. The beauty…
To be successful, jewelry designers need more than just great designs – they need the right blend of six key ingredients to create bestselling lines.
When it comes to your shop, cleanliness is next to godliness. At least it should be when you’re dealing with high value materials. But whether you’re a neat freak or fall a little more on the slob side, it’s imperative…
Retailers have been converting bridal inventories from white gold to palladium as manufacturers expand the selection of new palladium jewelry designs. In addition to stocking palladium pieces, they have been custom making bridal jewelry with new palladium alloys. There are several factors responsible for this favorable (re)turn to palladium including.
Designers and manufacturers have embraced 950 palladium alloys for a variety of jewelry manufacturing products. At the recent JA Jewelry Show in New York, most prominent among the new 950 palladium products were bridal lines featuring a wide selection of engagement rings and wedding bands. Even though palladium is a platinum group metal, consumers are largely unfamiliar with the metal. Here are some selling points that will help introduce this lustrous white, bright and light metal during sales presentations.
Michael Rowe uses functional containers as a base from which to explore formal studies of space, form and balance, which are enhanced by his expressive use of patination. His holloware gains strength from the fact that he is not distracted…
Early in 1984 Jack called to see if I’d be interested in creating an anniversary gift to celebrate twenty-five years of marriage with Ryoko. The question was posed “What can be created that Parallels the unique and creative skills that…
A taboo was broken when the word ”feminist” was used in the review of “Form Beyond Function” in Metalsmith (Spring 1987). In the context of craft, the word “feminist” has been avoided more than any other “f” word in the…
My trips to Germany in 1980 and 1982 were the most satisfying experiences in relation to my metalwork. They were the most rewarding in my growth as an artist/designer and the expansion of my business. Therefore I would like to…
To begin with, it might be important to present some background material on Kyoto itself. The Emperor Kammu founded Kyoto in 794 as the second permanent capital of Japan in order to escape the constraining influence of the Buddhist clergy…
Rome. Truly the eternal city, where every monument reflects simultaneously the past and the present. As Goethe so aptly states in his Italian Journey, “The very site of the city takes one back to the time of its foundation.” As…
Nothing is simple in Tokyo—not the language, not the culture, not the geography. Even getting information is a major task and everything takes longer than you think it will. So the essential point to remember when you come to Tokyo…
In the Ojibway language, Toronto means “meeting place.” At this site on the northern shore of Lake Ontario 18th-century French and English traders met native Indians to barter for fur pelts. Today Toronto is a city of over two million…
This is a continuing series of metalsmith’s guides to cities, regions and museums throughout the world. The purpose of these guides is to give those interested in viewing metalwork during their travels an introduction to the treasures and resources, both…
When working with a client to discern their personal style, do you ever administer a personality test? If not, you may want to start because it can reveal more than you might realize about your client’s tastes. Calla Gold of…
Al Pine has been a fixture at Cal State Long Beach for over 25 years, where he teaches with Dieter Muller-Stach. Such a long tenure has hardly dampened his enthusiasm for learning and experiencing his field, as well as teaching…
“All That Glitters,” the first national competitive exhibition of fine art glass and jewelry in Arizona, featured the work of 17 jewelers from all parts of the United States. The jurors were David Pimentel, Associate Professor of Art, Arizona State…
For jewelry artists, it iss an opportunity to sell work that has become difficult to place at price-conscious mainstream jewelry stores. For the public, it iss a chance to buy innovative jewelry that they might otherwise never have seen. And for the savvy retailer — be it a gallery owner or just an independent jeweler looking for something to set her store apart from the crowd — it iss a great place to find new sources.
Recently, collectors have discovered a body of silver jewelry, eclectic in scope—by turns serious and whimsical—creative, original and quintessentially modern. It has been termed “50s jewelry,” as if it embodied—in miniature—the aesthetics of that period. Yet, this casual association is misleading….
In September of 1988, the CDK Galleries opened their doors. Partners Garth Clark, Mark Del Vecchio and Wayne Kuwada presented the work of 11 carefully selected American jewelers including Fred Woell, Lisa Gralnick, Robin Quigley, Jamie Bennett, Randy Long, Christina…
When I first heard about the craft show “Ancient Inspirations: Contemporary Interpretations,” I was impressed. The press information packet that I was sent by Metalsmith, when asked to review this exhibition, struck me as highly professional, obviously put together by…
The most intriguing characteristic of Arline Fisch’s work, particularly the textile constructions, is their utter transformation when worn. What may appear as simple, even simplistic, knitted or woven metal undergoes a transubstantiation as it is put on the body, it…
This article is one of a series of articles from Metalsmith Magazine “Art and Technics” talking about techniques in craftsmanship and design. For this 1987 Fall issue, Tim McCreight talks about broaching subjects. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Picture this: A room in a…
Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past five years, you are aware of the current interest in color among metalsmiths and jewelers. From the lichen-green of a copper patina blue to the hot red of anodized aluminum,…
This article is one of a series of articles from Metalsmith Magazine “Art and Technics” talking about techniques in craftsmanship and design. For this 1990 Fall issue, Curtis K. LaFollette talks about the machinist Franklin Porter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Franklin Porter was born…
This article is one of a series of articles from Metalsmith Magazine “Art and Technics” talking about techniques in craftsmanship and design. For this 1989 Summer issue, Tim McCreight talks about the language of art dialogue.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Did you ever…
This article is one of a series of articles from Metalsmith Magazine “Art and Technics” talking about techniques in craftsmanship and design. For this 1990 Summer issue, Tim McCreight talks about the materials that can be found from other fields. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~…
This article is one of a series of articles from Metalsmith Magazine “Art and Technics” talking about techniques in craftsmanship and design. For this 1992 Spring issue, Tim McCreight talks about superstitions and superstitious beliefs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Somewhere in our childhood each…
This article is one of a series of articles from Metalsmith Magazine “Art and Technics” talking about techniques in craftsmanship and design. For this 1991 Fall issue, Tim McCreight talks about to get the best supplies and materials. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Providence is…
This article is one of a series of articles from Metalsmith Magazine “Art and Technics” talking about techniques in craftsmanship and design. For this 1989 Fall issue, Tim McCreight talks about technical mastery. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Technical mastery is almost always a…
In a promotional flyer from the early 1950s. Art Smith offered a “fanciful ring of space, silver and gold.” The main ingredients in his work, from about 1946 until his death in 1982 at the age of 65, were sheet,…
Packing is hardly a glamorous subject. Yet, like labeling and billing, it remains one of those sine qua nons of your professional—without which, your business would not be. As a former gallery owner, the writer is all too aware of…
Its name has been familiar for 20 years now: Ilona Stepping founded the gallery “aurum” in 1982 in the Sachsenhausen district of Frankfurt, and can now look back on many successful presentations. Gallery owners Ilona Stepping (left) and Kristina Balzer…
All five artists in this 5 Austrian Jewelers show were trained at the Hochschüle für angewandte Kunst in Vienna. While their work goes in slightly different directions, they all consider themselves “jewelry artists” and make basically one-of-a-kind pieces, and they…
We use the term “zero-sum game” fairly often, but I suspect most people don’t stop and think about the meaning of it. A zero-sum game is a game in which one party can only gain what the other party loses….
With this fast, affordable, well-built B9 Core Series 3D printer, you build models directly from designs you’ve created using your computer and just about any CAD design software that renders .stl files-the B9 Core Series software is free to download…
Design is a perennial issue for all who produce objects meant for a specific use, utilitarian, in contrast to objects which have an exclusively expressive function. In America the postwar period dating from the 40’s was characterized by a concern for functional…
The brain child of a private art-craft dealer, Denise Renard-Honhon, this exhibition presented 22 of Belgium’s contemporary jewelry designers. The idea was to introduce Americans to a representative selection of Belgium’s best younger and lesser-known artists working in metal. Belgian…
I love a good road trip. In fact, I love them so much that I have created categories for them. There’s the my infant (now infant grandchild) needs a nap road trip. That trip takes from 1 to 3 hours,…
It is refreshing to see a designer of Betty Helen Longhi’s ability break away from the museum mentality and move into the marketplace with affordable production jewelry. She was really three people at the Plum Gallery exhibit, each making technically…
Our designer engagement ring setting called the Blooming Beauty Flower Ring, available at http://www.BloomingBeautyRing.com
Well worth a fresh inspection under the loupe is some fine blue spinel currently on the market. An ancient group of related minerals, spinel likely owes its name to the Old Latin sintill — from which the word scintillation was derived. And a good descriptive name it is. If you havent considered blue spinel for a fine jewelry piece, remember that its density assures a high polish when faceted. Rating an 8 on the Mohs scale, this gem doesnt need to be coddled in protective mountings, either.
“Body Art Exhibition,” an exhibition sponsored by Security Pacific Corporation, on view from September 8 to October 21, 1990, was curated by Mark Johnstone and Wendy Mickell. Eleven art jewelers, from both North America and Europe, were invited to show…
It would be inappropriate to review this book without including a short description of the craft environment of the early 50’s, when it was first published. World War II was over, and the streams that would later form the current…
Given the competitive climate of the jewelry industry, copyrights and trademarks are important ways for manufacturers and retailers to set themselves apart in the marketplace.Yet, as with other industries, there is a lot of confusion about what the law protects and how a designer or manufacturer can go about protecting his or her jewelry design or brand.
On British Jewellery and German Jewellery, contrary to what one might infer about this exhibition, mounted at the Crafts Council Gallery in London last summer, from the poster, the two catalogs and the separate installations, there is little evidence of…
Bruce Metcalf’s recent exhibition Between Darkness and Light thematically embraces and continues his ongoing concern with an anguished sensibility wedged between disenchantment and hope. Immediately striking is his pervasive use of sociological, political and psychological topics. The implications and intentions…
This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers and designers in their quest to create their masterpieces. In this article we talk about Business Software Tools. See related…
David Nytch, proprietor of West ‘ Co. an independently owned jewelry store in Webster, NY is changing the way customers see his business. Nytch had observed that independently owned stores are often regarded by consumers as service centers and sources for education, purchasing their jewelry from a bigger, more familiar name. Adding Gemvision CAD/CAM technology to his armamentarium has enabled him to build his own brand of quality, original jewelry, positioning his business as a destination for custom design as well as a source for expert craftsmanship and consumer education.
Retailers seeking designers and model makers for fulfilling custom orders or for developing new designs exclusive to their inventories have a growing variety of options available to them. Companies providing these services through Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) are referred to as service bureaus…
Greg Stopka and his wife Lee began JewelSmiths 18 years ago with a belief they could succeed by providing jewelry repair and restoration directly to consumers – with no inventory. Dean Stopka (right), Gregs brother joined the couple 12 years ago to manage a second location in San Ramon , CA. This dynamic team and their staff have been very successful in selling virtual jewelry (computer-generated images of jewelry designs). Their total sales between the two locations compare with or exceed the dollar volume of comparable stores which maintain large inventories. Heres their plan for success.
Whether youre running a 15-person workshop or a 400-worker factory, you should know before buying whether a piece of equipment will provide an adequate return on investment (ROI). In other words, “Is this going to pay?”.
Cannon Ring Creator Leigh Wulle St. Louis, MO
“How to Wrap Five Eggs” was a dilemma posed by a cult book of Japanese packaging design in the mid-1960s. The answer…dutifully, appropriately, because they demand it. Carol Kumata’s Wrappings, her early postgraduate pieces of 1979-80, seemed to be answers to…
Deborah Norton interviewed Caroline Broadhead regarding her recent retrospective at the Crafts Council in London and her recent change from jewelry to clothing. Deborah Norton (D): Your recent retrospective at the Crafts Council in London was intriguing, since it seems…
Carrie Adell is perhaps best known for her jewelry which transforms common, familiar, organic and geometric objects and forms into interesting and wearable jewelry. Her work ranges from simple to flamboyant, classic to outrageous. This exhibition departed from the established…
The principle of bi-metal casting is really very simple: A wax model is invested, cast and finished. A secondary wax is created, which is going to become part of this piece. The wax is attached to the first casting, re-invested and the metal is cast on, thus creating a piece that is made with two metals. It is recommended that mechanical fastening devices, such as plugs, tracks etc. be worked into the design. The piece is then finished as usual.
Jewelry is truly the sum of its parts. And of those parts, chain and findings play especially important roles: In addition to contributing to the beauty of a piece, they determine how comfortable and functional it is. That’s why, in…
As you may have noticed (Id be astonished if you hadnt), prices for gold and silver, platinum too, are on the rise. First, a word of advice: Dont panic, it doesnt mean we are going to have to price ourselves out of our markets. Now if only we can convince the customers, who are also privey to the knowledge of rising gold and silver prices, that jewelry is still a good buy.
In this video, Dr. David Weiman of MarketingJewelry.com explains — in just words! — why you should charge more for your artisan jewelry.
A goldsmith, not only a jeweler, Charles Lewton-Brain exhibits the competence and traditional skills accumulated through studies at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and his experience working with goldsmiths Karl Angermeir and Richard Bossert in West Germany….
On January 7, 1921, a son was born to Rex of the Sand and Tobacco Clan and Rachael Loloma of the Badger Clan, Hotevilla, Arizona. Rex was an accomplished weaver and respected moccasin maker; Rachael, an excellent basket maker. The…
This exhibition of two sculptors at the Merritt Gallery constituted the first major showing of work by either artist. An almost overflowing display of 25 floor and pedestal pieces ranged in height from 6 inches to 10 feet. There was…
In response to Marilyn Shaw’s article “Photographic Images on Refractory Metals” (Metalsmith, Summer ’84, page 32), we have researched the possibilities of a safer alternative of producing photographic images (chromatec). The health hazards of the previous process (using xylene) deterred…
Chunghi Choo captures her joyful creativity in sensuous forms and beguiling surfaces, but, despite this sumptuousness, simplicity harmony and tranquility are always integral to her work. Born in Korea, she took a B.F.A. at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul, majoring…
Claire Falkenstein is a master of linear metal sculpture. Hers is not an art of solid form, as relating to space and mass, but of a cursive gesture – a scribble in the air. It is essentially a public or…
Style expert, Mal Pearson, discusses the latest engagement ring trends in these stunning Sylvie Collection rings
Claus Bury’s rejection of his immediate past, a long standing European tradition in goldsmithing, and his defection to the fine arts by the end of the 70’s, points out a major weakness in the crafts: its inability to accommodate radical…
Silver coins transformed into amazing,unique coin rings. www.coincrafter.com. For coin ring tools visit www.coinringtools.com
Colored Gemstones on Men’s Jewelry is becoming a trend and may as will be dominating men’s fashion as noted by Deborah A. Yonick on this article. Read on for her take on this fast becoming fact. ********************* If diamonds are a…
The show season had come and gone. With my kids still in school, I was unable to participate in the winter fairs in Florida. I made a promise to myself to find somewhere to put my art. So for the…
In the quest to get some insights into designing and marketing customized jewelry “customer whisperers” agreed that communication is the key to customer satisfaction. Read on for a deeper understanding of this discovery. Shopping for jewelry used to be an…
The photography of jewelry can achieve a whole lot more than just depicting products. It can focus on unique details that generate very different feelings and can contribute to the visual communication of the jewelrys inspiration. Unfortunately, we see time and again that jewelry designers adopt a strangely ambivalent position when faced with how to communicate their products. This applies in particular to jewelry manufacturers in the initial stages of their careers. It is a crying shame that there are so many designers able to achieve the highest standards of precision and perfect craftsmanship in the production of jewelry and then proceed to take inferior photos of it that in no way do justice to their own excellent work. Conversely, established designers who are familiar with trade fair business and with handling the media have usually already discovered or experienced how important it is to define a clear approach in communicating ones own style of jewelry and its special features. An idea of who is or may be the target group for the jewelry can help the photographer or designer find a suitable language of images.
In this video, Dr. Weiman of MarketingJewelry.com discusses an article in the Crafts Report about competition and whether or not it helps or hurts sales of artisan jewelry.
This form may be used if you have an idea for a product and wish to approach a manufacturer. It is a very good protection against a company stealing your idea.
I met a sled designer at a party in Montreal once, we discussed this subject, he had paid thousands in legal fees to have this form designed. He sent me a copy and gave me persmission to share the form.
One of my roles for the last few years has been that of an innovation awards judge for MJSA. This means I cruise the aisles of trade shows in New York, Tucson and Las Vegas, trying to spot new shifts and upcoming changes. This allows me a small identification as a cool hunter. This short article is about some of my finds.
Good photos of your work, or pieces you take in for repair, are invaluable. These small-scale photos, however, can be tricky to shoot without the following tips.
Good photos of your work, or pieces you take in for repair, are invaluable. These small-scale photos, however, can be tricky to shoot without the following tips.
This is a method to reduce technical problems which one repeatedly experienes. We all find during the learning process that there are times when the same problem presents itself over and over again. Sometimes when beginning one overworks pieces to death in attempts to effect repairs, getting ever deeper into a mess by trying to fix the mistakes, rather…
http://www.beading-software.com If you need to know what parts you have in stock just run a quick report straight from Bead Manager Pro. Run reports by date or specific category’s to find out exactly what you have in stock at any…
http://www.beading-software.com If you want to know what your most popular jewelry pieces are and how many you have sold run a quick report in Bead Manager Pro. This will tell you what you have sold over any given time frame…
http://www.beading-software.com Create a shortcut on your desktop for Bead Manager Pro so that you can access it with one click.
http://www.beading-software.com If you need to know what it took to create a particular jewelry piece then Bead Manager Pro can tell you with one of our Bill Of Materials reports
A woman’s job evaluation included the observation that she showed unmistakable signs of penis envy. “The unmistakable signs were. . . her dangling earrings. Why would a woman wear jewelry that dangles if she did not envy the one thing…
Much of my business comes from re-cutting colored gems that have been chipped, scratched and broken (not always by the goldsmith). Replacing broken in lay material is another favorite. I know there will always be a need for cutting and…
Matt Trimmer – The milling operation. With a quick adjustment of the table, you can cut grooves, line channels and open channels on your jewelry wax model with speed and precision.
We live in an age of rapid technological progress where the unthinkable becomes possible and the impossible becomes routine. Even so, the fields of metalsmithing and jewelry making have been slow to incorporate advanced technologies. I believe that microelectronics and…
Dan Feldman uses the utensil as both object and idea. Consequently, his work reveals both personal history and associations with the utensil as a useful object. An apprenticeship with Towle Silversmiths instigated Feldman’s fascination with the knife, fork and spoon…
Stone, metal and space compose the careful balance in Deborah Aguado’s work. Her first geometric formalisms constructed in metal were developed in 1973 when she participated in a goldsmithing seminar at the Akademie für Bildende Kunst in Salzburg, Austria. They…
While firms in the US have busied themselves for decades with marketing goals and tasks, the topic was first taken up in Germany when the retail market that was present immediately after 1945 gradually transformed into a buyer market. These attitudes and ways of thinking were not absorbed into design until the 1990s. There are, however, substantial deficits in practical implementation, precisely in the field of design marketing.
Depth of field refers to the amount of the object that is in focus (the depth that is in focus). When you look through the camera’s viewfinder on a close – up shot you may notice that part of the object is in focus and part is not. You can change the focus using the lens so that the front, middle or back zone of the object is in focus. You will, however, not normally be able to see the entire object in focus at the same time throughout the viewfinder.
New Jewelry Ideas from Other Realms of Experience “Meaning brings form with it; form is never without meaning” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Twice a year, the new English-language magazine GZ ART+ DESIGN will supplement the GZ by offering a survey…
Expanding the boundaries of conventional jewelry design through the use of unusual materials — Titanium, Niobium, Copper, Metal clay, Acrylic, Resin –It is not the usual materials inventory for jewelry makers. For millennia, jewelry has been made of gold and silver, platinum and gems — materials the market understands and readily accepts. But what about non-traditional materials?
No single item is more used yet more neglected than flatware. It is used in one form or another by the average person many times a day, not only for eating but also for preparing and serving food. But few…
As a Business Strategy it is important to recognize the differences between managing and micromanaging. Read on for Andrea Hill’s take on losing control on managing as a manager. I once had an employee who knew absolutely everything. He was…
Consumers still want to buy and wear jewelry. You’re just going to have to leap to reach them. Confront the unknown to discover new customers If you’ve been reading this column for a while, then you’ve grown up with my kids….
This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers and designers in their quest to create their masterpieces. In this article we talk about Display & Packaging. See related…
These days, great demands am placed on display materials and packaging. They must be inexpensive, part of an integrated communication system, easy to handle, attractive, and of course be a good creative fit with the design.
I have long suspected that I have a great deal of “dyslexic” company in the arts. As more and more networks, such as the Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities emerge, which focus on an increased awareness of learning differences,…
It is only within the past two decades that craft jewelry has become big business. From a marketing viewpoint, the movement, circa 1990, has come a long way since the likes of Sam Kramer, Ed Weiner, Art Smith and Paul…
Ed Wiener exemplifies the studio jewelry artist of the late 1940s and 50s. The first time we met, this fascinating 70-year-old man reminisced at length about the New York art/craft scene of 40 years ago. With a wry wit and…
Research has long suggested that the majority of leads generated by trade shows never receive follow-up by company representatives. If you’re among those exhibitors without any formalized plan or process in place for following up with leads after the show,…
The size of the bath must correspond to the rectifier. You cannot have a huge bath and a small rectifier. The tank must be made of glass, polypropylene or polyethylene plastic. Plastic is preferred because there is less chance of breakage. You can get a plastic container from the plastic supplier in your community. A glass tank can be obtained from a fish or pet shop. Be aware of leakage.
We are often drawn to the naïve sensibility of self-taught artists in any medium. The fresh, unassuming quality of their work provides an antidote to a pervasive slickness of our highly technological society. Here, Bob Ebendorf recalls with pleasure his…
I love beginnings. The beginning of each season, the beginning of a new project, and of course, the beginning of a new year. What will our businesses face in 2016? More consolidation and closures? Most likely. Start Off the Year…
English enamels made during the period 1750 to 1840 were chiefly ornamented with transfer printed images and mottos. While the most important innovations in this manufacture were connected with these transfer processes, other new working systems were needed to make…
We invited Ettagale Blauer, formerly New York Editor for Jewelers’ Circular-Keystone, to attend the 1986 Society of North American Goldsmith’s (SNAG) conference at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and to provide an outsider’s point of view. Here is her opinion…
Our “notice” calling all metalsmiths guilty of western influences to turn in photographs of their work may have led some notorious and “wanted” characters to flee the limelight, but many bravely complied. This “exhibition in print,” based on western themes,…
This article is one of a series of articles from Metalsmith Magazine “Fads and Fallacies”. For this 1987 Spring issue, A. Stiletto how Art is Life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In “The Colony of Money” the figure of Fast Eddie Felson is resurrected thrice-fold:…
This column is about fashion. I have been writing it for a couple of years now, still with some trepidation. Every time I pick up a new issue of the magazine, I hope to find more on the subject, some…
As trite as it might sound, we still form our opinions about people as a result of “first impressions.” In fact, our fast-paced culture demands that personal images be codified within the limits of an ever-decreasing attention span. For all…
This article is one of a series of articles from Metalsmith Magazine “Fads and Fallacies”. For this 1989 Summer, A. Stiletto talks about modelling fashion and the essential relationship between jewelry and the wearer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The model is essential to fashion….
One of the heralded events in this year’s ebb and flow of jewelry fashion was the arrival of the Cleto Munari Post Modern Collection: 160 pieces, designed by “name” Post Modern architects, produced at a cost estimated at a million…
Over the last several years, a growing number of North Americans have been obtaining nontraditional pierces. Pierced penises, nipples, navels, clitorides and noses have been proliferating. Sometimes this is the result of individuals reclaiming a signifier of their cultural heritage;…
While Surrealism has had a major impact on how we look at 20th-century art, the same cannot be said for its impact on 20th-century dress. The costumes reflected in the paintings and photographs of the 30s and 40s appear to…
Coveted for their beauty and rarity, fancy color diamonds remain the hottest category in the diamond market. At gem and jewelry shows during the first half of 2017, including Baselworld in late March, fancy color diamonds were among the leading…
ABC News expose of the underbelly of the cash-for-gold business
Selling jewelry at national craft fairs and trade shows has become a primary source of income for an increasing number of contemporary metalsmiths. Today’s fairs have left behind their amateur image of psychedelic vans in back alleys and wobbly fleamarket…
I would first like to introduce myself. My name is Jaime Frechette and I am a studio artist from Cincinnati, Ohio. I received my BFA from Kent State University in 1993 with a concentration in Metalsmithing and Enameling, and then…
Like many university-art-department-trained craftspeople of the 50s, I was educated to be one-of-a-kind snob, sneering at production people. They were crassly commercial; we were unique, creative, artistic. We labored long and cautiously, often taking five months to produce one museum-quality…
In Objects: USA, the chapter on jewelry bears witness to the hallowed names of modern history. The collective effort of such luminaries as Eikerman, Craver, Fike, Roach, Radakovich, Winston, Renk established a canon for work of the 40s, 50s and…
“American jewelry has come into its own,” says Concepts Gallery owner Doug Steakley. “lt has really matured. . . My thesis is that a whole new professional has emerged in this country.” Concepts Gallery Carmel and Palo Alto, CA To…
In October 1986, Amsterdam’s Galeria RA will mark its tenth anniversary in the forefront of Europe’s experimental jewelry movement. To celebrate the occasion, found-director Paul Derrez has invited the 80 or so artists who have been associated with his gallery…
This is the third of a series on galleries that specialize in jewelry and metalwork. The Quadrum Gallery is owned and operated by Cynthia Kagan. See below for related articles. Situated among exclusive clothing stores and interior design boutiques and lulled…
Rezac Gallery, a space devoted to avant-garde jewelry and decorative arts, opened in May, 1988 on West Superior Street in Chicago. With the stated aim of identifying and promoting the conceptual relationships between fine and decorative arts, the gallery has…
This is the first in a series on galleries that specialize in jewelry and metalwork. The Vo Galerie is a European Jewelry Showcase in the American Capitol. See below for related articles. The new wave of European jewelry that has been…
This is a continuing series on galleries that specialize in jewelry and metalwork. The Yaw Gallery is owned and operated by Nancy Yaw. See below for related articles. The town of Birmingham, Michigan is an affluent suburb of Detroit. Aside…
In the world of fine art, galleries wield enormous power. Galleries such as Castelli, Knoedler and Marlborough, through the artists they choose to show, dictate which artists and styles are “in” or “out,” which work will receive the most publicity,…
Of the various schools of thought about design, “less is more” has been one of the most enduring of the 20th century. Its beginnings were in the reaction against the almost stupifying ostentation used to proclaim society’s wealth and power,…
Morgan Beard, the editor-in-chief of Colored Stone magazine examines the current world mining production of Ruby ‘ Sapphire, Emerald, Tanzanite, Tourmaline, Garnet, Topaz and Opal.
Which is the best to buy: natural, enhanced, imitation, artificial or synthetic gems? The answer depends on how you plan to use it. Natural gemstones have not had anything done to them that changes their color.
Imagine, if you will, two colored stones. Both exhibit good color. Both are relatively inclusion free. Both tip the scale at about the same weight. But one was cut better, and it’s simply more beautiful. Should you pay a premium price for it? Conventional wisdom holds that the answer is yes. Obtaining a good cut usually means greater weight loss in cutting and higher pay for a more skilled cutter, expenses which can only be recovered through a higher price or a lower profit margin. In theory, the market should be willing to pay a premium for the beauty of a better cut.
Historically speaking, gemstone mining has always been hit or miss. When miners make a big strike, gemstones flood the market, prices fall, and smart dealers stock up, because inevitably the pocket will get mined out and prices will creep back up again. That rush of discovery, the thrill of seeing some new and amazing piece of nature coming onto the market, is one of the driving forces of the gemstone market. But lately, gemstone mines around the world have been missing more than they hit, according to gemstone cutters and wholesalers. For nearly two years, rough production worldwide has been soft, goods are harder to come by, and prices are rising in many gem categories.
Generation Z is tech savvy, frugal, philanthropic, and globally aware, and soon its members will be shopping at a jewelry store near you My 16-year-old daughter is sitting on her bed, laptop on her lap, phone in her hand. She…
Mention German craftsmanship, and we think of diligent Black Forest elves making precision cameras and automobiles. Ordinarily, “precision” connotes accuracy, quality and attention to detail. Precision need not constrict creativity. In fact, as demonstrated by the outstanding exhibition of German…
MJSA’s Mary Walek asked me to do a session called “Shop the Show” in New York. When I first read the description of the presentation I had to give I had to think hard. Don’t we all know how to shop already? And at a trade show too, where we know why we are there.
This article is an interview with jewelry designer Mark Schneider. Read on to get his insights and genius behind his jewelry and designs! ****************** How did you decide to enter the jewelry industry? My first choice of career was veterinarian….
“It is not good for people to be alone, particularly not to work alone. Rather, they need participation and stimulation if anything is to succeed.” Those wise words come from no less a personage than Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. And…
This article is a set of predictions for what the jewelers bench and workshop will experience in technological change in the future.
In April of 1983, a simple and relatively unpretentious store joined the ranks of the illustrious “boutiques” and other high-priced establishments lining the sidewalks of Madison Avenue on New York’s fashionable upper east side. The store’s interior is characterized by…
Strictly speaking, the metalworker’s contribution to the Japanese tea ceremony is confined primarily to the teakettle. This accoutrement traditionally has been overshadowed in the ceremony, as well as in the history of art, by the ceramic tea bowl, the emblem…
Possibly of another time and almost certainly of another place, Hal or Harold Hasselschwert enamels entice the imagination with the exuberant colors and patterns, and their delicate constructions. His elegantly enameled panels speak to the viewer an intimate yet exotic…
Last fall, the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee hosted a retrospective of the work of Helen Shirk. Nearly 70 pieces, from her early silver work in the late 1960s, to her recent patinated copper and brass vessels, confirmed…
From 1988 to 1989, German goldsmith Hermann Jünger was celebrated in his native country with a major retrospective of his work since 1945. More recently, in the spring of 1990, a new series of necklaces by Jünger was the subject…
The history of contemporary Canadian jewellery, like that of Canada itself, has struggled with the assimilation of foreign influences, economies and cultures as well as the insecurities of the Canadian temperament in its search for a national definition and identity….
In this live seminar clip, Dr. David Weiman of MarketingJewelry.com explains why having a story about your jewelry is so essential to selling it.
http://www.beading-software.com If you purchase from one particular vendor you can track those purchases in Bead Manager Pro straight for the vendor that you bought them from. Run purchase reports and more for any vendor that you buy jewelry inventory from.
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The successful documentation of finished work is of vital concern to every artist. Excellent slides make better teaching tools, and it goes without saying that the quality of photographs weighs heavily when work is being considered for juried exhibitions. I…
http://www.beading-software.com Create a professional looking jewelry catalog for your business in seconds with Bead Manager Pro. These can be branded with your information to provide to our clients so they can review your jewelry and make orders with you at…
http://www.beading-software.com If you have made an invoice for a customer why not create a catalog of the items for your customer. With Bead Manager Pro its just a couple of clicks and you have a professional looking catalog to give…
http://www.beading-software.com Understanding the financials of your jewelry business is vital. Run a profit and loss statement from Bead Manager Pro to find out how your jewelry business is tracking.
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http://www.beading-software.com Creating subtotals of your inventory in list views is an easy way to find out exactly what you have in stock at any time. With Bead Manager Pro you can sort your list views and then create totals base…
http://www.beading-software.com If you have similar parts you can easily duplicate them to save having to enter the same information into Bead Manager Pro again and again. bead manager pro, jewelry software, jewellery software, beading software, bmpro, jewelry, jewellery, beading, duplicate…
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http://www.beading-software.com Bead Manager Pro allows you to export your data into excel so that you can use it in any way that you wish. Manipulate the date for inventory, stock, finance reports and import it into other programs if you…
Being move-ready is a desirable trait for every entrepreneur. Consumers change, markets change, and if we want to stay in business, we must change too. Keep your business flexible for long-term success. We are selling our house and moving. Again….
http://www.beading-software.com Bead Manager Pro is easy to use and easy to navigate. See how to quickly navigate through the different areas of the program.
http://www.beading-software.com Price your jewelry pieces quickly and accurately with Bead Manager Pro. Bead Manager Pro will account for your parts and labor and automatically work out the price for your jewelry pieces based on your markup rates as well as…
http://www.beading-software.com Printing anything in Bead Manager Pro allows you to preview it first. Print invoices, catalogs, list of jewelry parts and more.
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Refusing a big order may sound like a business mistake, but sometimes saying no pays. Sales do not equal profit, It is incredibly easy to not make any money. Breaking a deal down into its crucial components, whether its the sales price or conditions on returns, can help create a clear picture of whether the deal is really in your best interests. Before accepting a job, evaluate it thoroughly by asking yourself the following questions.
http://www.beading-software.com Bead Manager Pro makes it easy to find anything in your jewelry inventory with its quick find function. Just type and it will automatically highlight what ever you are looking for and then you can refine you search even…
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Always try to understand, that you are your own best enemy. Be nice to yourself when tackling the unknown. Realize that you are going to fail a lot before you are going to succeed. ALLOW TIME FOR THIS FAILING TO…
The 12th biennial International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) Congress, held May 6-9 at the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel & Suites in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), covered topics spanning the range from emerging markets to consumer confidence. Chandaprakash Siroya, vice…
When you work with materials as valuable as precious metals and gemstones, you need to take measures to keep them safe — which could mean anything from Rover the attentive watchdog to installing a security protocol that would be suitable for the likes of Fort Knox.
In recent years, however, jewelers have benefited from technological advances that have resulted in new or improved methods of ensuring shop security. What follows are three of those methods. All reduce the risk of theft, and some even offer additional benefits in such areas as sales, training, and overall inventory management.
Money and Madness (1998) – Penetrating the shady world of Colombia’s emerald dealers, we meet private armies and pistol-packing miners. Colombia boasts some gruesome statistics. The leading cause of death for individuals over the age of ten is violence. And…
When most of us talk about innovation, we are talking about new tools and techniques. But innovation is not exclusively about technology. It is about the way technology is used. A look behind the scenes in many small shops proves that new technology is often a response to innovative impulses, rather than a source of them. The result of such questioning may be new tools, merchandise, or techniques. In almost all cases, though, being innovative for these small companies means changing the way they do business to be more efficient, creative, and productive.
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http://www.beading-software.com Find out how to install Bead Manager Pro on your windows machine quickly and easily. Just unzip the file and you are ready to go.
Janice Kluge’s exhibition of metalwork and sculpture at the Birmingham Museum of Art was small in scale but rich in variety and execution. The 11 pieces and drawings, from 1981-83, illustrated her ongoing involvement with natural themes and her experimentation…
Undeniably, American crafts of the 20th century have been influenced by Japanese esthetics. From raku to mokumé, American crafts would not be what they are today without the Japanese connection. So, when I moved to Japan two years ago, I…
Repair pricing strategies used by the three jewelers.
When a commercial finding isn’t quite right but making the component by hand seems like reinventing the wheel, creative modification comes into play. That’s what designer Jayne Redman of Cumberland, Maine, encountered when searching for the perfect clasp for her Palm Neckwire.
One of the most interesting things about the jewellery/metals field is that there are so many career options, so many contexts that one can choose to work in. There are even ways of becoming wealthy if that is important in one’s goals. There are some broad categories of career choice.
In early 1983 a call for entry was sent out across Canada for submissions to a multimedia, nonprecious jewellery exhibition “Jewellery in Transition” inspired by the spirit of the British “Jewellery Redefined” show of last year. Open to all artist-craftsmen,…
JEWELLERY ART SCHOOL IN FLORENCE PERSEO. The Professional Jewellery School Perseo, conceived and founded in 1998 by Fabio Sieni and Massimo Campaioli, organises and runs training, specialisationand refresher courses on themes and subjects relating to jewellery and goldsmithery. The school…
JEWELLERY ART SCHOOL IN FLORENCE PERSEO. The Professional Jewellery School Perseo, conceived and founded in 1998 by Fabio Sieni and Massimo Campaioli, organises and runs training, specialisationand refresher courses on themes and subjects relating to jewellery and goldsmithery. The school…
JEWELLERY ART SCHOOL IN FLORENCE PERSEO. The Professional Jewellery School Perseo, conceived and founded in 1998 by Fabio Sieni and Massimo Campaioli, organises and runs training, specialisationand refresher courses on themes and subjects relating to jewellery and goldsmithery. The school…
At GLJW it iss not unusual to see the sales staff wearing jewelers aprons and optivisors at one of the 25 computers showing customers Matrix CAD layouts of a proposed design. Neither is it odd to see customers watching the mill shape their jewelry or a future bride e-mailing CAD renderings of her wedding ring to a fiancé who lives in another state. Owner Jim Tuttle, a 19-year bench jeweler with an industrial engineering background, says the percentage the store makes with CAD/CAM has gone from 0% to 90% in three years.
For the “Jewelry Design” show at the Johnson Museum of Art, Louise Porter, Coordinator of Crafts, selected both jewelry and sculpture by New York State artists. She was especially drawn to artists oriented toward jewelry design but working in the…
Celebrating its move to a new location, Creative Metalsmiths featured the slick art jewelry of Joan Michlin. Her futuristic style was toned down with materials that have transcended time—all gold jewelry, most with a small diamond or two. The highly…
The cry of the rejected: “Why?” is the loudest single continuing lament heard after every juried show. Even when juror’s biases are known and catered to somewhat, the final selections are often a mystery, un clarified by juror’s statements in the…
There is nothing that will block the path towards acceptance in a juried situation more quickly than a poor quality or unintelligible image– be it digital or film. The goal is to convey as much information about the piece pictured as possible without ambiguity or confusion. Relying on the jurors having any time or desire to puzzle out what is going on in an image will result in an irritated jury indisposed to accepting the entry. A poor image may indicate to a jury that the artist doesnt take their work seriously enough to find a way to document it well. When the competition is stiff (the amount of quality images/entries is high) this can definitely affect an artists chances of making the cut. There are certainly instances when a piece is so strong that it can shine through a screen of poor photography. But relying on that is faith misplaced. If the only true acquaintance a juror–be they an exhibition juror, book or magazine editor or gallery director– has with a piece is the image taken of it, then that image had better make a positive first impression.
Coming to terms with the work of Kai Chan is not so much a matter of definition as of communication. As Chan explains, “When I work on my pieces, I put things, anything—materials thoughts, accidents—together to become an object that…
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Translated into English, Korea means “chosen.” Komelia Hongja Okim, a native of Korea, has faced a great many consequential choices both in her personal and professional lives. Of these, one of the most important has been her choice of United…
Dinner conversation at our home has always been lively, and we especially love the time we spend laying bricks. We talk about the future, and we talk about it in very specific terms. We share big dreams, ideas, and plans,…
The goal of this guide is to help you create images of your jewelry that you can be proud of, whether for simple record keeping purposes, for appraisal work or for advertising locally or on the Internet. Buried in here is a guide to a simple setup that works, and it works every time. Its buried because I want you to read a little to uncover it; youll be learning on the way.
The focus of Lin Stanionis’ work for the last three years has been in exploring the implications inherent in the vessel form when it is employed for symbolic purposes. As a vehicle for this search, she has produced a series…
http://www.beading-software.com Bead Manager Pro shows you your jewelry inventory in list view so you can see multiple parts and pieces at once of in detailed view where you can see all the information about any particular item.
The confidential exploits of self-deception is the title of one of Louis Mueller’s recent six-foot-high wall pieces. This paradoxical attitude perhaps best describes Louis Mueller’s ongoing body of work, which is at once furniture and sculpture, wallmounts and body mounts,…
M. Avigail Upin’s carefully constructed work displays a cool and impeccable cleanness of style, with silver the dominant material. Her earlier work—jewelry and containers—characterized by literalness and elegant miniaturization of everyday objects, was drawn from the artist’s memories. An interesting…
MADE IN THE USA: Where We Stand is an update on the jewelry industry’s efforts to promote homegrown products. It happens every day: U.S. jewelry manufacturers and designers take precious metals and gemstones and, with their own hands, turn those raw materials into…
In this live seminar clip, Dr. David Weiman of MarketingJewelry.com explains why making what you love is so important for selling your handcrafted jewelry successfully.
Nested in the heart of downtown Cary, North Carolina, The Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival is a tradition steeped in culture and history. Each year, in the lazy days of summer, the third Saturday in August, this juried fine…
When I was in grade school, I decided to enter a gardening contest for 4H. Though I had experience helping out on farms, I really didn’t know anything other than to do as I was told. After procrastinating the startup…
This article was written by Margaret De Patta in 1948 and never published. It is printed here with the kind permission of Eugene Bielawski. What happens to an artist when the demand for his work exceeds his ability to supply…
The Transparency Theory has long maintained an indomitable position at the core of any philosophy of art. Simply expressed, the theory claims that the work of art is only a means of facilitating a knowledge of mankind. It is a…
The life and work of Mark Stanitz are a study in balances and contrasts. His physical life is lived in a structured, thoughtful and mannered way. His inner world is worked out through his artwork with an unquestioned faith. With…
This checklist is a chance for you to go over your marketing business plan and be sure it is _up to snuff_. You might find this a useful tool to use every few months to track your progress. The Marketing Plan Worksheet will help guide you to your marketing goals and can work with this page to solidify your ideas.
The doors to the craft show have opened, and customers are beginning to make their way down the aisle. One stops at your booth to look at your PMC jewelry.’What is this?’ she asks. That question looms large for many in the PMC community. Do you answer ‘Fine Silver’ or ‘Precious Metal Clay’? Both are technically correct, so the question is, which will help you make the sale?.
This appreciation by Robert McDonald, former chief curator of the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art in California, was written in 1980 to introduce Toza (Svetozar Radakovich) to the museum’s patrons, who had never before seen an exhibition of contemporary…
A demonstration of how to make a chocolate tahitian pearl ring using T-Splines within the Matrix 7.0 program
Jeffrey Johnson has two stores, 18 bench jewelers, and over 100 employees-and he still has time to work at the bench. ‘I wouldn’t be who I am without the bench,’ he says. That’s why he’s got one set up in his office among leather arm chairs, file cabinets, and a desk. When a customer comes into his office, Johnson can sit down at the bench and sketch a design or perform a quick repair right in front of them. It’s this kind of customer service that he says has done wonders for his business-and shaped the culture of his company.
If newspapers, magazines or even TV or radio stations ask jewelry designers for a press portfolio, many have no idea how to respond. In the belief that their work speaks for itself, many designers focus too little or not at…
Please ask if you need explanation
Linda Weiss-Edwards provides a list of Onsite Consultation for Artists and Schools from each state in the United States in this segment of “Safety Hazards” from Metalsmith 1984 Fall. Every state has a free onsite consultation plan for employers who…
This article showcases the various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1985 Fall issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Masterworks of Contemporary American Jewelry: Sources and Concepts Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England May-July, 1985…
This article showcases the book reviews for “Diamond Setting: The Professional Approach” and “Contemporary Jewellery: The Americas, Australia, Europe and Japan” published in the 1985 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Diamond Setting: The Professional Approach By Robert R. Wooding…
This article showcases the various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1985 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peter Chamberlain: Exhibition of Unmetal Hartmann Center Gallery, Bradley University, Peoria, IL Fall, 1984 by Karl…
This article showcases the various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1985 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Image as Metaphor Beaver College, Glenside, PA March 29-30, 1985 by Dana Standish Sponsored by the…
This article showcases the book reviews for “Enamels, Enameling, Enamelists” by Glenice Lesley Matthews and “The Nature and Art of Workmanship” by David Pye published in the 1985 Winter issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Enamels, Enameling, Enamelists by Glenice Lesley Matthews…
This article showcases the various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1986 Fall issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features the International Jewelry Symposium, Peter Shire, William Baran-Mickle and Leonard Urso, Linda Threadgill and more!…
This article showcases the various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1986 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features the Betty Helen Longhi, Wichita Art Association. the Quadrum Gallery, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Past Instructors: Jewelry,…
This article showcases the various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1986 Winter issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features the Arline Fisch, Carolyn Morris Bach, Herman Hermsen, Marie Zimmerman, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Arline Fisch…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1987 Fall issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features William Harper, Lisa Grainick, Anne Krohn Graham, Richard Helzer, Jaclyn Davidson, Susan Kriegman, Debra Chase, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Holloware…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1987 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Charles Lewton-Brain, ASF Gallery, Wichita Art Association, Jewelry Design Resource, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Charles Lewton-Brain: Recent Work…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1987 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features the American Craft Museum, Yurakucho Seibu Art Forum, Plum Gallery, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ American Craft Today: Poetry…
This article reviews two great books “Practical Casting: A Studio Reference” and “Jewellery of the Ancient World” published in the 1986 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Practical Casting: A Studio Reference by Tim McCreight pb, spiral-bound, available from Brynmorgen…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1987 Winter issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features the Alberta College of Art, Quadrum Gallery, Moshe Zabari, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Body Work Alberta College…
This article showcases various international exhibitions and competitions in the form of collected exhibition reports published in the 1987 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Die Kugel-Glas & Metall Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst, Hanau, W. Germany Spring 1986 and traveling until…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1988 Fall issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Antonia von Braun and Ulrika Johansen, Lynda Watson-Abbott, Jamie Abbott, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ European Figurative Jewelry: Antonia…
This article reviews three books “ American Jewelry: Glamour and Tradition” and “Art Aurea” and “The Eloquent Object” published in the 1988 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ American Jewelry: Glamour and Tradition by Penny Proddow and Debra Healy…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1988 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Bob Natallini and Rachelle Thiewes, Lynda LaRoche, the Philbrook Museum of Art, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The…
This article is for book reviews for the books “Jewelry by Architects”, “The Jewellery of René Lalique”, “Jewelry 7000 Years” and the three-set Titanium books, published in the 1988 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jewelry by Architects By Barbara…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1988 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Eleanor Moty, Pat Flynn, H. Charles Schwarz, J. Fred Woell, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Goldsmithing: New Concepts…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1988 Winter issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Martha Glenny, Valerie Davidson, Brooke Baillie, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Martha Glenny: Memoranda Mount Saint Vincent Gallery,…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1989 Fall issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Gijs Bakker, Curtis LaFollette, Carrie Adell, Gry Eide, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Helen Drutt Gallery Philadelphia…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1989 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Brent Kington, Keith A. Lewis, Eva Eisler, Rezac Gallery, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brent Kington: Cruciforms and Crosiers…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1989 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features J. Fred Woell, Pat Flynn, Leonard Urso, Robln Qulgley, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Fred Woell C.D.K….
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1989 Winter issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Thomas Mann, Judith Kaufman, Laurie Hall, Enid Kaplan, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Susan Cummins Gallery Mill…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1990 Fall issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Elizabeth Chenoweth Palmer, Donald Friedlich, Rodney McCormick, Ken Bova, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Elizabeth Chenoweth Palmer Artworks…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1990 Winter issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Pamela Lins, Randy Long, Cara Croninger, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pamela Lins: A Kept Object BACA Downtown, Brooklyn,…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1990 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Marjorie Schick, William Underhill, Joy Scott, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Marjorie Schick: A Retrospective School of Fine Arts…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1990 Winter issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Kiff Slemmons, Kate Wagle, Seung Hee Kim, Deganit Schocken, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kiff Slemmons: Hands of the…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1991 Spring issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features William Baran-Mickle, Joan Parcher, Philip Sajet, Peter Chang, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ William Baran-Mickle Arnot Art Museum,…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1991 Summer issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Aaron Farber Gallery, James Meyer, Mel Wolski, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Haiku Show Aaron Farber Gallery, New…
This article showcases various exhibitions in the form of collected exhibition reviews published in the 1991 Winter issue of the Metalsmith Magazine. This features Armanda Lise Penuidic, Martha Glenny, Charlie Buck, and more! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Medium is Metal The Theme…
The jewelry industry today is not what it was 15 or 20 years ago. From CAD/CAM to inventory control software, computers have changed the way we design and manufacture jewelry. The main benefits these and other new technologies offer is…
This show provided an overview of some of the new directions and esthetic concerns of metalsmiths in the 1980s. Curated by Janice Kluge, it included approximately 50 small metal sculptures and pieces of jewelry by 18 artists from throughout the…
Every month MJSA choose new products that they feature on their monthly publication. Here are the three MJSA July 2017 New Products. Tune Up Kits Designed for use with the Foredom flex shaft, these 32-piece Tune-Up Kits allow users to…
Every month MJSA choose new products that they feature on their monthly publication. Here are the three MJSA June 2017 New Products. Foredom Mobile Work Station Developed for use in small or crowded workspaces, the Foredom Mobile Work Station is…
This short paper offers a set of names to describe how the jewellery metals field is made up in terms of the way practitioners approach their medium. There is no great truth to the way this has been done; it is just to have tools to discuss the subject with.
It’s called moissanite and it’s described as a proprietary, nearcolorless, lab created gemstone. It’s visually almost identical to diamond, and has, due to the unusual marketing approach taken by its producers and their success with it, created quivers throughout the industry.
As a moviegoer in the 1950s and 60s. I watched intently as insects and crustaceans were transformed into gargantuan monsters by manaical scientists bent on the destruction of our planet. As giant spiders and flies toppled telephone poles and overturned…
From 1919-23 the Bauhaus also had a jewelry workshop run as a private enterprise by Naum Slutzky. He was on the of the only teachers at the Bauhaus at this time that was both an artist and a technician. Born…
http://www.beading-software.com Navigate Bead Manager Pro through the universal navigation so you can easily find exactly what you need at all times
What does it mean to be a gallerist today, especially one who deals exclusively in art jewelry? To find out, we investigated three twenty-first-century galleries in the United States launched by a new generation of dealers. We learned that they are carrying the jewelry field forward in highly personal ways, while acknowledging the importance of their forerunners, who helped establish the concept of jewelry as art.
Nick Hodgson of Astrogems.com interviews Navratan Manihar of Manihar International Co Ltd at the Bangkok Gem & Jewelry Show about the prolific supply of heat treated Ruby which is very different from natural but used extensively in the conventional jewelry…
Nick Hodgson of www.astrogems.com explains how he buys gemstone crystal material on the streets in the gem mining areas of Sri Lanka. the challenge is to find unheated clean non flawed crystals for cutting and faceting into beautiful gemstones.
Nick Hodgson gives an in depth tutorial on how to use the poariscope for gem identification
Nick Hodgson in an impromptu visit to a sapphire mine in Sri Lanka
Nick Hodgson gives a tutorial on Gem stone identification using the polariscope. This is a two part tutorial.
This page offers a list of some useful North American Sources for Equipment, Materials, information, etc that would be very helpful for your reference. Bonny Doon Enterprises, 250 Tassett Court, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, 1-800-995-9962: the best hydraulic press system around…
An object in space is exactly what the name implies, namely one which by design has left the company of its table or wall bound predecessors, like coffee pots and sconces, and assumed the role of an object without a…
When Lewis Carroll wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, he modeled his narrative on fairy tales and used nonsense as a means to astonish and contradict expectations of his Victorian audience, rejecting their sense of reason, moral code and need for…
This article is an overview and contain details for Ornamenta 1: International Exhibition of Contemporary Jewelry held on September 30 – November 19, 1989 in Reuchlinhaus, Pforzheim, W. Germany. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ornamenta 1 International Exhibition of Contemporary Jewelry View of the Massic Zentral…
To commit oneself in the jungle of jewelry classifications, categories and specification; to express an absolutely clear definition is an extremely difficult venture. There is costume jewelry, gem-set jewelry, designers’ jewelry, gold jewelry, genuine jewelry, fake jewelry, imitation jewelry, folklore…
The accomplishments of Paul A. Lobel, industrial designer, metalsmith, sculptor and cartoonist/illustrator, may be viewed as the quintessential American success story. Born in Romania, at the turn of the century, he emigrated to the United States while an infant, and,…
Our castings can be flawless, our assembly precise, and our settings secure — but let any surface go a bit rough, a little uneven and wobbly, and the jewelry is judged to be inferior. Ironically, even the ultimate finish begins to deteriorate as soon as a piece of jewelry leaves the showroom. But to attract a willing buyer at a fair price, a piece needs be in top form when it enters the showroom. The tools, tips, and techniques presented in this article can help manufacturers avoid the harsh criticism that can result when a less-than-perfect finish clouds the public view.
The following article explains photo techniques used to transfer images onto refractory metals. These findings were developed during my graduate studies at California State University, Long Beach, California. Traditionally photo resists have been used as a masking agent in the…
As a former staff photographer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sheldan Collins has photographed an extraordinary range of art objects from one of the world’s most extensive art collection. In his new book, How to Photograph Works of Art…
If you have never manufactured with platinum and you think that you are ready, if you manufacture with platinum, but you have not capitalized on the growing potential of the bridal market, even if you are successful at manufacturing platinum bridal jewelry, I hope some of what is contained in this paper will be of help to you. I have been involved in wedding ring manufacturing for about 25 years. For the last eight years, I have committed a majority of my time to designing in platinum, and platinum and 18-karat gold combinations. I have always looked at my designing successes in our industry and equated them with my desire to explore. As a result of my last decade of studying, platinum and I have become great friends.
Platinum engagement ring
It’s easy to name your favorite gemstone or metal to work in, but what if you had to name your favorite design? How could you choose? In this occasional column, we ask designers to identify their favorite piece and explain…
The point is to survive and prosper as an artist or craftsperson. This means that one has to deal with the basics of running a small business, independent contracting, contracts and marketing. It is the marketing that feeds one as no amount of wonderful art work will pay the rent and purchase materials unless it has a market. This does not mean one panders to taste-on the contrary one is as true to oneself and one’s art as possible and only has to find the correct audience for it that will pay to allow one to do what one wants.
Editor’s Note: Pricing jewelry pieces is one of the most challenging things jewelry designers must do. Price a piece too low and you may not cover your costs. Price it too high and no one may ever buy it. In…
It is also vital to know the basic forms of semi-fabricated Platinum product that are generally available and how to best use them in completing a jewelry project. This article addresses three forms of semi-fabricated platinum product: sheet, wire and tubing, along with the procedures generally followed to produce these forms and the importance of knowing both the form and the particular characteristics of the form needed to complete a jewelry project.
This is the second in a series of articles about production jewelers. This installment concentrates on design versus saleability, the incorporation of industrial techniques in a line of jewelry and preparation for running a small business. ************************* Business Name: Cathleen…
This is the fourth in a series of articles from Metalsmith about production jewelers: design, marketing and business. ************************* Business Name: Diana Vincent Co., Bucks County, Pennsylvania Designers: Diana Chrambanis and Vincent Polisano Description of Jewelry Line The clean mechanics…
From time to time, Metalsmith will locus a series of articles on a particular aspect of jewelers. Beginning in this issue we take a look at production jewelers: breaking into the field, creating and marketing a line and running the…
This is the third in a series of articles from Metalsmith about production jewelers. This installment concentrates on marketing production work. ************************* Because production line jewelry provides a feasible means of support, as well as a way to produce well-designed…
This is an example of a production project proposal involving the reproduction of two historically important buttons. This shows how the project is described in terms that allow the client to see what is involved in manufacturing. It is a sample of a description that allows the client a sense of the scope of the job.
A few years ago, Jewelers Circular Magazine reported that over 75% of all retail jewelers in America lose money on their jewelers.Making a living dealing with labor intensive dollars can be a real headache. It also can be enjoyable and profitable, if it’s done right. Today, you’ll get some very valuable tips on doing it right!.
I came up with this system to solve some production and prioritizing problems at a small custom jewelry store. We used this system mainly for custom jobs, however it can be adapted for repair or stock production as well.
This is the fifth in a series of projects for students. These projects were created to provide a forum in Metalsmith for provocative and innovative work. They are assigned by a different professor each time, insuring a wide range of…
This is the second in a series of projects for students, created to provide a forum in Metalsmith for provocative and innovative work. We determined that a problem-and-solution approach would be fair and open, encouraging creativity and exploration. The projects…
This is the third in a series of projects for students, created to provide a forum in Metalsmith for provocative and innovative work. We determined that a problem-and-solution approach would be fair and open, encouraging creativity and exploration. The projects…
Do not get caught in the dark – make certain your shop is well lit. In the jewelry shop, two types of lighting are used. 1. Ambient or General Lighting. 2. Task Lighting. It is best to have a combination of the two in your shop. It is best to have a combination of the two in your shop..
Rebekah Laskin is an enamelist with a new subtlety and depth of purpose unique to the metalsmithing community. She has taken a medium that has been if not predictable or stagnant, then at least possessed of a rigid hierarchy and…
This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named “Recent Sightings” where Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftmanship, design, the artists, and techniques. For this 1989 Winter issue, he talks about artlike jewelry or jewelry that resembles sculptures. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For the past…
This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named “Recent Sightings” and here Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftmanship, design, the artists, and techniques. For this 1987 Summer issue, he talks about defining jewelry, its concept and what the field of jewelry means….
This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named “Recent Sightings” and here Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftmanship, design, the artists, and techniques. For this 1987 Spring issue, he talks about the label Designer-Craftsman. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you peruse an issue of Crafts…
This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named “Recent Sightings” where Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftmanship, design, the artists, and techniques. For this 1991 Spring issue, he talks about gender related nature of jewelry designs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Before becoming a jewelry designer…
This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named “Recent Sightings” where Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftmanship, design, the artists, and techniques. For this 1990 Spring issue, he talks about handwork or handmade objects as opposed to machine made ones… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here’s…
This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named “Recent Sightings” and here Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftmanship, design, the artists, and techniques. For this 1989 Fall issue, he talks about jewelry teachers and their processes.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Teachers don’t instruct enough about…
This article series from Metalsmith Magazine is named “Recent Sightings” and here Bruce Metcalf talks about art, craftmanship, design, the artists, and techniques. For this 1989 Spring issue, he talks about working with metalwork book art. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When “collectors” bookstores are visited…
With over 300 tonnes of gold used in electronics each year, end-of-life electronic equipment offers an important recycling potential for the secondary supply of gold. With gold concentrations reaching 300-350 g/t for mobile phone handsets and 200-250 g/t for computer circuit boards, this “urbanmine” is significantly richer than what is vailable in primary ores.
Greg Stopka of JewelSmiths in Pleasant Hill , California , has been in the jewelry business since he was eight years old. Through the years he has developed strong sales and presentation skills. But when he was introduced to CAD (computer-aided design) seven years ago, he found a tool that could communicate design possibilities so powerfully that he reinvented his business to take advantage of its sales potential.
T-splines, a plug-in for Rhinoceros CAD software and bundled with Matrix 7 and above, is a great modeling tool for freeform designs. In the jewelry industry, T-splines makes it possible to create on-the-fly, continuous curvature surfaces that are difficult to…
The first questions to ask yourself when preparing a resume are: For whom is it intended? What do I want it to represent? Applying for a zoo keepers job you might put down your experience carrying llamas across the Andes but you would probably leave it out when apply for a position as a hair stylist. For galleries you should have information they will be interested in: previous exhibitions; articles on your work and so on that serve to establish you as a serious artist/craftsperson in their eyes.
To determine whether or not to invest in a new piece of equipment, begin by considering the following questions – and do the research to answer them honestly and thoroughly. How often will you use it? How many man-hours will it save?…
My grandson has spent the last several weeks learning how to walk. This new risk comes with a lot of bumps and bruises. He has bumped his chin, bitten his lip, banged the side of his head, and fallen repeatedly…
While this was not the first time that Ivy Ross and Robert Ebendorf have exhibited together, this exhibition showed clearly their diverse approaches: Ross’s jewelry relating to clothing and Ebendorf’s relating to wall collages. The new work displayed here represented…
Jewelry was never on his mind—at least not while he was studying art and anthropology in college. It was filmmaking which claimed his most serious career intentions and to which Robert Lee Morris committed himself, until he realized just how…
The following is Consignment Agreement contract. It is intended for information purposes only although if you wish to use it that’s okay too.
At a time marked by an international revival of the blacksmith’s art, the Samuel Yellin exhibition at the Federal Reserve Bank provided a welcome opportunity to view the work of one of this century’s master metalworkers. Samuel Yellin, Metalworker Federal…
If we needed more proof that our society is obsessed with celebrity style, we have only to look at the spectacular success of pink gemstones in retail stores this year. Last year was the year of pink in clothing and accessories, from Hollywood red carpets to Milan runways. That demand extended to gemstone jewelry, according to the 2004 survey of retail jewelers conducted by Colored Stone. Fancy sapphire, including pink, was the second best-selling stone last year, say the nation’s retailers.
Every penny mattered-and that was in the 1980s when gold was $300 an ounce. These days, when $1,100 is the new norm. Never before has the notion of careful gold consumption been more important to me and my business. I made it a point to become more aware of what was being used in the shop, and I found many ways to be less wasteful and save money in common repair operations, such as the two described here.
Dr. David Weiman of MarketingJewelry.com explains the keys to selling more of your handcrafted jewelry when times are tough.
The marketing slogan ‘All Natural’ has been used for years to advertise products from cereal to shampoo. Now some gem dealers are using it to market their natural, unenhanced gem material – and to distance themselves from negative publicity over treatments. Why not take advantage of the fact that stones like garnet, peridot, and sunstone not only are unenhanced, but can’t be improved with treatments? After watching the price of small-sized yellow and orange sapphires tumble because of the controversy over diffusion treatment, some gem dealers are creating a marketing niche for people who want an absolute guarantee their purchase is not enhanced.
I had an interesting insight just yesterday about marketing and promotion. We’ve been experimenting heavily with social media marketing for six years. We sell both products and services, and our online lead generation and related sales have been very good. Until…
http://www.beading-software.com Setup your company information in Bead Manager Pro. This will then brand your invoices, catalogs and consignment orders to give a professional look to your jewelry business
Silver: New Forms and Expressions III Exhibit. Assuming that the work is cohesive, well designed, well made, of sound concept and has meaning, then what is done to such work by the context of a retail space, a department store…
These are some check lists to use when preparing to phtograph objects.
The most trusted way for Jewelers, Artists, Craftsmen ’ Metalsmiths to discover state-of-the-art products and services has fundamentally changed. Word-of-mouth has become a Metalsmiths most efficient way of learning about new products and services. Personally, I am much more likely to try a new product or service if it is recommended by a fellow Artist than by reading marketing-hype in a product brochure. I avoid months of trial ‘ error by following the advice of my more experienced peers.
While the marketing genius of Sam Walton may no longer be with us, his basic philosophy of providing the lowest prices possible and doing so with good service and a clean environment has put Walmart on top of the retail…
http://www.beading-software.com With Bead Manager Pro’s list views you can customize them to show exactly what you would like. Adjust the width, order and even what is displayed by adding or removing columns.
One of the newest earring findings to hit the market is showing a little earlobe midriffand it could turn the way people perceive earring design inside out.
Patented Sphearrings insert through the back of the car, leaving more of the lobe exposed. Think of the bare midriffs on a summer beach, and youll come close to the look offered by this new earring design.
Being more organized, and planning how you use your time will mean that you will spend less time on some jobs and you will therefore have this time available. I tell my students that they need to plan their time and work fast, smoothly and efficiently not for its own sake, but to have more creative time available. This greater efficiency also translates into more income from your working day.
Stuart Devlin’s exhibition offered the viewer a feast, a visit to an Aladdin’s cave. The exhibition celebrated 25 years of achievement by an outstandingly innovative, creative and prolific designer. The abundance and range of the items on show astounded even…
Studio Jewelers Sabbatical. You know the feeling. No matter what you do there’s never enough time! Well, after 17 very long years I finally managed to “buy” some. Here is how, and why, I did it. Where it will lead…
When Theo Janson and Vanessa Compton moved into the winding basement studio space on Toronto’s Markham Street in May 1978, they were not thinking that a short four years would find them moving again to a larger windowed storefront, that…
The ongoing debate over the necessity of e-commerce in the jewelry industry is coming to a close. From small shop artisans showcasing their custom work to major manufacturers providing their customers with the ability to place and track orders online, virtually every jewelry business has an Internet presence-or is planning for one. But getting involved in e-commerce is still not a simple proposition. Like any business decision, selling online requires research, testing, and refining; a simple Web site is no longer the sole requirement for success.
Ask for a catalog with an English supplement. Order by surface if a heavy order as shipping from Germany is very expensive by air. For best speed send them a money order in Deutsch marks with your order and open an account with them as the normal procedure is first send your order, they send you a pro-forma invoice, you send them the money in German Marks and then they finally ship it to you.
Before moving his studio operation to a ground-floor space in Soho, just last year, Ted Muehling lived and worked in a kunstkammer. His round-the-clock environment teemed with several thousand “found treasures.” Aside from the deliberate collections of shells, fossils, insects,…
Invented by Victor Joyner, a Chicagobased manufacturing jeweler, patented High Definition (HD) Patterns are made of a light-curing polymer material that can he injected into a silicone mold with very low pressure at room temperature. After hearing about the exceptional detail achieved by these patterns, and the subsequent clean burnout, I decided to put the material to the test in my shop.
The first American exhibition of Kayserzinn Pewter, the trademark for art pewter ware manufactured at the turn of the century by J.P. Kayser Sohn of Krefeld, Germany, occupied the changing exhibitions area in the design installation floor at the Museum…
In this article, Marjan Unger describes what Ornamenta 1 means and is all about. It contains information when and how Ornamenta 1 was created and the artists that gave a big hand on its success. The Anatomy of Ornamenta 1 The number…
Many people I know romanticize an afternoon in a cage in a cultural mecca – maybe Paris or Rome – spent endlessly conversing with notable literary or artistic personalities. On the other hand, I rarely hear nowadays of someone who cherishes this…
The art of self-promotion is less about celebrity than it is about perseverance. Breaking into print doesn’t take a magic touch or fabulous connections in the publishing world. It does take attractive work, some basic materials such as photos and press releases, a dollop of good luck, and a willingness to keep trying until that luck turns up.
This research paper was presented at the Society of North American Goldsmiths Conference at Cranbrook Academy of Art in June, 1987. All photographs and illustrations are by the author, unless otherwise noted. “The island is well people, full of houses,…
Fortunately, change is inevitable. Even for those individuals in the art establishment who assert that artists cannot and should not be active as curators or critics. This assertion is part of a traditional art would – one built on a foundation of hierarchies and exclusions that erode any modicum of power, control, influence, and authority that an individual artist has on or within the system. When artists actively participate as curators, critics, or arts administrators, this foundation starts to crumble.
“It is allowing machines to be our masters and not our servants that so insures the beauty of life nowadays.” Ironically, this quote does not come from a contemporary philosopher decrying the computer age, but rather, from William Morris, the…
In this article Deborah Norton traces the rise and fall of this seminal 20th-century school. Although Bauhaus policy revolved around personalities and philosophies, it nonetheless embarked on an influential experiment of incorporating the principles of art with the economies and…
As art critic Lucy Lippard has observed: “The ‘ugly’ turning ‘beautiful’ in the public eye through a process of familiarity is a cliché of modern art appreciation which boils down to the unexpected (and therefore the temporarily unacceptable) becoming acceptable.”…
The very word PRECIOUS, the concept of PRECIOUSNESS is anathema to most contemporary artists, especially painters and sculptors, and perhaps rightfully so, given the stance of contemporary aesthetics. Yet it continues to intrigue the goldsmith, jeweler. Precious can refer to…
The Economics of Ornamenta 1 is a letter by Dr. Joachim Becker, Mayor of the City of Pforzheim, stating what economic boost the event will bring to his city and the benefits designers and artists will get from the exhibition. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Finally, On September…
When enamelist Bill Helwig celebrated the half-century mark in July of 1988, his wife Lenore Davis, asked the celebrants to festoon the trees with colorful paper strips with famous Helwig quotes. Most were culled from his workshops and provide a…
I have always thought that if no other lesson had begun to seep through peoples’ inertia and greed, that at least a sense of the fragility of the earth and an obligation to ecologic diversity had begun to be routine….
“Form Beyond Function” was organized by Kington and David Prince of the Mitchell Museum, Mt. Vernon, Illinois, in conjunction with the Society of North American Goldsmiths. The exhibition, comprising 52 works by 40 artists, is an attempt to explore sculpture…
The following is an excerpt from the text of the catalog of “The Founding Masters Exhibit”, held at the Schick Art Gallery of Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, guest curated by Kurt Matzdorf under the directorship of Professor David Miller…
Business people look long and hard at their choices before acquiring an expensive piece of equipment for their companies. Price, quality, ROI, level of technology, and durability figure into their decisions. The size of its footprint may be pondered, as well as the learning curve for its future operators. What follows is a general exploration of the options that may be available to small and large jewelry companies — depending on their financial standing and track record.
American crafts are under-going self-examination. Expressed in countless ways, varying from anxiety to optimism, the observation that the field is changing is heard frequently now. Although no ready answers are available, artists, gallery owners, museum directors, collectors and others close…
No one has a crystal ball to predict the future, which can make business planning a challenge. To help make that task a little easier, we recently spoke with leading members of the industry to hear where they thought we’re headed in the coming year and beyond. Obviously, everyone can base their opinions only on their own experiences and observations, but in reviewing their views of the future of the industry, you’ll see several similaritiesmost notably that the industry will continue its slow but steady growth. So as you read through these musings, think about how their predictions will impact your business, and what you can do now to take advantage of the coming trends.
Editor’s Note: This following is an excerpt from Looking Ahead, which appeared in the December 2015 issue of MJSA Journal. To obtain a copy of the full article, contact MJSA at 1-800-444-6572 or via e-mail at info@mjsa.org. Industry leaders share…
I thought this was a dazzling exhibition, even before I had a glass of wine. It was definitely a step back into history. Two of the great London Livery Companies, the goldsmiths and the vintners, joined to produce a comprehensive…
In 1971, excavations in a kurgan (grave mound) named Tolstaya Mogila – big barrow – in the city of Ordzonikidzhe in the southern Ukraine brought to light a spectacular golden pectoral in the underground grave of a warrior, dating to…
The Helen Williams Drutt Collection offers a personal view of the development in fine art jewelry over the past 20 years. A refined eye that understands new developments and experimentation chose works of jewelry for their intelligence, wit, seriousness of purpose,…
The third week of October was, ostensibly, a week like any other. But in the art world, it was a wild week of almost deafening hype. There was coverage of the tedious back-patting that surrounded the opening of the new…
The real Alexander Calder is to be found in the intimate work – the toys, gadgets, jewelry – those delightful preoccupations of his that often get overshadowed by the big mobiles that hang in many public spaces. It’s no wonder…
Earl Pardon’s work has an elusive quality that is difficult to describe, yet this quality has motivated him throughout years of prodigious jewelry making. For four decades he has worked with an energy and curiosity that seems only to have…
Lisa Gralnick makes jewelry of rare power from imagined artifacts of our own time. Its extraordinary impact derives from her sure compositional eye and her success in focusing our attention on forms which, in an important sense, epitomize how we…
Barney Jette and wife Nancy Ball have built a retail success story,
solely focused on jewelry featuring Jettes design. The brand they
have built is recognized throughout the nation and their reputation
is one that theyve earned, piece by piece.
Since the late 60s, Gijs Bakker (b. 1942) has been influential to both Dutch and international jewelry design. His work, often humorous and ironic, rarely decorative, poses the seminal questions: Why do people wear jewelry? What does jewelry do to…
At mid-career, goldsmith Glenda Arentzen still produces jewelry with the freshness that has been her hallmark for a quarter of a century. It permeates whatever she makes, appearing not only in lively, asymmetrical profiles, but also in details: the crisp…
On the second floor of a historic wooden building in an elegant shopping area of affluent Concord, Massachusetts, is found the studio/gallery of Goldsmiths 3. This environment reflects the mature stage in the logical progression that has melded a working-class…
In the three years since her retirement from 31 years of teaching, Ramona Solberg has had three exhibitions of her jewelry, participated in several invitational shows, given jewelry workshops, moved her household and studio and taken seven tour groups to…
This past fall, the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee mounted a retrospective exhibition of the work of master metalsmith C. Carl Jennings. A graduate of the California School of Arts and Crafts in 1934, Jennings worked in a…
Crushed tin foil, marred tintypes, rusted cans—some must have thought it looked like garbage. In 1967, this detritus of our collective consumption found its way onto the walls of the Art Gallery of the University of Georgia. The artist responsible…
In 1946 a small band of metal enthusiasts in Toronto, Canada, formed the Metal Arts Guild (MAG) “to promote and encourage the cultural and commercial development of metal arts and crafts both non-ferrous and ferrous.” The articles of incorporation list…
The following interview between Akiko Busch and Etienne Perret and Michael Good was held as a result of the business panel on which Perret and Good sat at the Society of North American Goldsmith’s conference last June. Their subsequent conversations…
The practice of American craft is set against the larger phenomenon of industrialization: every aspect of craft compares to and competes with mass production. This condition has been basic to craft since 1945, when the war effort killed off subsistence…
My recollection of the first piece of metalwork I owned is of a pin consisting of two poodles connected by a silver chain. This, the use of representation at its most banal, probably floats somewhere in all our early memories…
When I returned from Europe in 1951, my friend Margaret de Patta called and invited me to join a group of metal artists who were structuring an organization dedicated to the needs of producing craftsmen. This group held monthly meetings…
It was about seven years ago, I was living in Paris, spending a typical Sunday afternoon scouring the flea markets of Clingancourt for “hidden treasures.” I had moved to Paris to paint, although at the time I found myself buying…
The following are excerpts from a panel discussion chaired by Lois Etherington Betteridge at the Society of North American Goldsmiths’ conference in Toronto, June 1985. The panelists included: Gary Griffin, Head of Metalsmithing, Cranbrook Academy of Art; Randy Long, Head…
This article is a continuing dialogue on the State of Metalsmithing and Jewelry by Donald Friedlich and Judith Mitchell with to two jewelers, a curator, a collector and a gallery owner. “I am not an expert in jewelry…I feel uneasy about giving…
Anyone who’s played a team sport knows the value of good team communication. Without it, no matter the skills of the players involved, victory is more difficult to achieve. And designer Paul Klecka of Paul Klecka Inc. in Carlsbad, California,…
This essay originated as a presentation at the Society of North American Goldsmiths’ conference in Flagstaff, Arizona in 1986. It has been revised and edited for publication in Metalsmith. Metcalf’s theme concerning the value of ideas as part of the…
It all began in 1978. Gretchen Klunder-Raber issued an open invitation to all persons interested in metalsmithing in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to meet to discuss the possible formation of a guild. Raber was keenly aware of the frustration…
I created this video to support all of the amazing jewelry makers I know who may be discouraged in a rough economy.
Although Thomas Gentille has the distinction of having a black ceramic glaze named for him, it is his little-known recovery of an ancient eggshell surface for jewelry that marks for him an emblematic achievement. Eggshell, the skin of the egg,…
In today’s internet driven market place you need to have a website whether you are a small “Mom & Pop” trade shop or you have employees and multiple locations. Many jewelry stores have already joined the 21st century and have…
It may surprise some, judging from Tom Markusen studio output, that the production objects are handmade, without the use of dyes, props or molds. The objects are smithed straight from the forge, from red to black heat, from the mid-section…
In every business there are costs that are directly associated with producing a product. These direct costs are items such as direct materials (the gold or gems you are purchasing to make your product), direct labor (the cost of the…
At most trade shows, you could stock up on enough pens, notepads, tote bags, and keychains to start a thriving second business as a flea-market dealer. The problem with such giveaways isn’t that they aren’t useful; it’s that there are so many such items handed out that they make only a minimal impression, at best.
When burnishing very detailed pieces, use stainless pins in your mixed shot. Don’t use them any other time because the pins will often strike the work pieces with the pointed ends, creating a very undesirable pitting or orange peel appearance. If you must try mixing pins with your other stainless steel media, the pins can be removed with a medium strength magnet. I use the kind of magnet.
There’s nothing like landing a new client. Whether you’re a large manufacturer or a bench jeweler in a home studio, the prospect of new work coming in is always exciting. Sometimes, though, she added workload can turn delight into disaster. Knowing when to say “no” can be the most important business skill you possess.
Dr. David Weiman of MarketingJewelry.com, an expert on the psychology of marketing and selling handcrafted jewelry, gives solid, sales-building tips for selling more of your artisan jewelry on Valentine’s Day
Naive, primitive, anonymous, magical are characteristics that often accompany our image of the folk artist. In reality, he is an artisan who seeks to understand, preserve and reflect the beliefs, traditions and customs of the common people, often with untutored…
Considering metals prices continue to be sky high, it’s no surprise that plating companies’ phones are ringing off the hook. “We’re getting a much higher volume of inquiries from jewelry makers who produce silver or karat gold product and have never had items plated before,” reports Neil Bell, owner of Red Sky Plating in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This vertical photography set can be constructed inexpensively to photograph small objects such as jewelry and vessels from high angles. Make the modified box of ¾” plywood, about 12 inches wide and 16 inches deep, with a height of 12…
It is possible to practice medicine and do it very successfully and happily without much familiarity with or interest in the history of that profession. It may also be possible to practice metalsmithing with the same attitude of detachment, but…
This exhibit, which originated at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1982, will be traveling for two years throughout the United States. The pieces included in this collection, mostly metal and ceramic jewelry, span about 13 years of…
Those of us who have been following Wendy Ramshaw’s work, for close to 20 years, hove come to anticipate the fluid evolution of her personal language. She takes on challenges with great deliberation and resolve; even chance effects are handled…
For the past 60 years, tourists visiting Mexico have sought distinctive silver jewelry and holloware, crafted by native artisans. Although the designs they find are, for the most part, adapted from pre-Columbian clay seals and executed by Mexican silversmiths, the…
My skills as an artist combined with my years of experience at the bench have given me a practical approach to jewelry. While I want to achieve a bold, sculptural look, my jewelry has an appeal because it is also wearable and enduring. I often design with my artist’s heart, only to be tempered by my technician’s hand that dictates what can be achieved in wax and metal, the media of my art. Conversely, some of my best designs are a product of technical skills meeting the challenge of an artistic hand.
Colored gemstone mining is a hard thing to pin down. The vast majority of mining is still done by independent, small-scale miners, working in remote locations and selling to buyers who pay cash and may or may not declare their gems on export. For many producing countries, particularly in Africa, the real production from the mines probably outstrips the reported production by a factor of 10 — or 20, or possibly 100. No one really knows. In compiling this report, weve included estimates from both official and unofficial sources, but in some cases there simply isnt any information available. This report isnt intended as a comprehensive list of gemstone deposits; its a guide to the most active mining areas in the world right now, with the humble acknowledgment that no matter how much we see, theres always more out there.
Colored gemstone mining is a hard thing to pin down. The vast majority of mining is still done by independent, small-scale miners, working in remote locations and selling to buyers who pay cash and may or may not declare their gems on export. For many producing countries, particularly in Africa, the real production from the mines probably outstrips the reported production by a factor of 10 — or 20, or possibly 100. No one really knows. In compiling this report, weve included estimates from both official and unofficial sources, but in some cases there simply isnt any information available. This report isnt intended as a comprehensive list of gemstone deposits; its a guide to the most active mining areas in the world right now, with the humble acknowledgment that no matter how much we see, theres always more out there.
Colored gemstone mining is a hard thing to pin down. The vast majority of mining is still done by independent, small-scale miners, working in remote locations and selling to buyers who pay cash and may or may not declare their gems on export. For many producing countries, particularly in Africa, the real production from the mines probably outstrips the reported production by a factor of 10 — or 20, or possibly 100. No one really knows. In compiling this report, weve included estimates from both official and unofficial sources, but in some cases there simply isnt any information available. This report isnt intended as a comprehensive list of gemstone deposits; its a guide to the most active mining areas in the world right now, with the humble acknowledgment that no matter how much we see, theres always more out there.
Colored gemstone mining is a hard thing to pin down. The vast majority of mining is still done by independent, small-scale miners, working in remote locations and selling to buyers who pay cash and may or may not declare their gems on export. For many producing countries, particularly in Africa, the real production from the mines probably outstrips the reported production by a factor of 10 — or 20, or possibly 100. No one really knows. In compiling this report, weve included estimates from both official and unofficial sources, but in some cases there simply isnt any information available. This report isnt intended as a comprehensive list of gemstone deposits; its a guide to the most active mining areas in the world right now, with the humble acknowledgment that no matter how much we see, theres always more out there.
Colored gemstone mining is a hard thing to pin down. The vast majority of mining is still done by independent, small-scale miners, working in remote locations and selling to buyers who pay cash and may or may not declare their gems on export. For many producing countries, particularly in Africa, the real production from the mines probably outstrips the reported production by a factor of 10 — or 20, or possibly 100. No one really knows. In compiling this report, weve included estimates from both official and unofficial sources, but in some cases there simply isnt any information available. This report isnt intended as a comprehensive list of gemstone deposits; its a guide to the most active mining areas in the world right now, with the humble acknowledgment that no matter how much we see, theres always more out there.
Colored gemstone mining is a hard thing to pin down. The vast majority of mining is still done by independent, small-scale miners, working in remote locations and selling to buyers who pay cash and may or may not declare their gems on export. For many producing countries, particularly in Africa, the real production from the mines probably outstrips the reported production by a factor of 10 — or 20, or possibly 100. No one really knows. In compiling this report, weve included estimates from both official and unofficial sources, but in some cases there simply isnt any information available. This report isnt intended as a comprehensive list of gemstone deposits; its a guide to the most active mining areas in the world right now, with the humble acknowledgment that no matter how much we see, theres always more out there.
Colored gemstone mining is a hard thing to pin down. The vast majority of mining is still done by independent, small-scale miners, working in remote locations and selling to buyers who pay cash and may or may not declare their gems on export. For many producing countries, particularly in Africa, the real production from the mines probably outstrips the reported production by a factor of 10 — or 20, or possibly 100. No one really knows. In compiling this report, weve included estimates from both official and unofficial sources, but in some cases there simply isnt any information available. This report isnt intended as a comprehensive list of gemstone deposits; its a guide to the most active mining areas in the world right now, with the humble acknowledgment that no matter how much we see, theres always more out there.
Colored gemstone mining is a hard thing to pin down. The vast majority of mining is still done by independent, small-scale miners, working in remote locations and selling to buyers who pay cash and may or may not declare their gems on export. For many producing countries, particularly in Africa, the real production from the mines probably outstrips the reported production by a factor of 10 — or 20, or possibly 100. No one really knows. In compiling this report, weve included estimates from both official and unofficial sources, but in some cases there simply isnt any information available. This report isnt intended as a comprehensive list of gemstone deposits; its a guide to the most active mining areas in the world right now, with the humble acknowledgment that no matter how much we see, theres always more out there.
Yellow-green beryl has achieved ‘desired gem’ status with consumers just within the last few years. Museums were eager to acquire spectacular specimens, while connoisseurs sought it for their collections. However, fashion trendsetters ignored it. As in aquamarine, the iron incorporated into its chemical structure is responsible for the color..
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