More Jewelry in the 20-30 Dollar Range, Please

by Kerry H.
(Raleigh, NC)

I have bought hand-crafted jewelry at craft fairs. I like hand-crafted work because each piece is unique and usually the materials are of better quality.

Also, when you talk with the crafter, you can find out more information and frankly, I would rather buy something I know was made in the US than something made in a third world country by prison or sweatshop labor.

I don't wear a lot of jewelry but I buy it to give to others.

My tip is this: I like buying from a crafter, but I have a tight budget. I think it is a great idea to have high end items for high end people, but those of us in the lower middle class like nice things, too, and we would like some choices. I'm willing to spend $20-$30 on something nice but beyond that, we're getting into my grocery money.

So, when I visit booths with only high end things, I'm out of there really quickly.

Likewise if the items in the booth don't have any prices showing. I don't want to have to ask how much the items cost, because it's awkward to bother the seller to tell me the price only to find out the items cost more than I can afford. I think there are a lot of people like me.

Also, it is really nice to hear or read the story of a piece of jewelry--how the artist got the idea, what the materials are, where they came from, etc. That becomes part of the artifact as well as the buying experience.

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More Jewelry in the 20-30 Dollar Range, Please

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Domestic sweat shops
by: Arsinoe

The idea of "handcrafted" original jewelry at the $20. to $30. price point is dream that many of us would like to stumble upon.

The truth, though, is that it takes time to design pieces, materials are costly, and the jewelers' time is worth something. For an indepedent studio jeweler to create a unique piece at that price point s/he would end up working in a domestic sweat shop.

The value of handcrafted jewelry
by: Anonymous

I agree with the previous poster-I too am a jewelry designer-and have such a passion for what I do-but it is also getting harder to keep prices down for my customers because of the cost I have to pay for materials. Even though I get to buy wholesale-some of the Sterling or Gold Filled chains I use in my jewelry cost me anywhere from $12-30 per FOOT of chain--and that is the wholesale price I pay! When you consider that most necklaces are at least 16-18 inches in length-that is alot just for the chain-and that price is without a clasp, beads, gemstones, crystals or whatever. Adding those things on to make a necklace makes the cost much more than $20 or $30--and I don't think customers realize that. While I love what I do, I do have to make a living at it too-just like my customers have to make a living at whatever job or career they have chosen-and just like them-I earn an hourly rate or salary. Design time, packaging so that my customers receive a nicely packaged jewelry item-that also adds on cost. I pride myself on making sure everything my customers receive is something I'm proud of-and something that is very carefully handcrafted so that it will be something they can enjoy for years to come.

artist response
by: Anonymous

This is a lively discussion! I am a jewelry designer and I have been making and selling jewelry since the early '90s. While I can incorporate some designs into the $20 -$30 range I have to say that this is 99.5% always going to be earrings only. VERY occasionally I can wrap an inexpensive briolette and connect it to a very fine weight silver chain and put a clasp on it and charge $30 - $35 for it and still make a decent wage for my labor and a fair markup for my supplies. I AM making an effort for my upcoming shows to make more earrings in that price range, and my pendants (I do silver clay work) will likely sell for that price and up depending on size, but that would be with no chain. It will continue to be difficult to design and make jewelry in that price range with rising costs, not just for supplies but for gas to get ourselves to shows, utilities in our workshops, etc. etc.

You can still have pretty jewelry for a decent price
by: Anonymous

I too am a Jewelry designer and I do mostly agree with all of the rest of the comments. But for the most part, some of my most expensive pieces are only $30, BUT I don't use sterling silver or gold. I use silver plated findings and chain. This makes it so I am ABLE to sell it at a lower cost - but my customers always know that it's silver plated. I enjoy doing this because I agree with what the first person said - it cuts into your grocery money - seriously, me too. My Aunt described it best: " I bought a bracelt from you for $7.50 and I never take it off... even though I know it will end up getting damaged by me weraring it in the shower if it breaks in 6 months - I know I got my $7.50's worth." Now I always give my customers tips on how to prolong the life of silver plated and gold plated jewelry, my aunt is not folowing that advice - but she's rgiht - if you wear it for 6 months straight before it breaks or gets damaged - I think that's well worth $7.50! Did I go off on a tangent? I"m sorry. What I"m saying is - you can still have nice jewelry for a lower cost. If you want the sterling silver it's going to be pricing - no if's and's or but's about it.

beauty on a budget
by: Anonymous

I too design jewelry and have prices that range from $10 - $200. And yes, it is difficult to do original work in precious metals for a bargain basement price. But I now mix metals, adding copper which is one of my favorites into my pieces. It is not for everybody, but does bring the price in linie for someone on a budget. I sell quite a lot of completely copper pieces. Lovely to work with, some consider to have health benefits, and can be more reasonably priced!

20-30 range
by: Anonymous

I actually just started selling my designs, I did my first craft show and had great response. Most of my prices are up to $30. Most of my pieces I use lower grade natural gemstones and silver and gold plated findings. I have sold quite a few pieces at work and everyone loves the affordable price and the fact they can buy more than one piece. They also find its great for their teenage or college age kids. The great thing is that there is a market for both higher priced and lowered priced items. So both kinds of designers can show their ingenuity and creativity and have it enjoyed by a wide audience.

So the items are out there you just need to keep looking!!

Lower End Jewelry
by: Anonymous

In regards to one of the comments about plated jewelry at lower prices that won't last long, but who cares because it was only $7.50. I think there is two kind of shoppers. I'm a jewelry designer and consumer. I'd rather pay that little extra for quality, craftsmanship and creativity. Pay more for something of value that I can always cherish or give to someone else who will. I find that the cheap stuff is broken or lost much too soon. Yes, you can buy more of it, but that little money adds up for sometimes a bunch of junk rather than for one or two really special pieces.

Lower price does not have to equal lower quality.
by: Brandi

I, myself, began my jewelry designing and selling because I was a single mother of two with a very small allowance to purchase "little extras" for myself. I wanted to be able to have and wear well made, beautiful jewelry but was not able to find any that fit into both categories.
Eventually, after my second child was born, my symptoms from my Lupus no longer allowed me to work outside the home. You would not believe the amount of time I spent just window AND Windows shopping. I soon discovered that with a little patience and a little research, the vast assortment of quality components, findings, and other jewelry making items WERE available to me AND at bargain prices. ( I couldn't believe that I could purchase 400 swarovski crystal 4mm bicones for only one penny - even from China, it was only a couple weeks wait time!)
After I mastered the penny-pinching purchasing of components, I was then able to design and construct earrings, single and multiple strand clasp and memory wire bracelets, chokers and all sized necklaces that were beaded with quality class, austrailian crystal, natural and polished gemstone beads and pendants, and all for very little cost to me. 99% of my earrings are dangles that hang from fish hook earwires that are make of silver-plated surgical stainless steel which makes them 100% hypo-allergenic. There are many options when it comes to making items that won't turn the skin green or flake and peel, it's just a matter of finding them.
I can now sell all my jewelry items, from earrings to necklaces with nothing being priced over $35 (most of my necklaces run between $15 and $25) ,and if the items are sold as 2 or 3 pc matching sets, I give a price break with each pc in the set.
If a customer is adament about sterling silver or real gold being used, then I offer them the option to pay a very small fee (usually between $5-$12)inorder to have their selected items re-done with the preferred metal being used for the earwires, clasps, jump rings, etc. I found out early on that if I only purchase the sterling silver and real gold findings upon the customer's request, then there is no stress or profit loss that goes along with keeping those items in stock.
Now if I could just find a better time saving method to apply to running my website and online sales tasks......!

400 bicones for 1 cent? Really?
by: Connie

Brandy,

Could you tell me how you found this deal? Could you send me a link or let me know the process you used to find it?

The cheapest I have been able to find them are about ten cents *each,* forty dollars for 4 hundred of them. I would love to get that many for $39.99 less!

I am also looking for pearls.

My email address is connie dot langan at g mail dot com (remove the spaces and replace the dots with real dots). Thanks in advance!

Connie

OMG! where on earth?
by: Anonymous

Brandy ,
I am curious too. I am just starting int the business and have been findit difficult to find quality findings and well anything I need to make all theses designs running in my head. I too am unable to work now due to some health problems and disabilty payments can only be stretched so far if you can help a fellow jewelry designer just begining it would be greatly appreciated.

here is my email address.....kimberhoff64@gmail.com

also, i'll accept help and advice from anyone...thank you in advance!!

It's a whole new ballgame, and the news isn't good.
by: Arsinoe

The price of silver today reached $46.68 per ounce. Three years ago I was paying roughly $9.00 per ounce. Those who have silver, silver scraps and findings purchased at lower prices will not be able to replenish their inventory. I am mixing scrap silver with casting grains and melting down some of my earlier pieces into ingots. Even those who used 'silver-filled' metal or plated base metals will find that their costs will be rising sharply.

Each of us will need to find creative ways to meet this challenge. I am working more with hand-carved acrylic and resins mixed with findings and elements in the 'noble' metals.

Another concern is that antique, vintage and estate jewelry is being melted down for cash. In the past a good antique piece was always worth more than the price of the metal. Today that might not be the case.

Jewelry design students, who can barely find money for tuition, are finding it nearly impossible to purchase materials. Newly minted graduates of these schools have almost no experience working with platinum, gold or even silver.

The effects of these changes will have a long-lasting impact on the industry.

re:400 sc for one cent
by: brandi

if you have the patience, and dont mind buying from out of the country, e-bay has incredible pricing for ALL jewelry making, displaying & packaging. i couldnt have done much if i didnt stumble across it. its cheap and even from china, the shipping was super quick!

thanx brandi - nm
by: connie

nm

Jewelry design
by: Sandra

I also feel that if the artist underprices the piece of jewelry, it does not help sales. If your work includes guality materials, it should receive a higher price. Peolpe can chose for themselves whether they want cheaper components or a higher price. Cheap jewelry falls apart and most people know that it will not last.

An artists craft is a reflection of their soul and skill. The piece should be as clean and neat as the style of the piece permits.. Thus fine stones would merit finer metal and less expensive stones could be set or wrapped with brass or copper.

elegance and quality at budget prices.
by: Dody

I've found that between E-Bay and a few good suppliers , I can make affordable jewelry that lasts and is unique. From square cut( although small)peridot,rubies,garnets,etc. to good silver plated findings, you can find almost all of it on E-bay. Certain things like crimp covers, I've learned it's better to buy from a supplier in the US, but most of the suppliers get their items from overseas anyway, and then add money on.
I have a range of low cost earrings,bracelets and necklaces and also a higher range of jewelry using only sterling. Each item is labeled so customers know what they are getting.
I think the most important thing is to make your jewelry well,wear a piece for a while to be sure that it will hold up to wear and tear, and price your items according to what YOU would pay for them and the area you live in. and make what you love! Jewelry making is a passion, selling it for a bit of profit without gouging anyone is just an added bonus.

Jewelry at 20 -30 dollar range
by: Dita

We are all in the same boat. I am having a craft show in a school for fund raising. Now I usually make knitted wire jewelry with stones and pearls and they are pretty time consuming.

When I use precious metals and even semi precious stones I can not keep them under $100 range.

I think I'll use copper and silver or gold tone wire and cheaper stones and glass beads to still keep it affordable , yet I can not keep it under $30 range!

I am trying different styles, and thinking what should I look for as simple gifts to give, because I want to make it affordable to many people who are not so rich.

Of course I can make earrings and I am going to include little stories with them. The idea is just brewing in my head. When it is all set, I'll come back and tell you what I did finally, how my show went with under $20- $30 jewelry!

Dita
http://www.alankarshilpa.etsy.com
http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

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