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.