I think it is great that Pitt and Jolie want to design jewelry. My hope is that due credit will be given the person, or persons who actually carry out the designs and transform Brad and Ange's ideas into jewelry.
Anyone who has done work for a “jewelry designer” knows that’s never
the case.
Too often these people function as ghost writers, with little or no recognition.
The ghost writer analogy is a good analogy.
Rick Copeland
Silversmith and Lapidary Artisan
rockymountainwonders.com
Here’s what I thought when I read this thread. Celebrity or not
really isn’t the point anymore - it’s just that now everybody and
anybody is now making/designing jewelry. I notice it more and more -
when I do shows I of course talk with the people who come into my
booth and only minutes into the conversation I can glean that they
are making their own jewelry - even though they’ve never sawed,
filed, or hammered a piece of metal. They are asking me every
technical question under the sun and examining pieces so closely,
the backs, the sides, upside down – trying to figure out how I made
it. I finally have to just come out and say "do you make jewelry?"
and they always respond, “well I dabble a little - certainly nothing
like what you do!!” and I’m supposed to feel flattered - then after
examining every piece, they of course walk out with plenty of my
ideas and don’t buy anything - I believe it impacts sales and yes, I
do feel angry about it. And, to get back to the celebrity thing - it
just reinforces the idea that anybody can now “dabble” or lend their
name to work that they never even touch or truly design. I guess I’m
a little disgusted that the time and effort put into actually
learning a craft and the hours spent designing and fabricating don’t
seem to be respected if the attitude is that anybody can do it or
learn it overnite or have someone else do it and put their name on
it.
I personally disagree with the person who said “everyone should have
a creative outlet” in response to this thread - yes, creative
outlets are fantastic, but I don’t feel like my craft is a “creative
outlet”. It’s the result of training, experience and real time spent
going through the process and learning and it is not a creative
outlet for me - it’s a livelihood that just happens to be creative.
Grace
The bigger question is: “Are they designing it or just putting their
names on it?”
You know they are not at the bench making it! (LOL) Several who have
done this in the past pay others to do the work using their very
vague idea.
Jane
They need training whether they know it or not
Oh, the snobbery… (don’t mean David, quoted above…) Sombeody off
list said I was a snob for my thoughts, a while back. I’m not don’t
confuse the 100 word forum post with the man. It was like calling a
professor a snob because they have more knowlege… Then it’s
perfectly fine for a few to accuse people for starting a jewelry
line… Not only that, it’s with ASPREY. Oh, the pain… ;} You
don’t like it, don’t buy it… “Orchid is for everybody” includes the
Pitt’s, too. Good for them.
I don’t think that someone who makes copper and silver disk jewelry
with bezel set stones as long as the stones are calibrated rounds
and the metal is within a certain range is really a jewelry designer
either, but we don’t say those things around here. As David points
out, having a designer and then a technical staff is far from out of
the ordinary. In fact it’s the usual practice at most of the fine
houses. “Customer wants these stones in a high style mounting that’s
unique, elegant and comtemporary… We’d like some sketches in the
morning…”
One thing is certain they ARE crying all the way to the bank…
I’m hoping that this over reaction is just a “knee jerk” moment.
Either that… or I’m astonished…lol… well that would be an
overstatement. LOL sorry for my lil bit of drama 
Bill
Perhaps I should clarify why I asked “What’s wrong with this world?”
We discussed in great detail the Tiffany/Gehry partnership - - and
as I recall, there was a great deal of disdain for it. Yet, here is
Asprey/Pitt/Jolie doing the same exact thing… if not even more so.
Smart marketing? Sure
Immediate name recognition? Absolutely
Fastest way to a sale? Yes
Now… were one of Mr. Miller’s pieces up against a similar
Jolie/Pitt piece - - do you really think Mr. Miller’s unbelievable
talent will dictate that sale? No… what will dictate that sale is
the buyer being able to say “Jolie/Pitt designed it” - - that’s what
is wrong with the world…
Then again, I could just be grumpy from too many chocolates being
left over in the house from the holidays and feeling this stupid
obligation to “finish them”.
Cameron
Grace,
I guess I'm a little disgusted that the time and effort put into actually learning a craft and the hours spent designing and fabricating don't seem to be respected if the attitude is that anybody can do it or learn it overnite or have someone else do it and put their name on it
I understand about the time someone spends looking at your jewelry
asking questions about how it is made and taking up time, possibly
losing sales…however I looked at your website and I see the skill
you have for fabrication, your design skills, and the patience you
obviously have to create your jewelry. This admiration of your work
might give you a moment to realize the level of skill, the
perseverance you have, and achievement you have reached that
inspires hope in another person, and how lucky you are to have found
your passion that others admire.
I believe there is a way of being friendly and having grace in these
situations, and being able to limit the amount of time you spend by
learning to qualify the shopper so you do not waste your time. I do
that every day in my brick and mortar store. This admiration may or
may not lead to a sale, however,I think you might take in this
admiration, re-frame it and get some good juice from the attention.
I do get irritated sometimes by TW’s (time wasters). Part of the job,
unfortunately. But sometimes there is humor that the person asks all
the questions. The fantasy they have thinking they might someday
spend their time working as hard as I have to create something with
the skill, the patience, the precision, the attention to detail I
have that they most likely do not have and never will. However, the
occasional person that is touched in a deep way by your creativity
that moves them to find a way to express their own creativity might
be a blessing you might not ever know about, but you have touched a
life and changed one.
Richard Hart G.G.
Denver, Co.
There’s another celebrity jeweler designer right here on Orchid. It’s
just that you don’t see her in the movies: Marianne Hunter.
KPK
I had a customer scrap a wedding band that was a Brad Pitt and
Jennifer Aniston design. Didn’t like it myself but that doesn’t
matter.
They are marketing their celebrity/brand name to sell merchandise.
Doesn’t everyone? (That includes large & small corporations)
My message to Brad and Angelina: Jump on in! The water’s fine!
I certainly don’t think either one of them would have a problem if a
jewelry professional decided to get into acting, directing or
producing, and if they did, I would hope that jewelry pro would
ignore them and do whatever the heck he or she wanted to.
Dave Phelps
Richard,
Well put! Who’s got the time to worry about this sort of thing…
not me… I’ m too busy haveing fun in my studio!
Michelene Berkey
This is nothing new. Joan Rivers has been on QVC for years raking in
big bucks on ‘her’ jewelry…and she is just one of many.
Until Brangelina shows up at a show set up near me selling 'their’
jewelry…I won’t worry.
Grace, I agree with your post and relate as I’m sure others do. It
gave me an idea…
Have a little list of the tools used in making a piece and when
people come along inspecting your work tell them ‘let me tell you how
that’s done’ and proceed to go step by step and then tell them the
tools they’ll need and the cost.
“Well, you’ll need a jeweler’s saw at $$$; a nice set of needle files
as well as larger half round, round, flat files at $$$; a scribe at
$$$; a torch with tanks at $$$; a flex shaft AND a dual wheel buffing
machine; planishing and forging hammers…” etc, etc, etc…
You don’t even need to bring the cost of education in $$$ and time
into the equation!
“So, for just a few thousand dollars, you too can make this $80.00
necklace!”
It doesn’t matter the cost of the piece whether it be $40.00 or
$4000.00…the investment is the same.
For those who don’t know me, I say this tongue in cheek…maybe.
The customer holding out the money often/sometimes thinks he/she is
worthier/smarter than the person selling the jewelry.
The person selling the jewelry often/sometimes thinks he/she is
worthier/smarter than the bench artisan who built the jewelry.
The bench artisan who built the jewelry (possibly with CAD/CAM/CNC)
often/sometimes thinks he/she is worthier/smarter than the person
who merely sketched the design.
The person who merely sketched the design is now Brad/Angelina, who
used to be the person holding out the money, but happily closed the
loop for us all.
We’re all worthy and smart and at every level we love jewelry. Work
hard. Span several levels. Succeed. Be happy.
Mark Bingham
Fourth Axis
http://fourth-axis.com/workshops/
when I do shows I of course talk with the people who come into my booth and only minutes into the conversation I can glean that they are making their own jewelry - even though they've never sawed, filed, or hammered a piece of metal. They are asking me every technical question under the sun and examining pieces so closely, the backs, the sides, upside down -- trying to figure out how I made it. I finally have to just come out and say "do you make jewelry?" and they always respond, "well I dabble a little - certainly nothing like what you do!!" and I'm supposed to feel flattered - then after examining every piece, they of course walk out with plenty of my ideas and don't buy anything - I believe it impacts sales and yes, I do feel angry about it.
I can understand your annoyance about this issue. But I try to see
it more optimistically. I don’t mind giving away “trade secrets” (as
if I had any!) because I know that when the other person tries to do
such things on their own, they’ll discover why so few actually make
jewelry. I believe they will also gain a better understanding of
pricing, and eventually may well fade out on making their own jewelry
and they and their friends may become customers of yours.
Judy Bjorkman
Well stated Richard.
And my two cents on the topic are that not everyone is everything in
this industry. I know many talented diamond setters and bench
jewelers who are incredibly talented, but they are not designers. And
I know a handful of designers who are not bench jewelers and couldn’t
do the bench work even if they worked at it for years, because as we
know, a lot of this skill comes from natural, innate, talent.
So if a celebrity designs a line of jewelry and employs talented
artisans to create it - what’s so bad about that? I know for a fact
those bench jewelers would be thrilled to work and to work on good
design, if it’s good, who knows? And to have continuous work is
good, isn’t it? Not every bench jeweler is going to get credit nor
care to get credit for every piece they solder, polish, set stones
into. They take personal pride in their work, not everyone cares
about celebrity status. In my opinion, celebrity is a burden, and I
would love to work on Brad and Angelina’s designs, everyone knows
they are not setting those diamonds and some talented soul is.
Sara
Oh, the snobbery...
Snobbery isn’t quite the word I’d use but anyway, I’ll point out
that snobbery(or similar) is very much a part of the jewelry biz,
whether one likes it or not. How many customers rave about the
vagabond jeweler? How many rave when the jeweler presents a certain
image? Image is totally subjective but that’s another issue.
Words I might use would be discerning, discriminating,
sophisticated, anything else that would be flattering to the person
I’m interested in giving me their money.
So snobbery, or discrimination, is there, its a fact, choose to use
it to your advantage or not. I personally, don’t get how someone can
choose to be a jeweler but belittles their clientele with words like
snobbery. There’s more money in diamonds than malachite, more money
in gold than copper. More money in celebrity(which can be local, not
just Hollywood) than invisibility, take your pick. If the jeweler
isn’t discriminating, he misses one big factor in making a living
because no matter what the level, the client looks to the jeweler for
expertise, advice and reassurance.
But I’m such a snob too 
Cameron- For years I’ve told folks, “Behind all of the crystal
chandeliers, lights, flowers, showcases and thousand dollar suits, we
are the invisible people with the dirty fingers and jeans making it
all happen.” Kinda like “Do not pay any attention the the man behind
the curtain.”
My sweetie Tim and I have made a few “designers” famous for “their”
quality craftsmanship and skill.
Do I resent it? Sometimes.
However, as long as their checks cash, I’m happy.
Oh yeah, and you absolutely MUST finish ALL of that chocolate.
Have fun and make lots of jewelry.
Jo Haemer
www.timothywgreen.com
I went on a google safari the other day and found a supposed good
e-mail address for Brad Pitt and sent a message inviting he and
Angelina to consider joining orchid.
If Brad pit can handle a late 1930’s 74 CU inch, kick start, suicide
shift, leaf spring front end Indian Motocycle like the one i have,
AND RIDE, he is alright in my book even if it was only while he was
in character. any how i hope he does join orchid and confronts all
you celebrity critics - goo
but you have touched a life and changed one.
Richard, thank you for saying what I wish I could have.
Sorry if admirers such as myself come across as Time Wasters. I am
continually amazed by the creativity and quality of work that I
often find even at relatively small craft shows. I examine things
carefully, and have been asked “Do you make jewelry?” occasionally.
I’m not looking in order to “rip off” the design, I’m looking in
admiration.
I guess I thought that such interest would somehow recompense the
artist; I imagine a sale would prove it more. I’ll keep that in
mind.
The fantasy they have thinking they might someday spend their time working as hard as I have to create something with the skill, the patience, the precision, the attention to detail I have that they most likely do not have and never will.
I understand that many of the folks in this forum have spent years
perfecting their craft. Probably it is a fantasy that I will ever be
able to produce something at your level, Richard, but it is a goal
of sorts. I unfortunately chose to spend my working years in another
profession, developing skills appropriate to that field. I’m now
(nearly) at a point where I can pursue my fantasy. You are
absolutely correct when you say that seeing a true work of art can
touch a life, and change its direction.
I wish that I could afford to buy something from every artisan whose
work I admire. I can’t, so I try to express my admiration in other
ways…and I dream.
Thanks to all who make Orchid such a wonderful resource. Buy a
Raffle Ticket, dag-nabit!
David Stitt
I'll point out that snobbery(or similar) is very much a part of the jewelry biz,
Sorry Neil, but you misunderstood my post by 180 degrees - and I’ll
say to the one who started it (sorry, don’t know the name…) that
it’s not the thread, it’s some of the responses - I’ve never read
the first post…
There were a couple of replies that did it, but it was the
Seymour-bashing, again, that pushed me over the edge. The snobbery is
not what Neil talks about, or as he says, other words to describe
jewelry, clothing, cars, jets, helicopters. I heard Oprah has an
ebony floor… It’s some of the responses here on good old Orchid
that were intolerant and intolerable, to me.
It’s been said already, but I’m not sure some really get it. The
lone jeweler doing it all in the basement or back room is the
exception, not the rule. Most jewelry - expecially fine jewelry
(gotta say it: Jewelry which is fine, not a cliche) is made by
professionals. The best designer, the best goldsmith, the best
setter and the best engraver. There is no person who is the best of
them all, it simply can’t be done. What the Pitts are doing is SOP
for the jewelry industry…