Fabrication or assembling

The point of the story is I used the technique that was the most
comfortable and economic for me to produce the best product for the
client. 

The most comfortable and the most economic and the easiest way to
make jewellery is not to make it at all.

Making jewellery by fabricating each and every component is an
arduous, painstaking process.

There is only one reason to do it. A client and/or a design must be
worth it. By substituting hand-fabrication with other processes,
which are cheaper, easier, and etc - goldsmith makes a statement
about the client, the design, or both. The same goes for the use of
any material, other than precious alloys.

Leonid Surpin

Leonid,

Making jewellery by fabricating each and every component is an
arduous, painstaking process. There is only one reason to do it. A
client and/or a design must be worth it. By substituting
hand-fabrication with other processes, which are cheaper, easier,
and etc - goldsmith makes a statement about the client, the design,
or both. The same goes for the use of any material, other than
precious alloys. 

Mistaken again.

All that matters is what the client takes out the door and loves.
Most are not interested in the technical details, or are bored to
that glazed eye ball look with detailed descriptions. I chose the
technical stuff to give the best that I can do, any technique is fair
game, that is my job. Some techniques are more complex than simple
fabrication.

Same for metal of THEIR choice. I might be kicking and screaming but
if they want lead then so be it. They can often have unspoken reasons
for their choices. Hell even you will make plat designs in sterling.

jeffD
Demand Designs
gmavt.net/~jdemand

All that matters is what the client takes out the door and loves. 

And here lies the fundamental difference in how we relate to our
work. For me, the most important is what I think of my work, but
others are happy just to get it out of the door, regardless. I feel
sorry for such people, because they are trapped in profession they
are ill suited for. Please accept my condolences.

Leonid Surpin

Jeff D said… All that matters is what the client takes out the door
and loves. Most are not interested in the technical details… I
chose the technical stuff to give the best that I can do, any
technique is fair game, that is my job. Some techniques are more
complex than simple fabrication.

I think Jeff is right on the money. There is an awful lot of angst
on the forum over the right way to make a piece. I think that more
often than not those arguments are more about the writer defending
his or her skill set rather than an undeniable truth. We feel we need
to deend our methods to validate our personal choices. In my
experience the customer is looking forward to the finished piece. A
discussion of the process adds interest and value to the purchase
for the customer, but what the process might be is up the the smith.
The process all Greek to the average customer no matter how it’s
made.

Mark

For me, the most important is what I think of my work, but others
are happy just to get it out of the door. 

If you are in the business of making jewellery for customers,
customers would come first. Otherwise you’d have few if any.

If you’re not in the business of making jewellery for customers,
then you aren’t restricted by what the customer wants, and only have
to worry about your own thoughts.

Regards Charles A.

For me, the most important is what I think of my work, but others
are happy just to get it out of the door. 

With all due respect, you’re insane. The only important factor is a
happy customer. (Unless you just make jewelry for yourself in which
case disregard my second sentence.)

For me, the most important is what I think of my work, but others
are happy just to get it out of the door. 

Leonid,

Such an EGO.

The client is paying you to make what they want. Period, end of
game. It is very nice when you can reach an understanding and make
something you also like. The client is always first even if they are
an idiot.

Make some thing just for your enjoyment and the rules are different,
you become the client (resident idiot ??) Even if you can still sell
the albatross at a profit.

I don’t need any condolences. I enjoy what I do even if at times it
is only another boring job I hate doing.

jeffDDemand Designs
Analog/Digital Modelling & Goldsmithing
gmavt.net/~jdemand

If you are in the business of making jewellery for customers,
customers would come first. Otherwise you'd have few if any. If
you're not in the business of making jewellery for customers, then
you aren't restricted by what the customer wants, and only have to
worry about your own thoughts. 

One can be willing to lose a sale on principle. When Walter Hoving
still owned Tiffany & Co. the store did not carry nor would make any
diamond rings for men. Mr. Hoving thought that diamonds in a man’s
ring was in poor taste. We were instructed to tell any customer who
wanted a man’s diamond ring to go to Cartier.

Elliot

Hey Paf–Don’t you usually find that the things you make that please
you are also pleasing to the customer. Though your experience is
bdroader than mine. I have, so far, found this to be true. In some
cases the customers have come back for more.

Gerald Vaughan