Is there future in europe for jewelry design and small independent
goldsmiths?
Hallo everybody,
My name is nicolas Theodoridis, independent jewelry designer/master
model maker, and setter of diamonds and gems. I run my business in
Antwerp, the city of diamonds, in Belgium. I have done this one man
show for now almost twelve years,
Doing everything in order to stay alive and continue investing in
this job as I believe a lot of you folks are doing on everyday basis
hoping that i will come to a certain level of business, that I will
have not to worry anymore for my bills, but how to finish my orders.
I love the work and I am very passionate about it, always try to
make the jewels better, improve my technique, eager to be the best.
In my small career till now I have always looked for a second job,
you know for the times that you don’t make ens meet, in the jewelry
business but I have never till now I came across one job offer,in
Europe. The last three months although till July i thought that it
will be my first year that I will make money from my profession,
business has drop to zero, it is like people do not need any jewelry
anymore.
I try to find another job, maybe to another jewellers workplace but
believe me there are no jobs out there. I have solicitate for jobs in
the U.S, that is the only country that are jobs in the jewelry
business available but I have not get a single reply back.
So my question to you people out there, is it the same for you? Are
the little people like us will disappear of the face of the earth
and all jewels will be made by big factories somewhere else? Why I
have never found a position in Europe?
I try to stay competitive, with counting every little bit in order
to be able to have sales, although my operation costs and my salary
will always will be more then one from china for example.
A lot of people gave me the advice to do something else, because
they believe that luxury goods have no future and specially for
people like me that has not the sufficient capital in order to reach
the broad and rich public.
I follow the forum already for the past 3 years maybe more and I see
that most of you people are coming from the U.S but I have not came
across any Europeans. Can somebody out there tell me what is
happening. I know that people from Europe do not exchange views so
easily and definitely do not share is like they are
scared that someone will run away with their valuable little secrets.
At the end, is there future in europe for jewelry design and small
independent goldsmiths???
With friendly greetings,
Nicolas Theodoridis
Jewelry designer/Master model maker
Setter