Guys jewellery

Jewelry Discussion
21 
Thats great to hear. So how much of your work is still man's
jewellery and how much of it is for females? Do you just design
what you like, or did you do a bit of research on whats in at the
moment?

Hello Monika,

I’m still at the “gee, I’d like to make a living at this!” stage so
my experience is only worth so much. In all honesty I haven’t even
paid for the raw materials I’ve purchased never mind tools, time,
profit et al.

That said, my jewellery making is now about 70/30 in favour of the
ladies. I still do a fair bit of men’s stuff but only in spurts, as
in “ok, now I’ve got 10 men’s pieces I want to make so let’s get
started”. I find the two require different aesthetic moods so doing
them in batches seems to work better for me.

I think it’s often necessary for a guy to cross the line from
thinking in terms of “I don’t wear jewellery” to “I wear jewellery
that I like”. If you can give them stuff that suits them I think
they’re more likely than not to become good customers. My experience
is that almost everybody wants something that is unique and is
uniquely theirs, especially if they can afford it. :wink:

Given that I’m still doing it “as a hobby” --I hate that phrase,
makes it sound so trivial when in fact I’m often at it for 6 or more
hours a day-- I design pretty much what I’m interested in doing, or
what my wife, friends, acquaintances, friends-of-friends, etc want or
are interested in seeing.

I find that it works best if I just make stuff and get it out there
be that on myself, my wife or whatever. That’s what triggers people
to ask for things. For the most part I think people have no idea what
they want until they see the possibilities … then there’s lots of
things they’d like! Most folks have no clue what can be done by a
moderately skilled jewellery maker, too much conditioning from a
lifetime of exposure to mass produced goods is my theory. Once
they’ve seen some fresh ideas, and as long as the price for a
commission is in their comfort zone, they’re often willing to commit
to a purchase.

Working in sterling helps that process because the cost of materials
is pretty reasonable. That and sticking to … whatever we’re calling
semi-precious stones these days. When your basic cost of materials
–metal and stone(s)-- is less than 50 or 100 dollars people seem to
feel a little better about treating themselves to something new and
unusual.

I realize that I’d starve if I tried to make a living at this by only
doing things this way. It just so happens that it’s the way I’ve been
doing my jewellery work so far so that’s the experience I’m speaking
of here. The bills get paid by my “other gig”.

Cheers,
Trevor F.

22 
    thank goodness for DeBeers and their "right hand rings" for
women.  Rather than sit around waiting, like a christmas tree, to
be adorned, the women can decorate themselves w/ the bounty of
their last raise.

I can’t believe I’m reading this! If it weren’t for De Beers’
campaign to make women feel it necessary to “sit around waiting,
like a Christmas tree, to be adorned,” then women in the USA would
have empowered themselves much sooner. How can you fall for this
same ploy again!? I’ll allow De Beers their PUBLIC attempt to
empower women with their Internet news ad which reads:

“The right hand need not be ignored any longer. The newest trend is
the diamond Right Hand Ring. The diamond Right Hand Ring signifies
the strength, success and independence of women of the twenty-first
century. These rings come in a variety of beautiful designs –
Modern Vintage, Floral, Romantic, and Contemporary – offering each
woman a design that best suits her individual personality. Women of
the world, raise your right hand!”

Another well-thought ad campaign. Now that American women are
strong, successful and independent, they must now be dependent on a
diamond ring to prove it. But, they can prove it in a variety of
beautiful designs.

On the other hand, De Beers has stopped directly advertising for
manufacturers, but they offer a lot of suggestions regarding
marketing strategy. A google search of “right hand ring” led me to
several web sites which promote this bauble. My favorite (a direct
cut-and-paste) reads like this:

“Women who want to purchase a nice diamond for themselves don’t have
to feel self conscious about wearing a diamond if they are single,
and men have a whole new opportunity to purchase something new for
that special someone. It is a brave new world and one we are happy
to promote.”

Of course they’re happy to promote this “brave new world”, they can
not only get men to buy diamond engagement rings, they can also
guilt them into “empowering” their women with more diamonds via the
“Right Hand Ring”. Also, does a strong, successful, independent
single woman in this day and age really feel self-conscious about
wearing a diamond?

On the De Beers web site: “Your left hand loves candlelight. Your
right hand loves the spotlight. Your left hand declares your
commitment. Your right hand is a declaration of independence. Women
of the world, raise your right hand.”

It should read: Your left hand represents 50 years of us making you
feel you should depend on your husband. Your right hand represents
us trying to tell you the opposite. Women of the world, raise your
middle finger.

If the disgusting conflict involved in the production of De Beers’
diamonds isn’t enough to turn your stomach, this idiotic ploy
should.

James (who was once called a femnist, but is more of an equality
kind of guy) in SoFl where it is very, very hot. But probably not as
hot as it will be after everyone reads this post.

23

God, Isn’t DeBeers wonderfull? I wish I had their advertising budget.
Doc, this is a wonderfull post, who would get mad at it?. I’m in
Tucson and it’s damn hot here too. I think Debeers is capitalism run
amuck. I wonder if Debeers reads Orchid, if so they would see a
grassroots hole in their dam ,waiting to burst. Sam Patania, Tucson

24 
Doc, this is a wonderful post, who would get mad at it?.

Sam, apparently not many since I’ve already had several off-list
emails with plenty of “LOLs” and “Right on’s!” The ones who will get
mad are likely to be the jewelry store owners like the ones who own
the place I walked into last month, the story of which I will share
with the group.

I was visiting in another state where I saw a jewelry store that
advertised their designer had won a couple of awards. I decided to
stop in and see what sorts of things this designer was making. The
first thing inside the door was one of those “Forevermark” posters
with slogans about how buying diamond jewelry for your wife would
keep you out of trouble, etc. They also had little slips of paper
with other slogans in their diamond jewelry displays. One sample is:
“Items in this jewelry case have been known to prolong your
marriage.” I suddenly wondered whether I had mistakenly wandered
into a brothel. I looked around to make sure and, nope, the sign
still said “Fine Jewelry.”

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t fancy myself some kind of incredible
designer/jeweler/fabricator or anything else. In fact, whoever made
the ring in the case that won whatever show it was can
design/fabricate circles around me. The thing is, they were
representing what I do as a way to buy your wife’s pardon for
whatever transgression you’ve committed. I felt so dirty that I
wanted to have a shower.

James in SoFl who is glad his companion is happier with a moss agate
than a diamond.