New Rio catalog - Sign of the times?

I just received my new Rio catalog - and I wonder if this isn’t a
sign of the times? In the first place, they have combined the Gems &
Findings catalog and the Display & Packaging catalog. I’m sure this
is cheaper for Rio, and combining them works fine for me.

What really amazed me, though, was the complete change in the order
in which items are presented. In the past, it started with high carat
gold, worked down to vermeil, then to gems and pearls, then to
sterling and gold filled and base metals. As I work primarily in
sterling, this has always meant I spent time digging around in the
depths of the catalog.

Imagine my amazement when I open the newest catalog to discover it
BEGINS with Argentium silver, then sterling, then vermeil, then gold
filled, then base metal - THEN gold! Wow - I have to wonder if this
reflects the new order of metals their customers are focussing on in
this economic climate?

I know I’m doing a lot more vermeil and a lot less gold than I used
to, even given that I never did do much in gold. It gives customers
the rich look of gold without the price.

At any rate, very interesting.

Beth Wicker
Three Cats and a Dog Design Studio

http://bethwicker.ganoksin.com/blogs/

I know I'm doing a lot more vermeil and a lot less gold than I
used to, even given that I never did do much in gold. It gives
customers the rich look of gold without the price. 

I also noticed on page 680 of Rio’s new catalog that they have a
product called ‘Gold-Bonded’ sheet and wire, which is 22k gold on
Argentium (1/6th gold by weight). No pricing listed, and I can’t find
it on their web site. Don’t see it in their old catalog. Has anyone
used this? How do you like it?

Jamie