Jewelry is jewelry, right? Well, not necessarily! We live in a world where so much of what we buy is mass produced. This often means that the price point is lower, which makes things more affordable for the average buyer. From furniture to clothing to jewelry, it is more common to purchase something that has come off an assembly line versus having an artisan design and craft it.
Mass produced consumer goods are designed and built to serve a need, en mass. They are meant to appeal to the general population. With this in mind, what we see in stores is usually classic, contemporary or trendy. Mass producing consumer goods serves a very real need for our population. It allows consumers to have goods in real time. After all, if you order something on Amazon.com, for example, you can pretty much have it at your door in a day. Now that’s instant gratification.
But, for as handy as it is to be able to order online or pop into a store, when consumers are looking for high quality pieces they want to be able to see and touch them in person. They want to know what things are made of. In addition, in many cases, they want to have a hand in the creation.
That’s why there are still people who custom create items such as furniture, clothing and jewelry. It’s why some people prefer to make their bread or baking from scratch, rather than purchase from a store.
When it comes to jewelry, there is a growing trend toward custom-designed and created jewelry. But, is custom jewelry always better than mass produced jewelry? Can you get a signature piece off of an assembly line? What’s the difference? What’s better?
These are the questions we get asked regularly, so we wanted to share expert advice to purchasing jewelry.
What is Custom Jewelry?
Custom jewelry is hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind pieces that are individually designed and crafted for a specific taste.
Often, custom jewelry pieces are commissioned by the client and designed with their tastes in mind.
In other cases, jewelry designers will create signature pieces based to sell. These might be based on trends in the marketplace. Or, like any artist, they have a vision they want to bring to life.
The wearer of custom jewelry can take pride in knowing they are the only person with that single piece.
Custom jewelry can be created from scratch or from other pieces of jewelry. It is common for people to bring in old jewelry and even heirloom pieces and have them created into something special and with meaning. In this case, people are looking to have a more contemporary or on trend style, but without wanting to give up the metal or gemstones from other pieces in their collection.
Custom jewelry is hand-crafted and the quality and workmanship is as good as the jeweler. This is why it is important to select an experienced jeweler.
What is Mass-Produced Jewelry?
Jewelry that is created on mass is known as mass-produced jewelry. While the designs are created by jewelry designers, usually these pieces are created on an assembly line. When you purchase from a jewelry store counter, and it doesn’t specify that it is custom, then you are likely purchasing a piece of jewelry that was created on mass.
Jewelry stores around the country or the world may have several of the same pieces. The pieces can be classic or contemporary and have been designed to appeal to a wide audience.
The quality and workmanship of the jewelry is as good as the jewelry company and workers. Your budget will determine the quality of the metal and the clarity and size of the gemstones.
Mass-Produced Vs. Custom | What is Best?
Your budget and taste will determine what is right for you. If you are looking for a unique piece that really tells a story, you should begin researching custom jewelry options.
Custom creations become works of art. Often, the jewelry is able to utilize higher quality materials and the higher level of workmanship is evident. Custom pieces usually have a higher level of detail and style that can be evident as soon as you set your eyes on it.
Creating a custom piece requires a level of care, focus and time that is much more involved than selecting a piece from a shop. In other words, there is a higher level of commitment with a custom made piece of jewelry.
Selecting the Gemstones
Hand-selecting the gemstone is a major advantage when creating a custom piece. Based on budget, there is more variety in terms of size, color and clarity.
The Finer Details
A custom created piece of jewelry is usually laden with details that go above and beyond the average piece. From the shape of the stone to detailed work on the bands, to the quality of a clasp, it is easy to spot a custom designed piece.
Individuality
Custom designed jewelry is perfect for the person who is excited and proud to know that what they are wearing is one-of-a-kind. The uniqueness of a custom piece adds value and prestige.
Ultimately, when choosing between mass-produced or custom design, it comes down to budget, personal taste and style, and whether or not you want to make a statement.
Custom jewelry is a statement! While it may not be the right choice for every piece of jewelry, if you are looking for a one-of-a-kind piece, custom jewelry is the way to go.
Whether turning an heirloom piece into a new creation or starting from scratch, Keezing Kreations is proud to create statement pieces for your collection.
