Archive for June, 2010
Fly Happily with Butterfly Jewelry
June 13th, 2010 | 
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Opal Butterfly Jewelry
One of the most fun pieces of jewelry is a butterfly shaped opal brooch. It has a classy and feminine touch that can be worn in different ways. During the early times, people believed that this gemstone had healing powers. They used this gem to ease eye diseases, depression and anxiety. Other types of butterfly jewelry includes: necklaces, earrings, and rings.
The different kinds of opals that are commonly used in jewelries are black opals, white opals, synthetic opals, crystal opals and boulder opals. Black opals are the hardest to find and are the most costly as well. The shades of white opals, on the other hand are lighter than the other types. Synthetic opals are the ones that are made with artificial material and relatively cost cheaper. They are brighter in colors compared to natural opals, and the spots of color are larger. Crystal opals have transparent surfaces, which some people find more appealing. All opal jewelry is beautiful, yet some types will appeal to you more than others.
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Polished by fire
Fire polished beads from the Czech Republic are a faceted glass bead. Czech fire polish beads are made in an area called Jablonec nad Nisou. Production of glass beads in the area dates back to the 14th century and this area is well known for the manufacture of high quality glass beads. Czech fire polished beads have become so popular in recent years, primarily because they are the highest quality manufactured faceted bead available. This has helped make them one of the most favored glass beads by jewelry makers and beadworkers alike.
Thinking of summer themes, I decided that I need a light, bright, and not expensive necklace because this season is funny for outdoor activities, summer vacations, and nature scenes; summer is just the lovely season itself; and glass faceted beads seemed to be a good choice. Looking for beads, I stopped by Artbeads.com, that has… mmmmmm… unbelievably rich inventory! Using right angle weave technique, stringing and looping, Czech glass beads and Toho seed beads 11/0, I designed the necklace I like. It took me just a few hours! The only problem is how to photograph the necklace because of sparkling beads. It’s not named yet, could you help me please with that?
Jewelry Business: Market ValueJewelry Business: Market Value
Each piece of metalwork you do has two values: intrinsic value (what the raw materials are worth) and market value (the value added by your labor and the demand for your work). The theory of mass production is that very little is added to the intrinsic value, since not much labor goes into the manufacture of a single item. But if you do mostly one-of-a-kind pieces, then your labor may well be the major part of the market value.
The market for your work becomes more limited as you increase the labor costs. If you are well known, and have a large following and/or demand for your work, then it does not really matter what your work costs — it will sell. If you are just starting out, adding many hours of work to a relatively insignificant amount of intrinsic value probably will not sell very well. Without an established name to justify the cost of a piece of relatively low intrinsic value — a piece made of silver with an inexpensive agate, for example — you’ll end up paying yourself only a few cents per hour in order to sell a piece that took you 40 hours to complete. Spending that same 40 hours on a gold piece with expensive stones, however, even if the selling price will be quite a bit more than the one in silver, makes the work more saleable. Unfortunately, it takes a certain amount of educating the buying public to make people perceive that an artistic value may be greater than the intrinsic one.
So how does this market value affect your choice of metals? It will depend on a number of factors. Do you need to sell this piece to earn your living? Or will it be “not for sale” — made for yourself or as a gift? What is your current market? Could the galleries now handling your work sell something like this? Many galleries cater to a specific kind of clientele, and might find it difficult to sell work which is radically different. Is there an exhibition or competition coming up which would be an appropriate showcase for this piece? Would recognition of you as an artist be worth the time and effort you will need to take away from your regular work for you to produce this piece? All of these aspects must be considered when you are designing and making decisions about what materials to use.
Related posts: Color Factor, Weight of Metal
Gemstone Buyer’s Guide
What is a gemstone?
Any naturally occurring substance in a raw, uncut state that is capable of being a gem. They are also known as precious stones.
What are natural gemstones?
Gemstones mined in nature are known as natural gemstones. They may take several millennia to grow.
What are synthetic or laboratory grown stones?
Synthetic stones are made in the laboratory using molten chemicals to solidify and form the stone. They are also referred to as laboratory grown. They do not have the rarity and the history of natural gemstones. These stones generally lack imperfections.
What are imitation stones?
Imitation stones look like natural gemstones in appearance only. They may be glass, plastic or less costly stones.