What are you made of?

There is a big debate in the jewelry world: at least artisan/studio jewelers like myself think there is something to debate. Not sure whether commercial jewelers are in on it yet! The debate has to do with what makes a piece precious -- is jewelry precious because of the materials it is made of, or because of the design idea it represents? In commercial jewelry, the answer tends to have to do with the preciousness of the materials in the jewelry. It is made of gold, platinum, silver; has diamonds, rubies, etc. so therefore, it MUST be precious, even if the design is trite beyond all bearing.
Artisan or studio jewelers like myself tend to look at this a little differently. This bangle is composed of acrylic, anodized aluminum and sterling silver. Total worth of the materials in it, about $10. The design idea harks back to those fabulous Bakelite days, with a little industrial influence thrown in.
I made this piece, so we know I'm biased, but I'd rather wear this than drip with diamonds. I know this took hours to laminate the acrylic, cut, shape and refine it. Measure and drill and cut for the rivets. Sand and buff and polish. I know this came from my heart, my mind and my hands. Other artisan's jewelry does, too. When you wear artisan jewelry, you support a movement that harks back to the days when things were handmade and unique, when a piece you liked meant that you shared the artist's vision of what is precious.

Think about this the next time you look at someone's handmade jewelry. When you buy handmade jewelry, you buy so much more than just a ring, bracelet or necklace. You take a little piece of the artist with you and the knowledge that you won't see your new jewelry everywhere else you turn.

Enjoy!