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The Other Seventeen Fifty

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At a recent craft show, a self-identified former jeweler-ish and antique dealer wanted to buy a JPL3 necklace. She liked the diminutive nature of the chain. I explained how it was handmade, heirloom-quality, invisible seamless welds, fine silver, and took more than 25 hours to make. She asked how much. I said seventeen fifty. She didn't bat an eyelash and called her husband over to pay for it.

He pulled out a wallet about 3" thick and proceeded to hand her...a $20 bill. Apparently she was not too keen on what 25 hours of labor meant. She clearly didn't listen to anything I said or any of the answers to her questions. Her "jewelry and antique dealer" claim was dubious at best. She expected to pay less than the raw silver value, never mind a negative hourly labor rate for what I can guarantee was the most exquisite chain she has ever touched.

Everyone else who asked about chains got a comical warning: "Let me start by saying it's not $17.50...." Some of my chains are higher-budget items but legitimate museum-quality heirloom jewelry is not in the same price range as butted, ultra low-quality junk. Or the fake Chinese "925" chains resold by everyone and their brother. You are basically buying perfection, a piece few are able to create.

Just because it's a small craft show doesn't mean that everything there is junk, cheap, or novelties. Granted, just one of my bracelets cost more than the entirety of everyone's inventory combined but it doesn't diminish what they are selling. You'd never expect to find stuff like mine at a show like this...kind of like finding a real diamond ring in a gumball vending machine. Maybe the latter will never happen but the former happens often.

I don't expect to sell super chains at even the most prestigious show. The only realistic possibility is a necklace as there is not much difference between 18" and 18-1/2" long...most could deal with that difference. With a bracelet, 1/2" is gargantuan!

My bracelets are oversized - they could fit an elephant in some cases. In an emergency they could be cut down to length but I prefer to make one from scratch. Customers get the benefit of my most up-to-date skillset, too. Besides, shortening one is just pissing away countless hours of labor since the remnant gets a one-way trip to the scrap pile.

She quickly left. I didn't sell any chains that day but did sell a custom set of earrings, got a commission to turn some old silverware into new jewelry, and bought a set of silverplated silverware that I will repurpose into utensil jewelry and whatnot. For the low turnout, I was pleased with the overall experience.

Posted by M: December 28, 2021

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