| Whether you are looking for a unique and lovely | | | | When you purchase a piece from someone who |
| gift for someone who is important to you, or | | | | is doing the work on their own, they will often |
| whether you just want to find a piece of | | | | have significantly lower overheads than a large |
| jewellery that matches your style and personality, | | | | company would need to deal with. So although the |
| why not look into commissioning a piece of | | | | piece will take many hours instead of a few |
| handmade jewellery? When most people think of | | | | minutes to produce, the price can often still be |
| jewellery, they often end up choosing mass | | | | lower; if a piece only passes through one pair of |
| produced jewellery that is so common in the high | | | | hands, only one person needs to make a profit |
| street shops. Often, mass produced jewellery not | | | | and you can rest assured the quality will be high. |
| only has quality issues, but you're also likely to find | | | | You should also consider how unique and creative |
| that everyone else is wearing the same version | | | | your jewellery can be. Have you always wanted |
| of it. So why not take a moment and consider | | | | jewellery that allows you to stand out and that |
| getting something much more personal? | | | | suits your personality? Do you find that this year's |
| Firstly, you'll often find that purchasing handmade | | | | crop of fashion jewellery does nothing for you at |
| jewellery will get you a piece of jewellery that is | | | | all? Avoid that by requesting a personal piece that |
| of significantly higher quality than you'll find in the | | | | will always look good on you. Do you have a love |
| high street shops. When you are dealing with a | | | | of elegant Victorian designs, or do you love loose |
| reputable jewellery maker, you're going to get the | | | | and modern geometric shapes? Do you need |
| materials that you're paying for. In many cases, | | | | earrings that dangle and shine or do you prefer |
| this is visible right away; for instance, when | | | | studs that have been worked very delicately? |
| someone who is working by hand uses white gold, | | | | Getting bespoke jewellery is a good way to |
| they can generally ensure a piece that has a | | | | make sure you have exactly what you're looking |
| clearer, truer colour to the metal than a mass | | | | for. |
| produced piece sometimes has. If you want a | | | | There are far too many people out there who |
| piece of jewellery that will last you a lifetime, you | | | | simply "make do" with the jewellery that they can |
| want something that was made by hand. | | | | find rather than looking for a unique piece that can |
| Another reason to look into purchasing | | | | be made especially for them. Google 'handmade |
| handcrafted jewellery is down to price. Too many | | | | jewellery' today to find that exclusive piece of |
| people have the idea that handmade jewellery is | | | | handmade jewellery you'll always love instead of |
| prohibitively expensive, but this is not always true. | | | | making do with something you merely like. |