| Jewellery in all forms is delight to wear but the | | | | burns easily and causes irreparable damage to the |
| choice of jewellery is however a matter of | | | | articles. Recycling the metals then is almost |
| personal choice. | | | | impossible and cannot be considered an |
| While some people like authentic and expensive | | | | investment. However, if you know how to |
| hand-crafted jewellery, others may simply want | | | | maintain your precious things well, nothing |
| to stock their wardrobes with trendy and | | | | promises more variety and elegance than |
| fashionable items. Honestly, both have their own | | | | extremely beautiful, fashionable and guaranteed |
| pros and cons. Let’s try and compare both | | | | machine-made jewellery. |
| types of jewellery on the basis of their quality, | | | | Authentic handmade silver and gold jewellery |
| durability and affordability. | | | | fitted with precious, semiprecious or Swarovski |
| Let’s begin with understanding what | | | | crystals have always been coveted by designers |
| machine-made and handmade jewellery are and | | | | and consumers alike. Handmade jewellery is an |
| what makes them popular? | | | | investment and can easily be repaired whenever |
| Most of the modern jewellery available today is | | | | required often with minimum effort. The metals |
| manufactured using machines and hence is called | | | | and stones can be recycled or rearranged into a |
| machine-made jewellery. jewellers today are | | | | new design altogether at considerably low costs |
| preferring machines over artisans because | | | | when compared to purchasing a new |
| machines copy exact and accurate jewellery | | | | machine-made jewellery item in the event of an |
| design elements and produce a considerably large | | | | irreparable damage to the article. Beautiful, |
| volume of high-end fashion–jewellery within no | | | | authentic and specially handcrafted fashionable |
| time. No wonder, they offer more variety, better | | | | jewellery can be manufactured using almost all |
| finish and are easier on the pocket too thereby | | | | metals and gemstone combinations. Handmade |
| offering better profits to the jewellers. | | | | jewellery gives you best value for money. |
| Talking about the authentic handmade jewellery, it | | | | However, skilled artisans are required to create |
| is carefully handcrafted by skilled artisans after | | | | and repair these beautiful pieces of art. However, |
| putting in hours of labor to produce intricate | | | | care must be exercised when purchasing |
| designs using age-old methods. Though not as | | | | hand-made jewellery. Below are some tips to help |
| well-finished as machine-made jewellery, | | | | you identify the real jewellery. |
| handmade jewellery is highly valued and priced for | | | | Inspect the materials used. Silver or gold must |
| the art and skill that has been put in during its | | | | always be marked for their carat weight or |
| preparation. Handmade jewellery has a special | | | | quality. Stones can be natural, treated or stabilized |
| charm and elegance to it and hence makes for a | | | | and can easily be identified using simple techniques |
| perfect gift for someone special. | | | | such as trying to scratch a diamond which never |
| Let us know look at the pros and cons of both | | | | scratches or looking for bubbles inside a |
| types of jewellery. | | | | Swarovski crystal which is never present. A |
| Machine made jewellery whether precious, | | | | written disclosure indicating all components of your |
| semi-precious or low-end materials are often | | | | article on your receipt while buying can guarantee |
| fashionable and offer beautiful range of designs | | | | a genuine purchase. |
| and finishes to choose from. However beautiful it | | | | Obtain a certificate of authenticity: A certificate |
| might appear initially, it can easily wear down. And, | | | | of authenticity of the materials used in your |
| repairing machine-made jewellery is difficult and | | | | jewellery can assure the quality of your purchase |
| often leaves ugly scars only to leave your | | | | and can be useful when trying to resell or remodel |
| precious item worthless. Finishes and polishes that | | | | your jewellery later. |
| make this jewellery attractive, are actually a | | | | Whatever your choice might be, a thing of beauty |
| limitation when it needs to be repaired. The polish | | | | is a joy forever. |