Hot Take from the Bench with Amanda #1

I've seen a few too many videos lately claiming to educate people on how to buy jewelry based on the melt value. They claim that people are being ripped off if they are paying anything more than just above melt value. 

As your friendly jeweler and metalsmith with over 20 years of experience, I could not disagree more. I purchase my raw materials based on the current metal market plus labor. So before gold wire, casting grain, and silver sheet becomes a beautiful piece of jewelry we are already well above melt value. I often melt scrap silver and gold and turn it into something new, but that takes time, skill, and creativity. 

When someone asks me for the gram weight on a piece, that just tells me they don't value my design or skills. Some of these videos say you are being ripped off if your jeweler won't give you the weight on a piece. Some even go as far as to say to bring your own scale because they'll cheat you with theirs.

This is all just absolutely ridiculous. We all like to spend our money on different things. We all value things differently and that is wonderful. I will happily tell you the gram weight, but I don't sell my jewelry by the gram and never will.

But I would instead like to normalize not undervaluing artists and craftspeople. I want to live in a world filled with creativity, beauty, and art. Not a world driven by commodity prices and investing.

I never look around my house at the beautiful art I have collected from artists over the years and think I was ripped off. I have never asked a painter or a ceramicist what their materials cost. I know what they cost, but I also know the skill and vision it takes to create these beautiful pieces. 

I love when people tell me they are taking a ceramics class, learning watercolors, or taking a wax carving class. I want more people making art, not less!

Things can be out of your budget, or simply not your cup of tea, and still be fully worth the price the artist is asking. If you want to buy gold and learn how to turn it into the ring you want to wear, please do!

I honestly think if you take a jewelry, painting, or ceramics class, you'll think we're all undercharging for our work. 

Do you have any ideas for me for this new hot takes series? Let me know. 

I love nerding out on all things jewelry and stones. 

Want me to debunk stone myths, explain the difference in metals, or dive into some amazing jewelry history?