Introduction
It’s the age of personalization. If you want custom jewellery findings, then you’re in luck. There are plenty of options available. But before you start shopping for your personalized piece, it’s essential to understand what makes a good quality product different from the rest.
How much do you have to spend
Even with a small budget, you should be confident in getting a high-quality product. You need to know what to look for and where to look.
Many jewellery suppliers are selling their products at prices much lower than what they should be charging. However, it’s hard for customers to realize this because most people need to learn how much different kinds of jewellers’ findings cost. If you’re not sure whether the price is fair or not, ask yourself these questions:
· Is it better quality than what people saw at another store?
· Can it be returned if it breaks after two weeks (or whatever)?
Metal type
The type of metal is the first thing you will want to know about. There are four main types: gold, silver, brass and copper. The difference between them is in their composition and durability. Gold is naturally soft and easily bent or scratched by everyday wear; however, it can be coated with a hardening plating for increased durability. Silver does not have this issue but does tarnish more quickly than gold. Brass is more complex than any other metal in jewellery except steel; however, it is more challenging to work with as it requires special tools when soldering or casting your pieces together.
Brass has become popular recently due to its affordable price point, which allows many artists access to higher quality materials without breaking the bank on investment pieces like sterling silver or fine metals like 14k gold fillings.
Plating
Plating is a layer of precious metal bonded to a base metal, such as brass or copper. Plating can be done using electroplating or chemical plating.
There are several different types of plating, each with its pros and cons:
· Electroplated: This type of plating uses electricity to deposit a thin layer of precious metal on the base material. It is durable but can easily scratch off or wear down.
· Rhodium-filled: This type of rhodium-plated jewellery won’t fade or tarnish as sterling silver does—it’ll stay shiny for many years without any special care.
Ease of use
It’s essential to consider the ease of use of your jewellery findings before making a purchase. This includes how easy it is to install, remove, and resize. A ring shank that is too tight or loose around the finger will not stay on properly and could cause injury to the wearer if it falls off unexpectedly.
A common mistake in choosing findings is selecting difficult ones because they require an extra step during installation or use too much force when installing or removing them from jewellery pieces.
The look you want
· Look for the style you want. If you like dangly earrings, look for hoop findings or ball-finding earrings that support your preferred jewellery type.
· Consider what kind of person you are and what type of lifestyle you lead. Are you an outgoing person who likes to wear lots of jewellery? Or are you more conservative and prefer simple pieces?
· Think about where your jewellery will often be worn: at work, in casual settings, or around town? You may want to consider whether a particular setting calls for specific findings that could make it more difficult or less likely that they’ll get damaged while being worn.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that you should shop around for your findings, examine the available variety and ensure that it meets your needs. This way, you don’t have to settle for something subpar just because there is nothing else on offer. And who knows? This may be the start of a lifelong passion.
