Seeking Advice on jewelry moldings and metal supplys.

Hello (im new here)

I was hoping somebody in this newsgroup might be able to offer me
some advice on a jewellery collection i am trying to market. I already
have a collection made up (not available for viewing yet)which i am
contracted to begin marketing soon but also need to have new designs
made up in the existing style. I am only contracted to the existing
collection and so have no experience dealing with goldsmiths and
jewelers. I was hoping somebody might give me a rough ballpark estimate
with example links to the costs of having new designs made into molds
for gold, silver, white gold, and platinum in the full range of carats.
I am also in the market for perhaps finding a new source for our
gold/silv/platinum supply and wanted to know which countries are
generally concidered the cheapest/best places to buy from. The existing
collection is available in 14carot only, and i am told by the artist
her current goldsmith insists it is not possible to have the current
collection in a higher carat due to the softness of the metals. I am
unsure if this response is simply because the artist does not have the
time to arange higher carats or if the reasons given are genuine. I was
hoping to market the collection as being available in the highest
carats and finest quality diamonds and would apreciate any advice on
limitations that may exist and how i might find a way around these
limitations to provide the best quality materials. So much info exists
on the net, it makes it difficult to filter the quality from the masses
of junk, so im hoping for some pointers or shortcuts here. I will soon
be moving production to eastern europe due to the very low costs of
labour there and so sourcing metals and manufacturing the pieces from
molds are taken care of already. I simply need to have some molds made
up and find a supplier of metals and the finest quality small diamonds
for rings etc.

Many thanks for any advice offered.

A

ME wrote:
Hello (im new here)

I was hoping somebody in this newsgroup might be able to offer me
some advice on a jewellery collection i am trying to market. I already
have a collection made up (not available for viewing yet)which i am
contracted to begin marketing soon but also need to have new designs
made up in the existing style. I am only contracted to the existing
collection and so have no experience dealing with goldsmiths and
jewelers. I was hoping somebody might give me a rough ballpark estimate
with example links to the costs of having new designs made into molds
for gold, silver, white gold, and platinum in the full range of carats.
I am also in the market for perhaps finding a new source for our
gold/silv/platinum supply and wanted to know which countries are
generally concidered the cheapest/best places to buy from. The existing
collection is available in 14carot only, and i am told by the artist
her current goldsmith insists it is not possible to have the current
collection in a higher carat due to the softness of the metals. I am
unsure if this response is simply because the artist does not have the
time to arange higher carats or if the reasons given are genuine. I was
hoping to market the collection as being available in the highest
carats and finest quality diamonds and would apreciate any advice on
limitations that may exist and how i might find a way around these
limitations to provide the best quality materials. So much info exists
on the net, it makes it difficult to filter the quality from the masses
of junk, so im hoping for some pointers or shortcuts here. I will soon
be moving production to eastern europe due to the very low costs of
labour there and so sourcing metals and manufacturing the pieces from
molds are taken care of already. I simply need to have some molds made
up and find a supplier of metals and the finest quality small diamonds
for rings etc.

Many thanks for any advice offered.

A


If you have to come here for advice, you are in the wrong business my
friend. Your questions are the ones from someone who has no business
being in this business.

Take your money and run!

--
Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

Abrasha wrote:

ME wrote:
Hello (im new here)

I was hoping somebody in this newsgroup might be able to offer me
some advice on a jewellery collection i am trying to market. I already
have a collection made up (not available for viewing yet)which i am
contracted to begin marketing soon but also need to have new designs
made up in the existing style. I am only contracted to the existing
collection and so have no experience dealing with goldsmiths and
jewelers. I was hoping somebody might give me a rough ballpark estimate
with example links to the costs of having new designs made into molds
for gold, silver, white gold, and platinum in the full range of carats.
I am also in the market for perhaps finding a new source for our
gold/silv/platinum supply and wanted to know which countries are
generally concidered the cheapest/best places to buy from. The existing
collection is available in 14carot only, and i am told by the artist
her current goldsmith insists it is not possible to have the current
collection in a higher carat due to the softness of the metals. I am
unsure if this response is simply because the artist does not have the
time to arange higher carats or if the reasons given are genuine. I was
hoping to market the collection as being available in the highest
carats and finest quality diamonds and would apreciate any advice on
limitations that may exist and how i might find a way around these
limitations to provide the best quality materials. So much info exists
on the net, it makes it difficult to filter the quality from the masses
of junk, so im hoping for some pointers or shortcuts here. I will soon
be moving production to eastern europe due to the very low costs of
labour there and so sourcing metals and manufacturing the pieces from
molds are taken care of already. I simply need to have some molds made
up and find a supplier of metals and the finest quality small diamonds
for rings etc.

Many thanks for any advice offered.

A


If you have to come here for advice, you are in the wrong business my
friend. Your questions are the ones from someone who has no business
being in this business.

Take your money and run!

--
Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

As i stated i am in web design and marketing, not the jewellery trade,
and i have a new and unique collection i am contracted to market and
brand. Would i be right in saying that your comment suggests prior
knowledge of jewelry craft is esential in posting to this group and
that those with purely an interest are not welcome? Perhaps other
people in this group might not appreciate you directing away their
potential business of selling the highest quality and most expensive
materials which i seek?. Perhaps someone with your stance towards
potential new business has no business being in any kind of business
since you have no problem with sending away the potential new business
of other jewelers operating around you. Not a business skill often
found in "the school of common sense business". My questions probably
indeed are nieve since i openly have no knowledge of this trade and
jewellery, however as some might say "everybody must start somewhere"
as you yourself once did. Nobody can ever give thanks to their "start"
without thanking those who were willing to share their knowledge and
cooperate in the first place.

words for thought i hope

Kind regards...A

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:48:58 +0000, ME wrote:
The existing
collection is available in 14carot only, and i am told by the artist
her current goldsmith insists it is not possible to have the current
collection in a higher carat due to the softness of the metals. I am
unsure if this response is simply because the artist does not have the
time to arange higher carats or if the reasons given are genuine.

Might well be true. Post links to a site or resource with images
of images of the collection. (Don't send attachments -- this is a text
only newsgroup.) No one will be able to answer that without seeing them.

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 16:06:08 +0000, mbstevens wrote:
mbstevens wrote:

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:48:58 +0000, ME wrote:
The existing
collection is available in 14carot only, and i am told by the artist
her current goldsmith insists it is not possible to have the current
collection in a higher carat due to the softness of the metals. I am
unsure if this response is simply because the artist does not have the
time to arange higher carats or if the reasons given are genuine.

Might well be true. Post links to a site or resource with images
of images of the collection. (Don't send attachments -- this is a text
only newsgroup.) No one will be able to answer that without seeing them.

Unfortunatly i am unable to make photos available at present due to the
jewellery being a unique concept joining specialist textiles to metals
which we are looking into patenting before the new site is launched. I
understand you are unable to give an opinion without seeing the items.
I was actually trying to get an idea into the limitations of softer
metals and how this applies to jewlery. Would i be right in saying that
"any" piece of jewellery can be re designed into a higher carat or are
some carats simply not used in the trade for certain items due to the
softness of the metal?. hypothetical example: Is there a market for 24
carat watches or would a watch be too easily damaged in 24carats?

I guess to sumerize or clearly explain my question: what limitations
will i likely face if i want to have the existing collection and new
designs made into purer materials.? Is the only limitation the
shaping/design of the pieces or are their other conciderations to take
into account?.

Since i am hoping to source the finest materials at the cheapest
possible prices i was hoping you might also have some tips for someone
who has no knowledge of metals and diamonds on where they might begin.
I know that the diamond trade is often seen as highly corrupt and i
would apreciate some pointers or tips on how someone with no
experiences might avoid getting stung without the need for years of
studying metal and diamond quality theory. Can you recommend a well
known reliable wholesale source which is widely recognised in the
industry as being honest and reliable.? I would rather pay a slightly
higher price from a know reputable source than buy from the cheapest
offers. Or perhaps you know which countries are often used in the trade
to source metal and diamond supplies?.

Many thanks .........Regards........A

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:01:42 +0000, ME wrote:
... Would i be right in saying that
"any" piece of jewellery can be re designed into a higher carat

No. Strength and hardness matter.

or are
some carats simply not used in the trade for certain items due to the
softness of the metal?.

Yes. But karet is not the only influence on softness. Different
metals can be alloyed with gold.

hypothetical example: Is there a market for 24
carat watches or would a watch be too easily damaged in 24carats?

Anyone who owned a solid 24K watch would probably take very good care of
it, even if it did scratch easily. I have seen none at Walmart lately,
but if you visited the Rolex factory you might find some -- I don't know.
If you have that kind of money to throw around, I would certainly do some
statistical market research first, and I would be very, very sure I had
access to high end buyers.

ME wrote:


Since i am hoping to source the finest materials at the cheapest
possible prices i was hoping you might also have some tips for someone
who has no knowledge of metals and diamonds on where they might begin.

That's the kind of information I have gathered over a period of 30
years. I'm certainly not going to giver that away to some yokel in a
newsgroup just because he asks for it. I don't know you. Why would I
give you my precious resources which I have developed over such a long
period of time. What if you don't pay your bills. I'll be the one with
egg on his face.

I know that the diamond trade is often seen as highly corrupt

Oh, and where have you gained this knowledge?

and i
would apreciate some pointers or tips on how someone with no
experiences might avoid getting stung without the need for years of
studying metal and diamond quality theory.

Oh, you want it the easy way. You're knocking on the wrong door pal.

"without the need for years of studying metal and diamond quality
theory." You have a lot of gall my friend. Like I said in my first
response, you have no business being in this business, especially since
you are obviously not willing to pay your dues.

Can you recommend a well
known reliable wholesale source which is widely recognised in the
industry as being honest and reliable.?

Yes.

I would rather pay a slightly
higher price from a know reputable source than buy from the cheapest
offers.

But only slightly of course.

Or perhaps you know which countries are often used in the trade
to source metal and diamond supplies?.

I don't seize to be amazed by your sheer unmitigated audacity and gall.

--
Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:48:58 GMT, ME wrote:


Abrasha wrote:

ME wrote:
Hello (im new here)

I was hoping somebody in this newsgroup might be able to offer me
some advice on a jewellery collection i am trying to market. I already
have a collection made up (not available for viewing yet)which i am
contracted to begin marketing soon but also need to have new designs
made up in the existing style. I am only contracted to the existing
collection and so have no experience dealing with goldsmiths and
jewelers.

snip

If you have to come here for advice, you are in the wrong business my
friend. Your questions are the ones from someone who has no business
being in this business.

Take your money and run!

--
Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

As i stated i am in web design and marketing, not the jewellery trade,
and i have a new and unique collection i am contracted to market and
brand. Would i be right in saying that your comment suggests prior
knowledge of jewelry craft is esential in posting to this group and
that those with purely an interest are not welcome?

No, but it's certainly required to market it properly.

And you really need to learn how to spell.
--
Marilee J. Layman
http://mjlayman.livejournal.com/

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 20:53:39 +0000, Marilee J. Layman wrote:

Marilee wrote:

No, but it's certainly required to market it properly.

And you really need to learn how to spell.
--
Marilee J. Layman
http://mjlayman.livejournal.com/

ME replied:

Cant say i really give a dam on spelling and grammer when chatting on
usenet. Im a pragmatist by nature and as long as its intelligable
enough to understand its good enough for me. Its the state of the skol
system here in the uk..lol. I do take more notice when designing for
the web though.


PS. Dyslexiks forever!...K.O!

ME wrote:
Abrasha wrote:


ME wrote:

Hello (im new here)

I was hoping somebody in this newsgroup might be able to offer me
some advice on a jewellery collection i am trying to market. I already
have a collection made up (not available for viewing yet)which i am
contracted to begin marketing soon but also need to have new designs
made up in the existing style. I am only contracted to the existing
collection and so have no experience dealing with goldsmiths and
jewelers. I was hoping somebody might give me a rough ballpark estimate
with example links to the costs of having new designs made into molds
for gold, silver, white gold, and platinum in the full range of carats.
I am also in the market for perhaps finding a new source for our
gold/silv/platinum supply and wanted to know which countries are
generally concidered the cheapest/best places to buy from. The existing
collection is available in 14carot only, and i am told by the artist
her current goldsmith insists it is not possible to have the current
collection in a higher carat due to the softness of the metals. I am
unsure if this response is simply because the artist does not have the
time to arange higher carats or if the reasons given are genuine. I was
hoping to market the collection as being available in the highest
carats and finest quality diamonds and would apreciate any advice on
limitations that may exist and how i might find a way around these
limitations to provide the best quality materials. So much info exists
on the net, it makes it difficult to filter the quality from the masses
of junk, so im hoping for some pointers or shortcuts here. I will soon
be moving production to eastern europe due to the very low costs of
labour there and so sourcing metals and manufacturing the pieces from
molds are taken care of already. I simply need to have some molds made
up and find a supplier of metals and the finest quality small diamonds
for rings etc.

Many thanks for any advice offered.

A


If you have to come here for advice, you are in the wrong business my
friend. Your questions are the ones from someone who has no business
being in this business.

Take your money and run!

--
Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com


As i stated i am in web design and marketing, not the jewellery trade,
and i have a new and unique collection i am contracted to market and
brand. Would i be right in saying that your comment suggests prior
knowledge of jewelry craft is esential in posting to this group and
that those with purely an interest are not welcome? Perhaps other
people in this group might not appreciate you directing away their
potential business of selling the highest quality and most expensive
materials which i seek?. Perhaps someone with your stance towards
potential new business has no business being in any kind of business
since you have no problem with sending away the potential new business
of other jewelers operating around you. Not a business skill often
found in "the school of common sense business". My questions probably
indeed are nieve since i openly have no knowledge of this trade and
jewellery, however as some might say "everybody must start somewhere"
as you yourself once did. Nobody can ever give thanks to their "start"
without thanking those who were willing to share their knowledge and
cooperate in the first place.

words for thought i hope

Kind regards...A

you may find Abrash's short and blunt reply upsetting
BUT he is a man of fewwords but very extensive knowhow in the top end of
the jewellery trade.
His advice is right, because you need an indepth background and long
standing practical knowledge of this trade in order not to make the
expensive mistakes you will make by transplanting your webdesign and
marketing skills to the jewellers business.
The skills just dont transplant into the jewellery manufacturing field.
Ive been a working silversmith for some 39 years designing, making and
marketing my own ideas and work and still only know my speciality ,
which is wrought work. IE forged and raised and minted objects.
Your best bet is to go to someone who is a major manufacturer and ask
him to quote you to make everything you want done. then go to one of the
top high st jewellers and offer them the collection. youll learn a great
deal from these 2 exercises, the main one is wether its worth your while
bothering with the project at all.
Now as to where to get the work made. Eastern Europe is cheaper on
labour BUT what control do you have over a production run a long way
from where you are.
Ive worked for the leading London Jewellers and know how they design,
make and market their jewellery.
there the ones your competing against, some of them have a tradition
going back some 100 years or more.
I wish you all the luck in the world idf you go down this road.