Our options are so limitless today. We have access to all kinds of products, from precious semi-precious, imitation, antique jewelry to jewelry produced with the help of technology, from traditional to contemporary. But there is something lost in this diversity, and that is our perception of value.
We are going through a period where extremely well-made, masterful works cannot find their value. Instead, this is a period where very simple and in-demand works are sold at high prices, and the brand value surpasses the value of the product.
In order for jewelry to be valuable, there are certain features it must have, in addition to being adorned with precious metals and stones. If you know how jewelry is manufactured, it will be easy for you to give it the real and deserved value.
Rarity
The more a product is made, the less valuable it becomes. So how do you know if a piece of jewelry is rare if you are not in this business?
Some jewelry has a stamp on the back stating how many pieces were produced and which piece it was. You can tell which of the limited editions it was.
Custom works fall into this group.
Works that are not mass-produced are also rare products.
Some workshops have a well-deserved reputation for their masterful work. If you see one of these products, you can buy it without hesitation.
Some stones are rare in terms of cut and color. It is difficult to know these without consulting an expert. Definitely consult an expert. Or on the internet…
The mastery of the person who makes the jewelry is one of the elements that makes the work rare. I am writing this as someone in this business, sometimes you may not be able to do the same job you did well with the same perfection again.
Technical features
Some techniques are very difficult and require mastery. Some techniques are no longer used. There are jobs that you can only do with the help of a computer and jobs that must be done by hand. If you are interested in these, you can research the techniques I will list below on the internet and get informed. You can also evaluate the jewelry you will buy or own from this perspective and decide whether they are valuable or not according to these features.
Granulation
It is one of the oldest techniques. It is the decoration of the mine with small spheres. It is possible to do it with both hand workmanship and technology. Those made by hand are valuable. It requires mastery.
Enamel
There are two techniques: hot and cold enamel. Hot enamel is glass, cold enamel is a petroleum-derived material. The valuable one is hot enamel. It requires mastery. Two things you will pay attention to in this technique are that the color of the product is uniform and that there is no gap between the glass material applied and the metal. The gap causes the enamel to lift and fall off over time.
Filigree
It is an old technique where very thin wires are bent, welded and shaped. Check if there is any breakage or lifting in the wires since they are worked very thinly. It is valuable because it is made by hand.
Plique Ajour
It is the carving of patterns on a metal plate with a saw. It can be done with computer drawing, laser and hand sawing. Good work done by hand is always more valuable.
Engraving
The surface of the metal is decorated with patterns by engraving. These patterns can be given both by hand and laser. Hand workmanship is always noticeable. Because it is not possible to obtain the nuances in hand with laser technique.
Stone Setting
It is the work of placing and fixing stones on metal. Computer drawing has made the production process easier and mass production works have become possible. However, hand workmanship is mandatory in many setting techniques. If there are special decorations, it will not be difficult to distinguish hand workmanship.
Also pay attention to the following;
The surface of the stone should be parallel to the metal. Check if it is placed crookedly. It is necessary to check if there are any small stones with fractures. It will greatly reduce its value.
The stone should be well fixed.
It should not contain protrusions that will damage your clothing.
Inlay
It is the work of fixing a material by opening space for another material. The main thing is not to use adhesives. However, today, adhesives are frequently preferred in production because they make the job easier with the production of strong adhesives. Since both poorly crafted inlays and works using adhesives flake and deteriorate over time, you should take care to obtain works that are technically good.
Chasing & Repoussê technique
We do not see works made with this technique anymore. Therefore, we can say that hand-made, thin metal embossed works are valuable. It is possible to see the impact marks of the master in these works. Since it can be done with the help of technology, keep an eye on the hand marks of the master.
Welding
Welding is a technique used to join different metal parts. Since high temperatures and chemicals are used, it damages the stones. For this reason, works that require repair are welded with laser technique. In the area where welding is applied, you can see that the two metals are not completely welded together, but instead are held together with a layer formed on the surface. Some applications can reduce the value of the work. It can ruin its originality.
Sometimes it is necessary to join such thin pieces together that you have no other solution other than laser welding. In that case, this necessity does not create a negative effect on the value.
Material used
We can list the most preferred metals in today's world as silver, gold, platinum, titanium.
Let's not go into the subject of stones here, but let's also know that the most valuable stone is not diamond.
What about the personal meaning of the jewelry?
This subjective value cannot be compared to anything and is the most important element that determines the value of a piece of jewelry. Regardless of its material, technical features, rarity or not, if a piece of jewelry tells you something that it does not tell others, if it is a piece of your history, it is more valuable than any other piece of jewelry. Because it is special to you…
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