Making our own Jewelry: A Tutorial Brief

Today’s market of costume/fashion jewelry is extremely cluttered. There are plenty of wholesale costume jewelry sellers and makers who abundantly supply retailers. The major problem with such a stock is the commonness in design and aesthetical aspect. Any piece/set bought from a wholesale costume jewelry supply chain will most likely repeat in someone else’s body. Fresh designs are also available but at a cost not agreeable by many. The last resort is “Do it Yourself” (DIY) and create fashion jewelry with desired designs.

Getting Started

It is an interesting art and can potentially engage enthusiasts for long. A tutorial is being discussed below which renders enough opportunity to experiment our creative ideas in craftsmanship. The instructions are very basic and generic and must not be taken for granted. The primary idea is to initiate a hint about the approach.

The materials required in the making differs from project to project. The list can include the likes of materials such as fabric, wire, chain, pearls, lockets, clay, and paper etc. The invariable list of tools consists of the following:

• Jewelry Pliers with a flat inside edge
• Superglue
• Scissors
• Scale, and other basic

Example & Methodology

Let us look at an example of making one of the most sought after ornament in the category of fashion jewelry. The best jewelry wholesale marketplaces are swarming with cut out bib necklaces of varying designs. It would definitely be an amazing experience to create an own design.

The foremost step is to design the necklace on paper. The other pre-requisites are –

• Piece of leather, 3mm thick and color can be of the maker’s choice
• A printout of the design template – the size of the leather piece will depend on the template size
• Jewelry chain according to the level of comfort and neck size & fit
• 4 jump rings that match the chain
• Lobster clasp that match the chain
• Chalk or marker pen
• Cardboard or cutting mat/board
• Scissors or craft knife
• Jewelry Pliers
• Leather punch tool (optional)

The subsequent steps are as follows:

1. Cut the printout of the template using the craft knife to perfection, leaving all the gaps.
2. Place the cutout and place it on the leather piece and use the marker to draw borders around it to create a replica of the design.
3. Cut out the pattern in the leather piece just like in the paper.
4. Use the awn to create two hole on the symmetrical corners of the leather cutout.
5. Use pliers to open a jump ring to feed it through these holes and through the end link of the chain length. Close the jump ring for both holes.
6. Join one of the jump rings to the lobster clasp to finish.

And voila!

Dos & Don’ts of Fashion Jewelry Maintenance

Costume jewelry has gained widespread popularity all across the world. It uses inexpensive stones and metals as opposed to its luxurious counterpart in the form of fine jewelry. But the market is significantly strong for these fashion jewelry products and in all probability it will continue to grow in the future.

The market as such presents a lot of wholesale fashion jewelry alternatives for retailers and other individual sellers. A major trade-off in such a transaction is the consistency of genuineness and quality of the products. Chances are that out of a dozen wholesale jewelry, one or two may lack the required characteristic features. Nonetheless, certain jewelry hit the right strings for an individual and they would prefer to cling on to it for a lifetime. The challenging task here is maintenance because unlike fine jewelry, costume/fashion jewelry is delicate and less durable.

Cleaning

Cleaning is the first and foremost step towards maintenance of fashion jewelry. There are three predominant methods followed by most enthusiasts. They are as follows:

1. Dry Method – Also the safest since it doesn’t leave any scar, film or residue behind. It is mostly carried out by using a baby toothbrush or brush. The same is used on the surface repeatedly to remove dirt accumulations. Compressed air can be used to loosen the dirt trapped in crevices, followed by a manual removal with the aid of a toothpick. A magnifying glass can help in identifying dust in remote sections.
2. Gentle Method–If dry method is ineffective, this method can be opted. It involves the use of a cleansing solution. A gentle soap is mixed with lukewarm water. A baby brush with soft bristles or cotton can be dipped in the solution. It is used on the surface of the jewelry to remove dirt. Utmost care should be taken to use lesser amount of solution, soft wiping/brushing. Once done, the jewelry must be dried with soft dry cloth followed by a hair dryer.
3. Harsh Method – This is technically the last resort. A stronger cleanser like a nail polish remover is used and hence it is not recommended for all variants. Same rubbing/wiping exercise is repeated and then the jewelry is quickly rinsed under lukewarm water. Dried and polished for retaining the glow.

Don’ts

Few elementary points must be kept in mind before starting the cleaning and maintenance regime, especially in case of wholesale fashion jewelry. Some of them are as below:

• Do not soak the jewelry completely in the solution as it might loosen the adhesive bonds between framework and gemstones.
• Avoid water on copper or mixed metal jewelry as it damages the same.
• Protect the jewelry from perfumes and other chemicals.
• Store the jewelry in a cool and dry place.

Jewelry for Costume: An Insight

Jewelry is a generic term across the globe, but its type and usage is completely based on customary traditions of a region. Costume jewelry is invariably used as a complementary ornament for a specific fashionable garment or costume. Unlike the conventional jewelry which are made of gold, silver, diamond etc. these ornaments can be constructed using numerous other inexpensive components.

Description & Details

Such jewelry sets are predominantly used with a matching garment or costume on a special occasion. The definition of an occasion here can be varying – the wide array ranges from a traditional custom of a particular tribe to an aristocratic social gathering. Nevertheless, jewelry for costumes enhance the overall elegance of the individual and establishes a striking presence in any event.

The composition of costume jewelry is majorly comprised of simulated gemstones which are extremely cheaper than their original counterparts in fine jewelry. Such gemstones include the likes of rhinestones, Lucite etc. Modernization and the subsequent demand which is increasingly eminent has brought in spectacular changes in today’s sets. The urban crowd is more inclined towards contemporary materials and designs. They prefer superior crystals, cubic zirconia simulated diamonds and other semi-precious stones.

Industry Trends

Many designer jewelry lines have entered into the domain of tailored jewelry for costumes. This has essentially marked the inception of high-end fashion jewelry in the market, thereafter the demand has been following a growing pattern. Though it is considered to be an accessory of a niche market, there are countries like India and China where these goods have an unending dominance in their entire economy.

The development of robust supply chain for emerging markets have facilitated the easy availability of fashion jewelry in most corners of the world. There is costume jewelry wholesale prices available for prominent retailers in the market. In addition to that, there are online retailers, resellers, and stores etc. who have substantially reduced prices to enter the competition. Fashion jewelry is often categorized as a separate section in most stores, both physical and online.

Another noteworthy development is the hobby of jewelry-making. Many enthusiasts indulge in this hobby or activity for personal enjoyment and satisfaction. Sometimes they do it for their own amusement and sanctity, while some others create beautiful jewelry for selling them on public sites like Etsy. Unsurprisingly, the demand for constituents have increased too.

Benefits

Such fashion jewelry inherently comes with certain inseparable advantages. Some of them are:

1. Attractiveness – Elegantly crafted jewelry elevates the aesthetical beauty of the person wearing it.

2. Match-Making – These jewelry products are designed to match a particular type of costume or garment, and it assuredly does so.

3. Economic – They are unbelievably cheaper than fine jewelry, although designer ones get a bit pricier at times.