Designer Jewelry

Why Buy Designer Jewelry?

There are many reasons why people choose designer rings, necklaces, and earrings instead of mass market creations, including:

• Prestige: Owning a designer piece of jewelry is owning a miniature work of art.
• Higher Quality: Designer pieces are generally handcrafted rather than machine manufactured, giving them better craftsmanship and intricacy.
• More Options: Popular stores do not typically offer as wide a range of styles as can be found with a designer.
• Unusual Techniques: Unique craft techniques such as mokume gane metalwork and Celtic knot filigrees are not usually found in traditional stores.
• Unusual Materials: Individuals interested in unique materials such as rose gold, crystals, or tungsten may need to seek out designers that specialize in less popular but still beautiful materials.
• Customization: Designers are typically far more willing to create custom pieces with personalized designs, offering customers truly one-of-a-kind work.

Not every designer is equally capable of creating all types of designer jewelry, however. Knowing which type of jewelry artist to approach will help individuals find just the type of jewelry they are interested in.

Types of Jewelry Designers

There are three basic types of artists that create designer pieces. While a competent, experienced designer should be able to work with most types of metal and gems, seeking out the appropriate type of designer guarantees the best selection and craftsmanship.

• Brand Name Designers: These are the popular, big names of the jewelry industry. These design firms employ skilled artists to craft their brand’s particular styles, and they are known for excellent quality and high-profile fame. Celebrities often wear pieces from brand name designers. Tiffany, Harry Winston, Tacori, and Chopard are some of today’s hottest brand name jewelers.
• Independent Designers: These individual artists are no less skilled than those who work for brand name designers, but they operate on a much smaller scale. They may sell their work to local jewelry stores or offer website sales, and generally they have a moderate range of designs to choose from, though individual designers may prefer to specialize in one type of jewelry (rings or earrings, for example), or they may want to work with only particular materials (platinum, diamonds, etc.).
• Niche Designers: These highly specialized designers focus on one very specific type of product or technique. Examples include Celtic jewelry, beaded jewelry, and Christian jewelry. While the designer may offer a wide range of products within that type of jewelry, they rarely create pieces unrelated to their chosen theme.

Finding the right designer pieces begins with knowing what type of jewelry to look for. Beyond that, consumers must take care to find a reputable, competent jeweler.

Finding Designer Jewelry

The first step in finding designer pieces is to determine what exactly you are looking for. Some designers may only create rings, for example, while others work with all types of jewelry but will only use diamonds for gemstone work. To find the perfect designer pieces…

1. Preview different types of jewelry in boutiques or online to decide just what you are interested in.
2. Visit local stores and ask about local designers’ collections to see the differences in styles and selection.
3. If nothing locally crafted is suitable, search online stores for a better match.
4. Ask about different customization options to better blend with your personal style and preferences.
5. Consider commissioning a one-of-a-kind piece from a designer whose style you like.

When you do find designer jewelry you are interested in, you must take precautions to ensure a safe sale and quality work.

• Investigate similar pieces carefully for their quality – check gemstone shapes and cuts, settings, the consistency of the metal, the security of the setting and clasp, and the overall workmanship.
• Ask about guarantees, warranties, and other service contracts as well as payment and return policies.
• Investigate independent or small designers with the Better Business Bureau in case of complaints.
• Price compare with similar designers or traditional stores to ensure you are getting a good deal.

By taking the time to find the right designer and investigate their business, customers can feel secure that they are getting a quality piece of jewelry from a reputable designer.

Costs

Designer diamond ring.

Designer jewelry ranges drastically in price. Brand name pieces are usually the most expensive, often costing several times what similar pieces may cost from non-designer chain stores (though the designer brands do use higher quality materials). Independent and niche designers may have pieces that are both cheaper and more expensive than popular stores, depending on the intricacy of their work, their level of expertise, the quality of the materials, the difficulty of their techniques (particularly for unusual pieces), and how popular they have become. A simple pair of beaded earrings may cost less than $15, while a designer diamond solitaire may cost $10,000 or more.

Designer jewelry is a luxurious and elegant statement of the wearer’s style and tastes. Whether a piece is from a world-renowned design house or simply a local artist, designer rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, and earrings are sure to become treasured possessions.