Why Handmade Fine Jewelry Costs More (and Why It’s Worth It)
When people first see one of my necklaces priced at $1,500 or $3,000, the question that often comes up is simple: why does handmade jewelry cost more? It is a fair question, especially when there are mass produced pieces online for a fraction of the price. The answer has everything to do with materials, time, and craftsmanship.
I want to walk you through what goes into each piece so you can see exactly why my jewelry costs what it does, and why investing in fine handmade jewelry is very different from buying fashion jewelry.
The Rising Price of Gold
Gold is not just beautiful. It is a precious metal with lasting value, and its price is set globally like oil or silver. In the past year alone, the cost of gold has risen by more than 30 percent. That means the clasps, beads, and findings I use in solid gold are significantly more expensive than they were just months ago.
Unlike gold plated jewelry, which fades and wears off, solid gold retains its value and can last for generations. When you purchase a solid gold piece, you are not just buying adornment. You are holding a material that keeps its worth and often increases in value over time.
The Cost of Authentic Gemstones
The gemstones I use are not synthetic or mass produced. They are mined, cut, and polished, often in small batches from sources around the world. Their rarity is part of their beauty. Australian opals, Afghani tourmaline, and fine Chrysoprase are examples of stones that are limited in supply and cannot simply be reordered when they run out.
On top of that, tariffs and global demand have pushed gemstone prices higher than ever. Each bead strand I select is one of a kind, which means no two necklaces will ever be identical. When you see a piece in my collection, you are seeing something that truly cannot be replicated.
The Value of Labor and Craftsmanship
Every necklace I make is knotted entirely by hand. This is not a process that can be rushed or automated. A single necklace can take anywhere from three to six hours to complete, knotting dozens to hundreds of beads with precision to ensure the strand drapes beautifully and securely.
The time extends beyond the knotting itself. I spend hours sourcing stones, welding gold findings, fabricating French wire and finishing each piece so that it will last for decades. This level of craftsmanship is not comparable to factory-made jewelry. It is the work of an artist, and it shows in the details.
The Hidden Costs of Creating Fine Jewelry
There are also real business costs that go into every piece. Eco friendly packaging, shipping insurance, tools, studio upkeep, and the rising tariffs on imported materials all add up. These are not things most people think about when they see a necklace online, but they are part of what it takes to run a responsible fine jewelry studio.
Why Handmade Fine Jewelry Is Worth It
It may be easy to compare a necklace priced at ninety dollars to one priced at nine hundred and wonder what the difference could possibly be. The truth is that mass produced jewelry is often plated, fragile, and made to last for a season. Handmade fine jewelry in solid gold with natural gemstones is created to last a lifetime and beyond.
Each piece I make is one of a kind. It is not stamped out of a mold or repeated endlessly in a factory. It is designed, crafted, and finished with intention, and when you hold it in your hand, you feel the difference.
Closing Thoughts
When you see the price of a handmade necklace, you are not just seeing numbers. You are seeing the rising cost of gold, the rarity of gemstones, the hours of careful work, and the hidden costs of creating a piece that is both art and heirloom.
Fine jewelry is more than an accessory. It is an investment in something real, something lasting, and something made with care.
Thank you for supporting my work! In turn it supports my family, the opal miners and their families, and so many other small businesses I support and use in order to run my business. I tuly love what I do.
