Custom Jewelry Repair Tips
Many of handcrafted jewelry makers work throughout the day putting together new jewelry pieces and buying jewelry supplies for that next necklace or eye-catching design. One good way to avoid that jewelry making burn out while still using your jewelry design talents is to begin to repair jewelry on the side! Making jewelry is a creative hobby and it can be very lucrative, but it can also suck out your creativity if you’re making a lot of unique jewelry designs and then spending lots of energy putting together the materials for each piece over and over.
Repairing custom jewelry uses your jewelry design skills and will usually present some fun challenges. Instead of making a anklet from scratch, you usually need to take someone else’s jewelry pattern and find beads to replace missing or broken jewelry pieces that either match the rest of the jewelry piece or at least compliment it. Repairing jewelry requires a slightly different approach to purchasing jewelry supplies because you’ll want to have lots of connectors, pendants and wire available. You’ll also want think about using a good jewelry supply management software package to track what jewelry pieces you have in stock, what you’ll need to order soon and where you can get them for the lowest price. Here are some other tips to remember when you begin repairing jewelry for customers:
Matching replacement supplies to older jewelry is often very difficult. You have a much better chance of locating replacement jewelry supplies or pieces that are similar, though sometimes getting the color right on certain precious stones can be very challenging.
Even though a connector isn’t broken, you may want to suggest replacing it before it does fall apart. Keep an eye out for structural aging in old jewelry pieces.
Remember to price yourself in line with the going rates. Many times you will be fixing a piece of jewelry that holds a sentimental meaning or is particularly liked by your client. You are performing a service of not just fixing a piece of jewelry, but often you’re helping restore a memory or feeling!
Finally, you can generally charge just as much to fix a piece of jewelry as you would to build it. But because are often working with existing jewelry materials fixing a piece of jewelry may be a lot more profitable. Don’t forget to have fun with it! Both repairing handmade jewelry and making your own jewelry are enjoyable ways to earn some extra cash, but it’s up to you to find the right balance to keep you happy and making money at the same time.
Filed under: Home Based Business