| Fashion jewelry is always surrounded by a lot of hype. | | | | it and consider if it's really hand made. |
| People throw terminology around that make it | | | | The next question would be, why would you want to |
| confusing to even understand what is being discussed. | | | | purchase handmade jewelry anyway? A lot of people |
| From diamond stimulant to synthetic diamond to | | | | like the idea of handmade, especially handmade in the |
| whatever else you can imagine. The same thing goes | | | | USA. Being handmade usually means that there is true |
| for handmade jewelry. Vendors love to throw the | | | | artistry behind your piece of jewelry. For those that |
| word handmade in the mix. We will explore why and | | | | are patriotic, it makes them feel good to get something |
| what handmade really means. | | | | truly one of a kind, made in the US. |
| So what exactly is handmade jewelry? It is jewelry | | | | Especially because there is so much mass produced |
| that has been either assembled or made by hand. | | | | jewelry being made all over the world and the news is |
| Great, but what exactly does that mean? By | | | | constantly showing children being exploited in factories |
| assembly, does that mean that somebody can buy a | | | | working from sun up to sun down making a penny per |
| chain and a pendant, put them together and call them | | | | day. |
| handmade? Not really. | | | | The idea of purchasing a piece of that kind of jewelry |
| The Federal Trade Commission stipulates that in order | | | | is horrifying to most people. The idea of handmade |
| for an article to be considered hand made, it must be | | | | makes it even more precious, knowing that it was |
| made by hand power or hand guidance. That leaves a | | | | made in an environment that does not support child |
| lot of room for interpretation, although they do preclude | | | | labor and terrible work conditions. Although many items |
| some processes such as casting, pressing, etc. If those | | | | that were formerly handmade are being pushed to |
| processes are used to make jewelry, then it is not | | | | being mass produced by machine, jewelry made by |
| considered handmade. So if you are thinking of | | | | hand will be around for a long time to come due to the |
| purchasing handmade jewelry, make sure you look at | | | | reasons described above. |