Unique Jewelry: The Difference Between Mass-Produced and Designer

Unique Jewelry: Mass-Produced vs. Designer Jewels

Is it time to upgrade your unique jewelry collection? Want to assemble the jewelry essentials of a timeless look that won't be broken or out of style in 6 months? Find out how by knowing the difference between commercial and designer crafted jewelry.

Keyword(s): Unique jewelry

Jewelry is an accessory that can add beautiful accents to any look or style, but it also says a lot about the person wearing it. Think of it as the finishing touch on your "personal brand." With that idea of a personal brand in mind, what is your jewelry saying about you?

Whether your personal style is to wear something bold, understated, or a piece handed down to you from a family or friend, unique jewelry choice is a great way to express your individuality and personality.

Did you know that the jewelry market is slated to reach $275 billion globally in 2017?

It's no secret - People like to express themselves through their jewelry!

Whether buying jewelry for a gift to celebrate a special occasion such as an anniversary or just treating yourself, adorning yourself with jewelry that represents you is a good way to let yourself shine.

Are you looking to change or upgrade your jewelry collection, but aren't quite sure about the difference between commercial and designer jewelry?

We're here to help.

Read on below to find out more about commercial and designer jewelry before you start shopping for your next unique piece!

1. Commercial (Mass-Produced) Jewelry

Commercial jewelry is easier to spot than you might think.

It's what you see when you look at most jewelry in department stores, in shopping malls, or the college intern that just got on with your firm for the summer.

What makes commercial jewelry technically different from designer jewelry is that it is made with the help of machines during its manufacturing process, so that millions of pieces can be made using the same styles that you see flooding the market every day.

In short, machines and molds make it possible to mass produce the jewelry.

Commercial jewelry also is generally made with lower quality materials.

This means it can deteriorate or fall apart faster.

Does this make it bad you ask?

Depends on what purpose you want the jewelry for!

If you're looking for affordable, everyday jewelry that you don't mind getting worn down, then commercial jewelry is a good option.

It's versatile, and more often than not, it's replaceable.

The good thing about buying commercial jewelry in a place such as a department store or a shopping mall is that you can usually return and replace the piece if it breaks within the first 90 days.

If it is no longer available or in stock, it is more likely than not that you'll still be able to find another piece similar to it in the store.

Fads, styles, and trends change, and if you can afford to incorporate these looks into your "personal brand" without coming off as cheap, then commercial jewelry fills this gap nicely.

2. Designer Jewelry

There are a few factors that set designer jewelry apart from commercial jewelry.

For one thing, it is unique jewelry designed for a collection by a jewelry making artist or a company that focuses on jewelry design.

Designer jewelry also usually possesses an intended aesthetic look and quality for the collection decided by the designers.

It can be handcrafted, but this isn't always necessarily the case.

It is made out of higher quality materials and manufacturing processes than commercial jewelry and is meant to be longer-lasting and resistant to deterioration.

The kinds of metals and stones used can affect the price range of designer pieces, but regardless they are generally more expensive than commercial jewelry.

It is not uncommon to have a celebrity associated with the launch and advertisements for a designer jewelry line either.

A lot of people tend to think that "designer jewelry" refers generally to high-quality jewelry, but there are different categories of designer jewelry.

The different tiers of designer jewelry include high-end jewelry and custom jewelry.

The phrase "high-end jewelry" comes from a translation of the French haute joaillerie, which means the same thing.

High-end jewelry usually involves the use of rare materials and is carefully crafted with a high attention to design and detail.

These elements make them one of a kind pieces.

For these reasons, it is the most expensive type of designer jewelry on the market.

Custom jewelry, on the other hand, is requested by a buyer and made to order with the design, details, and specifications desired by the customer.

These pieces are handcrafted, and like other types of designer jewelry, utilize high-quality materials which also makes them more expensive than commercial pieces.

Custom jewelry is always unique jewelry because it involves open communication between the customer and jewelry artist which results in a truly individual piece of jewelry unlike any other.

3. Choosing between commercial and designer jewelry

How do you choose between commercial and designer jewelry when wanting to alter your jewelry collection?

Start by asking yourself a few questions:

What purpose do you want the jewelry for?
Where do you want to wear the jewelry to?
How long do you want the jewelry to last?
What kind of image (personal brand) and message do you want to convey with your jewelry?

Answering these questions can help you determine your individual needs for the jewelry you are looking to purchase.

Are you looking for everyday jewelry that you want to be able to wear anywhere?

That you won't be heartbroken over if it breaks or you accidentally lose it?

Go commercial.

Are you looking for a fine piece of jewelry with a pleasing aesthetic that has a lot of meaning to you that you'll store in a safe place?

Is it a piece that you'd like to wear on special occasions, or even regularly?

Do you want a piece of jewelry that you helped personally design yourself and that you know will last forever in your jewelry collection?

Go designer.

There are a lot of factors that go into making the decision about what kind of jewelry is best for you, including budget, taste, and size.

Figuring out the answers to these questions will help you narrow your search before you embark on jewelry shopping or speaking with jewelry artists and designers.