How to Repair String Jewelry

String jewelry is among the most popular type of handmade jewelry to buy. Luckily, it can also be the easiest to repair, depending on the piece. If you have a piece that is complex, such as a stretch ring, you will probably want to contact the seller you bought it from and ask if they can repair it, or you might have to buy a new one. However, if you have a simple piece, you may be able to repair it on your own.

If the clasp breaks or bends out of shape, you can easily replace it with a similar clasp. Get a clasp that is the same type and color as the one you broke. It does not have to be the same size. However, it must fit on the jump ring. Remove the old clasp by opening the jump ring with a small pair of pliers. Hook the new clasp onto the jump ring and close it using the same pliers. Make sure you close the jump ring completely or you will risk losing the clasp you just put on, which can also mean losing the necklace. If there is no clasp you can simply tie the elastic or string back together where the original knot was if it has come loose.

If the elastic or string breaks on your string jewelry, fixing it is going to actually require remaking the piece of jewelry. If you are not up to this, you should get a professional, preferably the one that sold you the piece, to repair it for you. In this situation, the beads must be laid out in their original order and strung onto a new piece of elastic or string. Most elastic necklaces can easily be repaired by their owner because there is usually no clasp involved. All you have to do is restring the beads onto the new elastic.

However, string necklaces have a clasp, and that clasp is attached in a special way to ensure that it won’t come off or break. If you are not familiar with these methods, you should not attempt to repair the jewelry on your own. Instead, you should get a professional to do it for you, or buy a new piece of handmade jewelry.

Reasons to Choose Unique Handmade Jewelry

Unique handmade jewelry is becoming ever more popular in today’s stylish society. Yet some people do not understand the new trends. Yet, there are a lot of reasons to choose unique handmade jewelry over other pieces.

One of the reasons you might want to choose handmade jewelry is that it is much less expensive in some cases than similar pieces that are mass manufactured. Sure, the materials are slightly different and the quality may not be exactly the same. But the overall appearance of some handmade pieces is exquisite and is very similar to more expensive pieces. Everyone with the economy the way it is can appreciate a way to spend less money and still enjoy some luxury items.

Another of the reasons you might want to choose handmade jewelry over other pieces is that it is usually unique. You will rarely find the same piece of handmade jewelry for sale more than one time, and certainly never from different sellers. Jewelry makers create unique jewelry from their creative minds, crafting metal and string and beads and gemstones into something they see in their minds eye. Since no two jewelers are going to have the same vision, they are not going to make the same jewelry pieces. It is really that simple. While the same jeweler might make a popular piece more than once, there are still likely to be variations in the pieces. So, if you want something truly unique, you can do no better than handmade jewelry.

Finally, when you buy unique handmade jewelry you are usually buying it from the jewelry maker themselves. This holds with a tremendous advantage. For one thing, you will not have to worry about knowing where to go to get similar pieces, because you will be able to easily go to the jewelry maker and ask them to create them for you. In addition, if you break your jewelry you can take it directly to the maker to have it repaired or recreated. This is a huge advantage, because only the maker knows exactly the process that was used to make the piece. This makes them the best qualified to repair it. With a typical piece of jewelry, the jeweler must carefully examine the piece to determine how it was made and how to fix it.

Renewed Popularity of Macrame Jewelry

There has been recently a renewed interest in macramé jewelry. This jewelry was very popular in Victorian England and America. It was also very popular in the sixties and seventies when the hippies brought it back into existence. Now, it is making another come back.

Macrame jewelry is becoming more popular yet again because it is often made with all natural materials. In general, handmade jewelry is becoming more and more popular these days. Not only are there more people taking up the hobby, but there are more people buying the results as well.

There are a lot of reasons that macramé is once again becoming popular. Many people find it very therapeutic to work the knots that are required for macramé. It is a time consuming and intricate process to make one of these pieces of jewelry, and it requires a lot of focus and skill. This focus and skill can be very relaxing and therapeutic to develop, making macramé a favorite pastime for nearly anyone who tries it.

As the practice of macramé becomes more popular, so does the demand for such items. The more people see the beautiful pieces that are created using macramé, the more in demand they become. In addition, many people are once again embracing the lifestyle and trends of the sixties and seventies, which in itself makes macramé jewelry more popular.

The more people tend toward these trends and fads of times gone by, the more those trends will become popular in the mainstream. This is happening with macramé jewelry. There are enough people who are interested in the art form and the production of it, that it is starting to become a mainstream trend, and not just one found on the outskirts of society.

In the end, most people don’t really care about why macramé jewelry is making a come back. They are just glad that it is around once more. They are happy to find pieces that are unique and exquisite in craftsmanship. They are happy to find more and more jewelry makers picking up this art form, and making more and more jewelry for them to buy. They are also happy to know that the trend is likely to be around for quite some time to come.

Skill and Time Shows in Handmade Jewelry

When it comes to handmade jewelry, you can always tell how much time and skill went into a piece by what the piece looks like. While it is true that some time and skill is needed for any piece of handmade jewelry to be made, it is also true that there are varying levels of skill among jewelry makers. If you want the highest quality pieces, you will have to pay for the skill and time that it takes to create them.

The important thing to remember is that just because a piece is expensive doesn’t mean that it should be. You have to carefully examine handmade jewelry to determine its actual worth. You should be able to see the time and effort that was put into the piece. It should be exquisite and complex, rather than simple and ordinary. If it looks like something you could make yourself with instruction, even if it is a nicer piece, it is not really worth the money. But, if it is something that makes you think “wow, how did they do that” then it is definitely worth every penny.

There are some definite ways you can tell if a piece has the skill and time put into it that you are looking for in finely made handmade jewelry. Look at the type of jewelry first and foremost. Wire wrapped jewelry, especially if it is very well made, takes a lot of skill and patience, and is well worth the money it costs to purchase it. Complex beaded jewelry with many layers or rows is also a sign of superior craftsmanship. You can and should consider these pieces for your collection.

However, if you are ever in doubt, ask the crafter how they made the jewelry. While they may not give you detailed information because they don’t want you to be able to duplicate their work, they will likely give you a fair idea of the amount of time and effort it took to create the piece. They will also proudly let you know what went into the piece, and how long they have been making pieces like that one. This information, provided it is honestly given, will give you a fair idea of the quality and complexity of a piece.

Trends in Handmade Jewelry

Handmade jewelry has become much more popular in recent years. But are you aware of which trends are making the fashion scene? There are four main trends that are being seen across the nation and in every age group and income bracket.

The first of these is the filigree. Filigree is usually done in precious metals like silver, gold and platinum. The metal is made soft and rolled into wire that is then shaped into open worked pieces. You will find some filigree in pendants, but mostly you will find it in earrings. You may also find filigree in rings and bracelets. This jewelry trend is popular with anyone going to a wedding, important meeting, or other occasion when you might want to dress up.

The second major trend, which is definitely overtaking the fashion world by storm, is chunky accessories. This can mean beaded jewelry using bigger beads in bold colors, or larger gemstones. Multi strand necklaces or stacked bracelets are also very popular with this trend. Chunky earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and even rings are becoming very popular, especially with the younger generations.

Another trend is layers. Women are wanting layers to their handmade jewelry more often than not. This could mean layers of stacked beaded necklaces. It could also be wrapped bracelets that wrap around the wrist several times. There are also wrapped wrings and multi-layered necklaces. This trend is great for those who don’t quite want to go as bold as the chunky accessories trend, but still want to be fashionable.

Finally, sterling silver and bright colors are very popular right now in handmade jewelry. Sterling silver is the cheapest of the precious metals, making it a favorite for handmade jewelry. While this sparkly metal looks great on its own, it is usually paired with brightly colored beads or gemstones. This allows for a great look for any occasion. The best thing about sterling silver is that, when properly cared for, it will last for years. It can even become an heirloom piece, which is made even more special if it is a unique piece that will never be found anywhere else.

Most women will go with a combination of the above trends depending on the occasion, what they are wearing, and how bold they want to be that day. 

When You Need Jewelry Repair

When you need jewelry repair for handmade jewelry, it is always best to go to the person who sold you the jewelry in the first place to have them fix it rather than fixing it yourself. You don’t want to risk messing up the jewelry even more by trying to fix it when you really aren’t sure of what you are doing. If you don’t have a clear idea of what went into making the jewelry, you really have no business trying to repair it.

The person who originally made the handmade jewelry will be more able to identify the problem and repair it easily, if indeed it can be repaired. Some pieces may not be able to be repaired at all depending on how they are made and where they break. In that case, you will have to buy a new piece.

However the person who originally made the piece knows the steps that went into making the piece. As such, they can usually go over the piece with these steps in mind and see immediately whether or not the piece can be fixed. If it can be fixed, they will know exactly what needs to be done. However, this does not mean that it will be an easy fix. Especially if you tried to fix the jewelry yourself before going to the maker, it may be rather difficult to repair and take some time. Unless the repair was obviously the fault of the jewelry maker, you should be prepared to pay something for the repair.

If taking the piece back to the maker is not an option, you will want to take the piece to another maker of fine handmade jewelry or a jeweler. These individuals will most certainly charge you for the repair, so unless a piece has sentimental value you may be better off buying a new piece than repairing the old one. Of course, if the piece is one of a kind and uniquely made just for you, you will likely want to pay to have it repaired anyway.

Check the repair when it is complete to ensure that the piece looks the same as it did before it broke. The jewelry repair should be difficult if not impossible to locate on the piece when it is completed.