What Makes Handmade Jewelry Handmade?

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Men and women have adorned themselves with handmade jewelry since long before the age of reason. Garlands of flowers, bracelets gift ideas of woven grass, shells and stone, so were the first decorations to beautify the human body. We may have been wearing jewelry as far back as 75,000 years ago - 30,000 years earlier than previously thought - according to a recent report by National Geographic News.

Over the millennia, jewelry jewelry styles and materials have evolved in step with the progress of civilization. Have transformed from Stone Age to the Bronze Age, Iron Age to the Industrial Revolution (and seemingly back again!), Styles, upgraded, and then often returned only in their basic forms and essential elements.

Today is primarily decorative machine made to allow for allowing manufacturers to produce uniform jewelry designs far more economical than traditional handicrafts and hand-casting techniques. Casting machines now in uniform quickly forms components such as metals, plastics and resins process, so that made even the most complex jewelry designs with speed and consistency. Mechanical punching machine and forging, are also often processed in the jewelry industry today to help the production of a unified, highly profitable product.

In the last ten years, however, the modern market has experienced a resurgence of interest in handmade jewelry, and a greater value is placed back in a unique and limited edition jewelry designs by hand using ancient traditional processes.

With this renewed demand, jewelry artisans in the around the world are enjoying improved sales and recognition for their talents and abilities. Many specialty galleries - and even the big department stores - now have a growing range of hand crafted jewelry. Worldwide with the advent and spread of the Internet as a sales tool, numerous international jewelry craftsmen, are also in remote regions, are also to benefit from direct sales to foreign customers.

Novica the biggest hand-made jewelry marketplace is home to the Internet, with some 15 000 unique designs directly from artisans in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Regina Bimadona, Head of the Regional Office in Bali Novica, even a piece of jewelry artists, works closely with master jewelers in Bali and Java, help them bring their collections, and to appreciate the unique stories behind the collections of customers worldwide. Bimadona specialized jewelers who create more limited collections of traditional, hand-made techniques.

In the following interview outlines Bimadona the fundamental differences between handmade and mass-produced jewelry and the advantages and disadvantages of hand-made for both and machined techniques.

CG: What makes handmade jewelry truly handmade

RB: Handmade jewelry is crafted by hand instead made mechanically with machinery. Handmade Jewelry using old metal smith skills, simple tools and a variety of techniques to create their desired shapes and forms. In hand-crafted jewelry can often be seen, each element of uniqueness, their difference from similar pieces. You can usually also the sense of cultural identity, meaning and the history behind many such structures, even if such information is not provided along with the jewelry available. Handmade jewelry techniques require considerable concentration, time, expertise, creativity and commitment. May there tell other potential buyer the difference between real handmade jewelry, and mass-produced jewelry, which at first: this is often clearly visible in the finished piece, so that feature fine hand-made jewelry from mass produced, standardized items.

CG glance, by hand? For example, some of the trinkets that we appear in big department stores today, "rustic", but that does not necessarily mean that it actually made by hand.

RB: You will find that true hand-crafted jewelry is usually not the same with other pieces from the same design. It is often easiest to have jewelry, decorations significant to consider - many aspects. Examine each component, you can often see clearly how they are bonded and built. Mass-or machine-made jewelry usually looks more rigid and uniform. Some handmade jewelry in the traditional style seems less perfect than machine-made jewelry, although high quality handmade jewelry should still be made to last, and this should be seen in the details. Perhaps surprisingly, I found that machine-made jewelry often breaks easily as well-made hand-made jewelry. Much of the mass-produced jewelry sold today as "handmade" is handmade in fact, for example in department stores, but that does not necessarily mean it is of the highest quality. Mass production usually require artisans to improve the efficiency ratios, which meet in poorly made jewelry, with cheaper materials - even if it technically made by hand. I recommend looking for handmade jewelry that is not mass produced - not available in large quantities. High quality handmade jewelry often has attached a craftsman's name and reputation proud to finished product. Fortunately, the quality and uniqueness are usually obvious to the attentive observer.

CG: What are the advantages of purchasing handmade jewelry, rather than mass-produced jewelry

RB: Handmade Jewelry offers the fun, unique, often rare designs that are not identical, which is typically made by a real artist - and with great love? Passion. Jewelry is an art form. I truly believe that strength of feeling encountered in the design process and in finished jewelry itself. Mass-produced products simply have less soul. I think that handmade jewelry also better reflect the wearer personal touch and style, individuality and expression of interest. The wear mass-produced jewelry that a common style, in my opinion gives the wearer the appearance of being something mass production can be produced. Mass-produced jewelry can in fact less expensive to buy, because it is certainly less expensive to make, but it is not necessarily cheaper to acquire. Regardless, mass-produced jewelry usually brings with it no special meaning or story - no history, no life. When you wear beautiful handmade jewelry, it's a pleasure to be able to explain, admirers of the actual story or the story behind what you wear, or information about the artists, often with handmade jewelry from individual artisans or their Representatives galleries purchased possible. Above all it is just a joy, jewelry for someone to take personally and lovingly created by hand.

CG: Who are some of your favorite handmade jewelry craftsmen in your area in the world, and why

RB: Wayan Sarjana is one of my favorite piece of jewelry artisans in Bali. He has a wonderful personality, in addition to its high-quality handmade jewelry. His designs are beautiful, his prices are affordable, and his creativity is endless. Locally, Mariella, are Priyo Salim, Agung Pribadi, Janice Ripley Zayd and a few other personal favorites. Fortunately, they have all agreed to participate on the Novica Web site, along with many other of our best craftsmen here, I have the honor to assist and represent them now. Each of their biographies and collections are in the Novica Handmade Jewelry department, where you will find detailed explanations of why I admire and recommend this jewelers as high as other favorite jewelers and artisans.

CG include: What inspired you personally, to learn to make jewelry by hand? When did you start? What style do you prefer and what materials?

RB: My background is in art and design. It has always fascinated me, with my hands to work - for my soul, my spirit and my body can connect with each other in the process of making something new and exciting. I enjoy having private conversations with the materials I work with - with these materials in my imaginary space to play, and to see the development and transformation of various components into a new form of existence. It's exciting. Many new ideas begin to flow and quiet conversations in the preparation of any kind of art, including jewelry. I began creating jewelry in 1988, while studying at the Indonesian Art Institute. I have often visited a friend's studio jewelry in the area, and that's where I started to learn this art form. A few years later, when a large Indonesian magazines instead of our jewelry design competitions I entered, and was twice a finalist in their competitions, in 1990 and 1991. I enjoy creating contemporary and traditional styles. I enjoy working with many materials, including silver, gold, copper, wood, leather, bone, amber, and above all natural gemstones and pearls.

CG: Do you still have time to make handmade jewelry these days, or are you too busy with your leadership

RB: I wish I had more time to make handmade jewelry today! I'm so busy with Novica. Fortunately, my work was Novica turns around, what I love most. I spend my days meeting with our region's most exciting master craftsmen and jewelers. Also because of my personal experience with art, including handmade jewelry, I can often provide useful business recommendations to the artisans with whom I work, and this brings me great personal satisfaction. I still believe some jewelry designs of my own making, and I further interesting materials, especially precious stones and pearls, for some new jewelry collections I have in mind. Jewelry is such a passionate aspect of life. I enjoy every minute of my work, whether as a designer to help themselves or others who are dedicated to this beautiful and artistic way of life.

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