If you are out in the market buying silver jewelry you might have come across two different types. One is marked as handmade and the other as machine-made or mass-produced. Now you might think they are both made of silver what difference does it make? The truth is that handmade and mass-produced jewelry hold different grounds. There are key differences between the two that in turn affect its value. The next big question is which one is better?
Before you start buying you need to know the key differences between handmade and mass-produced jewelry. Once you are clear of the differences you can make the decision of which you would like to buy. Let us dive into the world of silver jewelry and see which one suits us better.
Handmade Silver Jewelry
As the name suggests handmade jewelry is a one-of-a-kind silver piece made by the hands of a jeweler. These are usually done by professionals as the attention to detail is quite high. With handmade jewelry there is no room for error, every piece is unique and there is none other like it. While these pieces are made with the use of some machinery the final touches by hand make it part of classified handmade jewelry.
Some even consist of rough marks that indicate it is purely handmade. You can find unique handmade 925 silver jewelry online. Visit AA Silver Jewelry today and find your next sterling silver piece with them. All their products are guaranteed handmade and use original sterling silver.
Mass-Produced Silver Jewelry
Mass-produced silver jewelry is machine-made jewelry. This is made possible by putting a design into the relevant machine and the raw material is used to make similar-looking jewelry in bulk. This is a cost-effective method to make huge sums of jewelry faster. They all look the same making it an uncommon design and it often has a cleaner finish as it is made with machines. The designs are widely available and since it is produced in bulk the cost per piece is lower.
Since craftsmen are lower in number and usually spend a lot of time finishing one piece manufacturers opt for mass-produced silver jewelry to save on time. Both handmade and mass-produced silver jewelry have their unique properties.
Difference Between Handmade And Mass-Produced Silver Jewelry
Some people prefer handmade jewelry while others prefer mass-produced jewelry. But what differentiates these two? Some huge differences make both these unique in their place. Once you are aware of their differences you jump to a conclusion with more ease. Let us look at the major differences between handmade and mass-produced silver jewelry.
Quality
Although both are made of silver handmade jewelry is seen to be of higher quality. Handmade pieces are made by skilled artisans increasing the attention to detail. With higher attention to detail, the quality is also deemed to be up there. Furthermore, handmade pieces are unique and none are alike. This uniqueness adds to its quality making it better. Lastly, since handmade pieces are made with precaution and care they usually use better-quality silver. This makes it higher in quality and a better option.
Mass-produced pieces do not have the uniqueness factor which automatically loses points for quality. Moreover, as they are made in machines some might be better than the other making it unfair for the buyer. This also raises concerns about the quality of the piece you might get. As they are produced in groups there is not much attention to detail as well making it a lower quality product.
Cost
Handmade silver jewelry is highly labor intensive. This is not just common labor we are talking about professionals who know what they are doing. They spend lots of time and effort on each piece which makes it cost more. Another reason is that handmade pieces are usually appreciated with time. This means that their value increases hence the higher price points.
On the contrary, mass-produced jewelry is much more cost-efficient. Being produced in bulk makes the cost per piece much lower. This is because of economies of scale and the lack of effort behind each piece. With machine-made silver jewelry, you have more options which in turn affects the price point of each piece making it comparatively cheaper.
Ethical and Environmental Concerns
As a human environmental and ethical concerns should be your priority. Even in the field of jewelry, these factors should be considered. Handmade jewelry is most often made from ethically gathered silver. Moreover, they cause little to no harm to the environment when made by hand. Buying handmade silver jewelry also supports the jeweler and the economy as a whole.
On the other hand, machine-made jewelry is manufactured on a large scale. This results in high environmental damage. Whether it be the smoke released in the atmosphere or the noise pollution caused by machine-made jewelry damages nature. In addition, since it is capital intensive, which means not much labor is involved the chances of individuals benefiting are lower. Potential employment opportunities are ignored and put to the side.
Which One to Choose?
The decision-making process does not get easier than this. If you want higher quality you should go for a silver 925 rhodium plated CZ design ring for men which is entirely handmade. If you want cheaper silver jewelry with the quality compromised you can go for the mass-produced silver jewelry. Based on your morals you can decide which type of silver jewelry you want for yourself.
In Conclusion
Silver jewelry has been the epitome of fashion for centuries now. It started off being made by hand and with advancements in technology mass-produced silver jewelry became a thing. You can find great handmade pieces as well as mass-produced pieces. Just look for a trusted source and go with your gut. Choose jewelry that makes you feel comfortable and confident no matter how it is made. At the end of the day, your satisfaction is what matters the most.