Since the Jewelry Profession is related to Hand Engraving

[mdengraver]

Since the Jewelry Profession is related to hand engraving

Jeweler

2017 median pay (jewelers and precious stone and metal workers): $37,960
With more and more jewelry being produced overseas, there are fewer and fewer jewelers working in the U.S. BLS projects an 11 percent decline in the number of jewelers by 2024.
A 2014 report from McKinsey & Company says of the jewelry industry: “Consequential changes are under way, both in consumer behavior as well as in the industry itself. Jewelry players can’t simply do business as usual and expect to thrive; they must be alert and responsive to important trends and developments or else risk being left behind by more agile competitors.”

 

[dogcatcher]

Look at the stuff coming out of India, at prices that even the homeless can afford.

 

[monk]

since our ancestors quit dragging their knuckles, there have been untold discoveries resulting in professions. each specialty had its' day, then seemed to yield to the next new one. the only real way to survive on top, is to be aware of what's happening to yer current specialty, and to be aware of the next new one on the horizon. i feel this will go on till the end of time. some will always remain behind. a select few, will continue on.
any of you old enough to remember the feeling when the pantograph came on the scene ? that machine certainly struck terror in the heart of many jewelry engravers.

 

[Matthew Evans]

Since the Jewelry Profession is related to hand engraving

Jeweler

Well said, Same with the diamond industry too. My idea for a jewelry store includes more of a tattoo parlor feel where you can customize your product more, rather than have a large amount of stock on hand. Green lakes jewelry works in seattle (i believe) has more of what i see as the new business model for middle class america.

 

[troutbox]

there is a movement to appreciate labor(not just the fuzzy communist thing). unfortunately, too many people just wanna pay the cheapest possible. had a guy lowball me on a piece i did spec. he bought it even though i didn't budge. he hoped that he didn't offend.

as a lifelong woodworker, i used to get people asking me to build cabinets at ikea prices.....i would have to tell them that i couldn't buy the wood for that price.

 

[Goldjockey]

First time post on this forum. I’m a long time bench silversmith/goldsmith jewelry designer specializing in higher end hand fabricated precious metal jewelry, and I watch trends fairly closely.

There are a lot of factors putting pressure on domestic jewelry production, not the least of which is the fact that by and large, millennials don’t actually wear jewelry. For them, its just not a ‘thing’. If they’ve got money burning a hole in their pockets, they’d much rather invest in tattoos that they can share with their friends on Instagram.

Add to that the fact that precious metals have skyrocketed since around 2003-2004 (thanks China!), and that a great deal of what used to be produced here has gone offshore (thanks again China!), and the perceived commoditization of EVERYTHING (who here buys stuff on Amazon? Often Chinese), and for domestic Jewelers the ship actually sailed off into the east long ago.

These days its all about building a name and a following individually, and offering something far beyond ‘jewelry by the gram’ to capture the customer’s attention, imagination, and wallet.

There does seem to be an increasing appreciation for craftsmanship, and quality design among consumers - but once again, not among millennials.

For me at least, the bright spot seems to be affluent, well educated, over 40 consumers looking for something less commercial, more ‘organic’ (not ‘granola’ organic - more from the heart and soul ‘organic’) and more personally meaningful.