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Post by upsided0wnducks on Sept 13, 2012 17:06:37 GMT -5
How do you feel about quality stamping on hand made pieces of jewelry? Such as "1/20 14kt GF" to signify 14 karat gold filled jewelry.
Does this matter?
Have you seen it?
Do you use it?
Tell me what you think!
- Krista
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Sept 13, 2012 17:22:02 GMT -5
we stamp the stuff we silversmith "925" or "sterling" but I haven't figured out a way to stamp wire wrap pieces.
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Post by upsided0wnducks on Sept 13, 2012 18:20:34 GMT -5
Hey Don, That's what I'm looking into doing, but I'm running into a lot of hiccups... Like the fact that to legally mark jewelry fineness you have to also mark it with your own maker's trademark... which I don't technically have a registered trademark which can cost from a couple hundred to over a thousand to register with the uspto. I found on RioGrande that they have a discs, stampings and tags under their "findings" section. I was planning on attaching the smallest tags I could buy with a fineness stamp on it. But now I think I'd have to get a trademark... I've been talking to some stores on the east coast and they want fineness stamps on any jewelry they put in their stores Krista
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Sept 13, 2012 18:23:23 GMT -5
we just use our initials for a trademark/makers mark; but again, only on the smithed stuff. I guess wire wrappers could start putting little sterling sheet tags on the the back of the wraps with 925 and trademark on it. I've never seen it done though.
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Post by talkingstones on Sept 13, 2012 19:56:41 GMT -5
I'd just love to be able to signature my stuff. I tell the customers what it is in writing at sale...but I'd love to be able to do something on the wraps that would let the world know it was my idea.
Cathy
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Post by Pat on Sept 13, 2012 20:04:03 GMT -5
We stamp "sterling" on our smithed stuff, too. I mark sterling or whatever on descriptions of all items and that goes along with the sales slip. Someday, I want to put my initials or some such mark on items. It will probably be a little rio tag.
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itsandbits
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Member since March 2012
Posts: 825
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Post by itsandbits on Sept 13, 2012 20:33:23 GMT -5
there are lots of items marked ss or 925 and I would rather see that then a makers tag but both together would be great
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Post by gr on Sept 13, 2012 21:35:39 GMT -5
Haven't moved into the silver works just yet as far as any kind of a trademark stamp. I don't think people look for the who made it mark as much as the what is it made of mark.When people see .925 or sterling or ss, they know that it's a better quality they're holding. I would think that stamped tags on pieces that aren't stampable for obvious reasons would be completly acceptable. On the necklesses and bracelets I've been putting together, I put a small clear red seed bead on a jumpring by the clasp as my mark for "Red Dot Jewelry" designs.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Sept 14, 2012 2:29:20 GMT -5
I have thought about this particular subject for quite sometime now. I have also thought about the tags but I am not sure how they would look. I have not been able to find any that I feel would be small enough to incorporate in my wraps without throwing the visual balance off. I have considered "microstamp" company because they can make an extreemly small stamp.....for a price much higher than what the standard size stamps I can get at shows.
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cabjunky
has rocks in the head
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Member since November 2008
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Post by cabjunky on Sept 14, 2012 10:44:15 GMT -5
I stamp all of my silversmithed pieces with a 925 stamp and engraved initials as a makers mark, but have never found it necessary to do so with wire-wrapped pieces.
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Sept 14, 2012 11:10:41 GMT -5
Cast and silver/gold smithed jewelry its needed but I do not feel the need for wire wrapped jewelry
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Post by gr on Sept 14, 2012 11:14:19 GMT -5
I'm thinkin that the tags would be removed for the customer at purchase and are only there for the customers info. I saying specifically for the pieces that are not stampable.
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Post by upsided0wnducks on Sept 15, 2012 10:34:24 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for the input! I think if I can find a way to tag/stamp my wraps unobtrusively I will be doing it.
From what I've researched on the stamping law even if your trademark isn't registered, just putting one on basically complies with the heart of the law, being able to trace back to the maker.
Thanks again everyone! Krista
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TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
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Post by TByrd on Sept 19, 2012 20:28:50 GMT -5
You can have custom tags made, Rio Grande can put your logo on them. After the first order, they will keep your logo on file and then when you need more, just call them up and there you go.
Tammy
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Post by upsided0wnducks on Oct 12, 2012 16:12:44 GMT -5
Well guys, I did it. I put in the money and set up for stamping! Here's a picture of an Argentium tag with my brand, the Argentium logo and .925 on it. I'm really excited about this. I've already had two customers ask for tags when I was just telling them about it in passing This tag is soo teeny tiny, 6.8mm x 4.4mm, the letters and numbers are all only 1mm tall. Krista
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Oct 12, 2012 16:22:50 GMT -5
So, where are you going to incorporate this on your wraps? tuck it onto the back somewhere?
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Post by upsided0wnducks on Oct 12, 2012 17:09:27 GMT -5
Yup, that's the plan, I always have at least some flourish on my wraps and I figure I can just have one of them end in the back and hook it on where no one needs to even know it's there Krista
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 12, 2012 17:24:14 GMT -5
At this point in time, I only wire-wrap as well. I wouldn't be too keen on putting on tags, no matter how small they are. I think most people are going to take them off, too. Maybe someday when I do some silver work, I'll mark the pieces. I've been scammed more than once, buying jewelry marked "925", only to get home, hit it with the polish rag and have the silver come off!!! Anybody can get a stamp, and stamp jewelry "sterling" or "925" when in fact it is not. So it really doesn't mean anything to me. Jean
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Post by upsided0wnducks on Oct 12, 2012 18:37:35 GMT -5
Jean, I'm so sorry you had such bad luck buying jewelry, I hate people that jip others, I've had plenty of those experiences myself so I know how it feels.
I know a lot of people try to scam others, but that's one of the reasons I'm starting to stamp my pieces. I also do a lot of other things to try and give my customers reasons to have faith that my jewelry is genuine. I'm registered with ArgentiumSilver.com, I'm Better Business Buruea Accredited, all my jewelry is sold with signed certificates with information about the piece and contact information. With my business I try to be as up front as I can with everything I sell.
I hope you have some better luck buying things in the future.
Krista
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Post by NatureNut on Oct 12, 2012 18:45:07 GMT -5
Smart girl. WTG!
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