Whether it’s a statement earring with a long history or some exceptionally crafted jewelry, you probably associate most jewels with high price tags, especially if they’re best sellers or new arrivals. What, exactly, makes some jewels so expensive, though? Often, there are a few key reasons for the prices of earrings, bracelets, and other accessories.
Between gemstone rarity to the band’s expense, it’s a good idea to understand what drives jewelry prices. Here’s what you need to know about the way jewelry industry prices are set.
Rarity plays a major factor in pricing.
Ultimately, high-end jewelry, even studs, and hoops tend to cost more because they use more valuable materials. While some inexpensive hoop earrings or stud earrings may be more affordable, it’s likely used to the material used for the product. In many cases, more affordable jewelry uses metals like nickel to cut costs. Nickel doesn’t have the value that sterling silver, gold, and platinum do. The scarcer the product, the higher the price tag. While there’s nothing wrong with earrings or studs made with nickel, they aren’t as luxurious as other materials.
Rarity is a major factor of jewelry supply and demand, which greatly influences pricing. Often, best sellers and new arrivals carry higher price tags because they’re limited runs or the latest styles. This scarcity creates competition for products and enables higher pricing.
Quality necessitates higher price tags.
If a jeweler works with higher quality materials, they’ll need highly skilled craftspeople to create their products. While all the customers might see is a price tag or the free shipping offer, a great deal of effort goes into many designer bracelets, ear piercings, and clothing lines. Among many retail lines that are massed produced, many pieces of designer or couture jewels are handcrafted or individually personalized. When you factor in skilled crafts and labor expenses, prices tend to creep. However, that’s a serious component of product desirability.
With luxury products, it’s often about who does or doesn’t have them. The higher the quality and the rarer, the more valuable the product is among certain circles. Especially when you consider one-of-a-kind pieces or jewels with an extensive history, it’s easy to see why they’re so expensive.
How do you find the best jewels?
If you’re looking to buy pieces for yourself or as a gift, you’re going to want to consider a few things when you look at the price tag. First, you’ll want to take a look at the jeweler’s history. If you’re working with a jeweler with years of experience creating custom earrings or necklaces, they may be able to charge higher prices than you might expect. On the other hand, if the jeweler is relatively new or inexperienced, they’ll probably offer more affordable prices. Next, you should review the materials of any products more closely. Since there’s quite a quality gap between platinum and nickel, you want to make sure the price tag reflects the materials.
Also, it would help if you discussed any warranties, insurance options, or free shipping offers. Many of these can make what seems like a larger purchase more manageable since you’re protecting your investment. Looking for a good balance between quality, durability, and affordability is the best way to find jewels that meet your needs.
Pricing can be unpredictable.
In this market, pricing can vary in ways you probably haven’t considered. Often, finding the right products requires that you take time and a bit of research. As long as you’re ensuring that the price matches the quality, you’re investing in something that will be a worthy addition to any collection or wardrobe.
