Handmade jewelry is made by artisans, also called craftsmen without using machines. Handmade jewelry can be traced back to 7000 BC when gold and copper were used by people to adorn themselves. Handmade jewelry was very popular till the industrial revolution when machines produced products on a mass scale. Recently however handmade jewelry has made a comeback on the fashion scene.
Handmade jewelry is popular because of its uniqueness. No two pieces of handmade jewelry are identical. Some of the handmade jewelry don't even have pre – made or fabricated parts. Even hooks, ear hoops, clasps and pins are made by hand.
Techniques of Making Handmade Jewelry
A lot of handmade jewelry is made by the techniques of metalsmithing such as forging, raising, chasing and smoldering to create intricate designs in a variety of metals. The metals may also be etched, engraved or colored using a wide range of techniques. A great number of handmade jewelry is created without using even these techniques. Most jewelry makers create pieces entirely by hand using only very basic hand tools, like wrapping gems and beads in wires or creating making simple strings of beads for necklaces or bracelets. Handmade jewelry makers make use of many types of metals and gemstones. The materials used in handmade jewelry by them are diverse and can range from bronze to gold and diamonds to cubic zirconia. A lot of modern artisans make handmade jewelry from diverse materials like paper, textiles and plastic. These types of handmade jewelry are gaining a lot of popularity as they are cheaper than the metal jewelry. Handmade jewelry is popular for their originality and their ethnicity as compared to mass produced jewelry.
