Gratuitous jewelry post

[rhienelleth]

This was an awesome weekend for jewelry making.  Things are really coming together for Byzantium Lotus - and it's getting harder and harder to restrain myself from posting pics of some of this stuff.  But no, I must have willpower and wait to share the pretties.  Must. Have. Willpower.

Here.  I'll copy/paste some of the info off the BL info page that you might not have previously known, thus giving you new information without giving in and posting pics of the new items:

[A note about argentium silver: Argentium silver is the newest advance in silver technology. Instead of the standard copper used to harden regular sterling silver, which is disposed to tarnish over time, Argentium silver uses germanium, an alloy which hardens the silver to workability, the same as copper, but also makes it tarnish resistant. Argentium silver is beautifully white in color, almost reminiscent of white gold, and is rapidly gaining in availability and popularity among jewelry artists for its special properties. In addition to tarnish resistance, it is also fire scale resistant and can easily be hardened in the oven, making it much more durable than standard silver. Just like regular sterling, it is .925 pure. Argentium is a few dollars more expensive than sterling per troy ounce, but is still much less expensive than the less workable, softer fine silver. IMO, it has all the advantages of sterling with all the beauty of fine.

We at Byzantium Lotus use Argentium silver whenever possible, and believe the slight price increase over the cost of sterling is well worth the advantages. Not all findings and silver beads are available in argentium as of yet, so many of our pieces still have some sterling - still a very beautiful and under-appreciated metal. We list all materials used with each piece we make.]

There, see?  New info, hopefully of some interest.  :)  And I'll also do an updated list of items that will be up for sale with the 'grand opening' of BL:

Previously completed items, now updated to include preliminary pricing, so y'all have an idea of the range:

~ Queen of the Nile necklace - probably going to be priced around $225 - I have to figure up the exact cost of materials before I'll know for sure, but I'm betting that's very close.  This is one of my "centerpiece" items.

~ Midnight Elegance bracelet & earrings - Bracelet alone $70, Earrings alone $30, Discounted price for both: $90

~ Byz pendant w/swarovski crystal - $65

Newly completed items:

~ Rosette earrings in silver + gold fill - $35

~ Vintage Cuff (need a MUCH better name for this baby) - just under an inch wide cuff bracelet of gold fill + silver 4-in-1 chain, attached to a vintage 3 strand box clasp that is absolutely stunning.  (I am only able to convince myself to part with it by promising to make myself something similar in the future) - At $140, this will be my most expensive bracelet of those initially offered.

~ Byzantine bracelet & earrings - Bracelet $70, Earrings $30, Discount for both $90. Discount for both + pendant: $150

All earrings are made with leverback sterling silver findings.  I myself prefer leverback, as my job requires some phone work, and it's the only earring style that doesn't dig uncomfortably into my skin when cradling the phone between shoulder and ear. 

*sigh*  I hate pricing stuff.  I keep thinking "that just seems too expensive", but then when I figure up the materials cost, I realize it's really not.  Especially when considering the hours of time some of these pieces take to make.  I just...hate putting a price tag on it, you know?  I hem and haw and agonize over every $.  I assume that will get easier with time.  Plus, I promise to make some "fun" earrings that're "fun" priced. :)

I also made myself another set of earrings this weekend, and am halfway through another bracelet.  I've got a couple of more necklaces (less extravangant than QotN) planned, too.  I'll keep everyone posted. 

My mother-in-law told me this weekend (after seeing the Vintage Cuff bracelet) that she thinks I need business cards, to hand out when people comment on my jewelry.  She's probably right.  But I think journal first, cards later.  Cause then I could base the look of the cards around the journal banner/logo. 

Comments

[kistha.livejournal.com]

thinks I need business cards, to hand out when people comment on my jewelry. She's probably right. But I think journal first, cards later. Cause then I could base the look of the cards around the journal banner/logo.

Which I'm still working on. ... This weekend got a little more complicated than I want and I'm still behind. Will apply butt to chair this evening. *Promise*

And on the money thing - good jewelry is expensive period. Don't feel so bad, you are "Teh Awesome".

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank-you. That actually makes me feel better. :D

And seriously, whenever on the art stuff. I've still got at least another weekend of work before I'll be ready.