As necklaces are among the oldest pieces of jewellery, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the majority of popular necklace styles can be made by hand with ease. However, there are a rising number of jewellers who specialise in making necklaces, and other pieces of jewellery, by hand to their own designs. These jewellers are relatively easy to find online.
Once you have found a jeweller who specialises in hand-made pieces that suit your taste, you can begin to build the perfect necklace for yourself or as a gift to someone else. Some artisans ask you to provide the raw materials – which is excellent if you have collected some beads or gemstones while on holiday and would like to have a necklace to display them on. Other artisans have an online shop that leads you step-by-step through the necklace creation process, starting with a style, then selecting the ornaments, chain and so on until you’ve created a unique piece of bespoke jewellery.
Often, the same craftspeople who offer a truly unique experience in jewellery making through their online shop will already have a number of necklaces made up and ready for purchase – like ready-to-wear clothing from fashion designers specialising in haute couture. If you’re looking at a hand-made necklace online and it’s already complete, be sure to ask the vendor for a precise measurement, and compare that with the measurement you’ve got for the wearer’s neck.
Also, when buying online, ask the jeweller if the piece is alterable – sometimes, because of the nature of hand-made necklaces, alterations are simple and easy to do yourself; other times, you’ll have to return the piece for alterations and there may be a fee; and of course, some customised designs can’t be altered once they’re made. It is best to be sure of the retailer’s return, refund and exchange policy from the outset just in case.
© Jewellery Box.org.uk 2006.