19/06/2026
“Handmade” has become one of the most overused words in jewellery.
Many pieces described as handmade are actually mass-produced castings. While a craftsperson may polish, set stones or assemble the piece by hand, the jewellery itself was created from a mould and reproduced hundreds or even thousands of times.
True handmade jewellery is different. It starts with raw metal and is individually shaped, formed, soldered and finished by a person at every stage.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with cast jewellery when it’s honestly described. What makes us cross is when genuine handmade craftsmanship is treated as the same thing. They are completely different processes, requiring different skills and producing very different results. This ring for example, took many, many hours to create, and the sharp, bright cuts and texture would be impossible to recreate through a mass produced technique.
If you’re paying for handmade jewellery, it’s worth asking exactly what “handmade” means.