Daily Wire Tip May 24: Pricing of Chipped Cabochon

By on May 24, 2010
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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
May 24, 2010

Question:

This is a question applying to your answer to the chipped cabochon.
Wouldn’t you sell it for less due to the fact it’s been damaged?

Answer:

With regards to the tip for 05/06/10, not necessarily. If the stone is a nice stone and the break is smooth, covered by incorporating a beaded design, it is not a damaged piece, but rather part of the design. (My opinion, sure to get some opposing feedback, I’m sure!) It’s really the choice of the designer. Some irregularly cut cabs look like they’ve been chipped, so the call isn’t really mine to make.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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One Comment

  1. avatar

    V

    May 24, 2010 at 6:01 pm

    I think how make that call about whether you can sell jewelry with a chipped cabochon, entirely depends on your customer base.

    For example, if your clientèle is upscale, and your style is modern primitive, or if you use, say, knapped cabs or free-form cabs you can get away with it pretty easily…with Dale’s caveats in place, of course. A certain type of edgy design might even present certain types of damage as a “authentic”. In other words, it would enhance the feel of the design rather than present as damaged goods.

    However, if your style is classic, New York Modern, or certain types of pre-1919 “vintage”, such a thing might not be tolerated by your customer base. A good rule of thumb for this is to ask yourself if asymmetrical or irregular shaped cabs fit into your style. If they don’t, then hock off your damaged cabs on your jewelry making friends who can make use of them. They get a bargin, and you get more storage space!

    Sometimes you can get rid of those annoying chipped beads and cabs by taking them to beader’s swap meets… they happen here in Chicago on Meetup all the time. Look for your local listing if you have “damaged goods” you’d like to be rid of. You might get something useful in return!

    ~Vanessa