When it comes to selecting the ideal wedding rings, there is a large variety of choices available on the internet. It can be quite intimidating going through all the different types of rings available in every price range to find the one that suits YOU best. But beforehand, this writing (complaint) is for those who make an effort to assist US-based small enterprises that have a staff of artisans who truly have a hand in every phase of constructing a top-notch product! If that applies to you, continue reading and we will assist you in differentiating those who truly make jewelry from hand from those who, in truth, merely resell mass-manufactured and usually lower-grade wedding rings.
It has become incredibly maddening for our small business which creates and produces most of its items to individual orders, because of the tremendous rise of wedding ring vendors who state their rings are artisan-created. A majority of these rings are resold versions of cheaply-made items produced in foreign factories, as well as some made in the US. They have a large inventory of rings available or have an agreement with their supplier to ship them right away, thus a lot of stores are able to send orders in a timely manner. A major factor in determining a reseller, but there are many others.
Buyers beware of Etsy and Amazon Handmade.
Although they market their business as a place to get unique handmade items, they are polluted with resellers of poor quality wedding bands as well as other jewelry made in bulk. On Etsy, this is a current topic of contention. At the start of the month, hundreds of Etsy stores decided to go on a one-week strike by entering vacation mode to demonstrate their displeasure with the company. Their grievances included the notion that Etsy does not make much of an attempt to eliminate resellers of mass-produced items in many departments, not just jewelry ones.
Fake “handmade” resellers get creative with stand-alone websites, too.
Some create powerful labels complete with sophisticated websites that feature “about us” sections displaying photos of machinery and “workers” constructing products. Alternatively, the staff’s bio photos feature stock images of models, alongside creative narratives suggesting Hanna the accountant is a serious fan of cats and is never seen to miss an episode of This is Us. Ugh.
Using a reverse image search you can determine that the person who is labeled as a “CEO” is in fact a stock photo model.
How to Spot the Fake Makers Online
Do not be suspicious of all companies who advertise handmade wedding bands, however, there are certain signs that you should look out for if you come across one. Below is a list of warning signs that should make you wary, especially if the business displays multiple signs from the list.
Significantly cheaper than other vendors who are providing the same or related ring. Rings made to measure and of a superior quality tend to cost more.
If the cost appears too advantageous to be genuine, it most likely is not.
This gets tricky. It does not necessarily follow that if a different store has it, it was manufactured in bulk. Many of the designs produced by large enterprises and individual artisans are very alike or indistinguishable. Be on the lookout for a combination of various types of photography and pictures. Shady resellers steal product imagery from reputable sellers.
Tungsten compared to solid gold and platinum, which are precious metals. Tungsten rings are THE most commonly mass-produced wedding bands. In particular, the versions that come plated, such as blue, black, gray, and rose gold.
This ring isn’t really gold. It is tungsten coated with a layer of gold that is one micron thick.
Most professional wedding ring makers think that rings with a plating other than rhodium-plated white gold are of low quality, which is typical in jewelry production. We prefer to utilize alternative metals that do not require plating, or solid precious metals in our work. Find out in our blog why selecting a plated ring is not recommended.
Plated rings are usually mass-produced.
Many manufacturers do not possess the means to produce a large quantity of rings in many different sizes. It would not be economical to do so if they are a small business. Resellers purchase merchandise in large quantities at a reduced rate and then sell from their existing inventory.
More than two days of labor is required to make a wedding ring by hand.
For example, the most widely sought after size range of men’s rings is 7-10 and can only be sold in whole units. If a wedding ring is specifically made to an individual’s individual requirements, it is quite simple to produce it in an assortment of sizes, including ¼, ½, ¾ and extra large sizes. Genuine artisans will strive to ensure you obtain the ideal ring size!
Only sizes 7 to 14 in full-size increments?
Well-known jewelry designers will let you use an existing gemstone for your new piece of jewelry.
Many producers take great pleasure in collaborating with somebody to make an exclusive piece of jewelry. At the least, a true jewelry-maker would be open to hearing your concept. Find out if they have the capability and necessary resources to make it work.
This shouldn’t be seen as a complete sign that a company is not legitimate, but it should make you question the quality of the product. Eliminating the unfavorable product remarks from one’s own exclusive website is a simple task. It would be beneficial if product reviews could be obtained from sources other than the company’s own website. Sadly, it is quite effortless to acquire and counterfeit commendations across the web, leading to a decrease in their dependability.
Reputable designers often proudly showcase their jewelry on popular social media sites such as Pinterest and Instagram, no matter how infrequently they are usually active on those platforms. Look around the website for symbols of social media and, if you can’t find any, that is a warning signal.
Brands that have a good reputation should be present on one or more social media sites.
This applies to those who create fraudulent accounts with visually appealing websites. If you can’t find any info on a live chat, contact form, email or physical address, or phone number, that is a warning sign. If a particular contact route is specified, but there is no response to an inquiry within a reasonable period, that can be seen as an unfavorable indication.
A legitimate business should be accessible; shady companies that manufacture large quantities of rings may be difficult to communicate with.
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