JEWELLERY MATTERS
BY ADRIAN SCHULZ, DIAMONDS OF DISTINCTION
How is your jewellery really made? In this day and age, customers are often concerned if their jewellery is made and manufactured in Australia rather than mass produced goods. Generally speaking, Australian precious jewellery is either individually handmade or it is mass produced on home soil. It is either forged directly from precious metals or cast. The benefits and suitability of each depend on the wearer. Handmade jewellery in this context suggests that an individual piece is designed and created exclusively, and is the only one of its kind in existence. Mass produced suggests a piece that is a copy of an original, molded for replication. This could be one of a limited number of units, or may be one of hundreds of thousands produced by a factory and shipped all over the globe. We’ve all heard the adage ‘back in the good old days when things were made to last’. Forging an object directly from metal is the only way to guarantee the integrity of the metal and strength of the item. Mass produced ‘cast’ parts cannot compete, due to the technique used. These castings often contain tiny air holes (porosity), an inherent side effect which can result in metal failure. Be sure to speak to your local Manufacturing Jeweller with any concerns or queries you may have.
We’ve all heard the adage ‘back in the good old days when things were made to last’. Forging an object directly from metal is the only way to guarantee the integrity of the metal and strength of the item.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adrian Schulz, owner operator of Diamonds of Distinction in Buderim, is a third generation, award winning Master Jeweller and Designer with 25 years of experience in the design and manufacture of Fine Jewellery. Trained by his father and grandfather, German trained Master Goldsmith’s, he has a passion for creating unique and exquisite designs that feature a point of interest for the wearer and admirer alike. 60 ISSUE 73
