Why Handmade Jewellery Stands Apart

Handmade jewellery is a centuries-old craft, passed down through generations of artisans who dedicate years often decades to mastering their skill.

To truly call a piece handmade means it has been created entirely by hand, from start to finish, using traditional tools and raw materials. Each stroke of the hammer and every careful adjustment is guided by passion, precision, and artistry.

Resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece infused with the maker’s care and expertise.

Unfortunately, the terms handmade and handcrafted are often misused. Many pieces sold under these labels are actually cast or assembled from prefabricated components.

Jewellery produced using CAD/CAM, wax models, or casting is not genuinely handmade; hand-finished is a more accurate description.

These mass-produced items, commonly found in chain-store retailers, online stores are designed on computers, cast from the same computer files, and reproduced countless times—meaning your ring is rarely unique.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Strength Hidden in Handmade Metal

The superiority of handmade jewellery begins at the molecular level. When metal is shaped by hand, hammered, tempered, and rolled—it becomes denser and stronger.

Its molecules compress and align, stacking like bricks in a wall. This creates greater surface area and tension within the metal, giving it exceptional resistance to bending, wear, and damage.

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In contrast, cast metal has a looser, more porous structure. The molecules are farther apart, and tiny air pockets can form, making the metal weaker and more prone to cracking or wearing down prematurely.

It’s the difference between chipboard and natural hardwood: cast jewellery may look the part, but it can’t match the durability, strength, and heirloom quality of a piece made entirely by hand.

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A Lasting Investment in Craftsmanship

Recognizing the difference between handmade and cast jewellery can be challenging without a jeweller’s trained eye.

Yet, the longevity, strength, and sentimental value of fine jewellery always depend on three things:

- the method of construction

- the quality of the materials

 - the dedication and skill of the jeweller

When you choose handmade, you’re investing in artistry, tradition, and a piece designed to endure for generations.
 

There is a Place for CAD and Cast Jewellery

There is absolutely a valid place in the jewellery industry for CAD and cast production.

Many respected designers and luxury brands rely on these methods because handmaking thousands of identical pieces is simply not practical.

For brands and factories with strict quality standards, casting allows them to maintain consistency across large collections while offering pieces at a more accessible price point.

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Casting and CAD also make it possible to bring intricate, complex designs to life that might be too time-consuming to create entirely by hand. For customers who want a specific style replicated exactly or prefer a lower price, cast jewellery can be an excellent option.

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The issue arises, however, when consumers aren’t fully informed. Too often, mass-produced pieces are marketed as “handcrafted” & "handmade" and sold at premium prices without disclosure about how they were actually created.

Transparency is key: buyers deserve to know whether a piece was handmade or cast, the methods used in its production, and the level of care required to maintain it.

Educated customers can then make confident, informed decisions—choosing between a one-of-a-kind handmade heirloom or a cast piece that suits their budget and needs.
We also stock Cast jewellery in store, that has been assessed to meet our high standards for customers looking for affordable price points.

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Understanding Jewellery Photos vs. CAD Renders

Many people are surprised to learn that what they see online when shopping for jewellery is often not a photograph of a finished piece at all—it’s a render. A render is a computer-generated image (CAD drawing) that has been digitally edited to mimic the appearance of real jewellery.

While renders are useful for visualising a design concept in design stages, they don’t fully represent the subtleties of a finished, cast piece.

Renders can smooth out imperfections, exaggerate brilliance, or present unrealistic proportions, engineering and finishes. This can make it difficult—even for a discerning eye—to judge what the final piece will actually look like.

Knowing this distinction is important, especially if you’re comparing handmade work to mass-produced jewellery: only a genuine photograph of a completed piece can show you the quality, engineering and character that a render can’t replicate.

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