Get It (on Sale) While You Can

After all that I’ve written about the high price of gold — including my posts from July and October — you’d think I’d be immune to sticker shock, but I guess it doesn’t work that way. I nearly passed out on Friday while I was at a wholesaler getting this 18-inch, 18K-rose-gold chain and clasp.

Shown next to a penny for size perspective.

The clasp cost me $65. The 1.1 mm-thick chain cost $150. (You’ll notice there’s no jump ring for the clasp to connect to; the wholesaler was out of rose-gold rings. I had to take one off a 16″ chain that I already had.) If I were to take my full markup and a store took its full markup, this incomplete chain would retail for $950.  Pretty astonishing, considering I used to sell the finished design that requires this chain for less than $500 — which covered the jump ring, the pendant, the packaging, and my labor, as well as the chain and clasp.

Of course, these days, I never take my full markup. When selling wholesale, I should at least double my costs, but if I did that, the retail prices would be totally out of control. Still, I might have to increase some prices because, when I last did it, I went too easy on a number of pieces. In the meantime, I’m putting some designs on sale for the holidays. If you’re not in the New York area, you can check out the bargains on my website. The sale prices will only be available through December 14.

CLICK HERE FOR MY SALE PAGE.

The pieces on sale include designs I’m discontinuing. The gold fruit necklaces — such as the apple, pineapple and grapes — will only be made in silver in the future and sold as part of my WENDYB by Wendy Brandes diffusion line. And, as I mentioned recently, I’m not going to carry many white-gold designs as part of my standard inventory anymore, though I’ll happily make white-gold pieces upon request.

If you are in the New York area and want to see my work in person, stop by the holiday sale I’m having at Zang Toi’s showroom on Tuesday and Wednesday.

You definitely should see my citrine Leonor ring in person if possible. The cut of the stone is incredible. The website photo doesn’t do it justice at all. I promise you that if you see this ring on your finger, you won’t be able to take your eyes off it. The ring was handmade in New York City and I’ll never make another one, so it will be very special. Alert Santa and/or the … er… Hanukkah elves.

Leonor ring. Click to purchase.

Holla at me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com if you have any questions.