Comments on: Jump Rings: Sterling or Sterling Filled?

By: Elizabeth Price

Elizabeth Price — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 17:24:36 +0000

I still have a gold filled bracelet from the 1960s that is in great shape. I have always used unplated metals in wirework and chainmail. But, like you am thinking of switching to filled.

By: Lesley H Phillips

Lesley H Phillips — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 10:16:08 +0000

Perhaps you could sell your silver plated items, but keep a stock of the 925 sterling jump rings for commission only. I can imagine with the number of rings required for chain maille that it would be horrendously expensive for you and subsequently the customer – so if they truly love it then they’d be happy to pay and wait for their item (especially knowing that it’s been made just for them).

By: Mae Carkuff

Mae Carkuff — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:29:51 +0000

I agree with most of the previous responses, as long as the material is disclosed it shouldn’t be an issue, and I believe that many customers wouldn’t care as long as they know that filled “wears” the same as sterling. One suggestion I would make is to make a piece for yourself of silver filled and wear it A LOT so you can give your customers good feedback on it.

By: sandi m

sandi m — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:11:09 +0000

While I’ve purchased some silver filled wire, I haven’t used it yet. I’m still not sure I want to go that route personally as I prefer the purer metals. That being said, I think the important issue – as others have stated – is disclosure. Some people just don’t care.
I once had a vendor argue with me that there was silver in german/nickel silver!!!! And she sold some rather expensive components. She immediately looked it up and saw I was correct. Can you believe it?!

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:10:44 +0000

This has also been a dilemma for me, but I think it depends what the item is. I use ParaWire (silver plated coated craft wire) for my best seller (it is a necklace of pearls/shells/coral/beads twisted together with wire) because it is anti-tarnish. Customers would never be able to clean it due to the construction. However, I use silver plated or gold plated chain and make my own clasps using silver filled or jeweler’s brass wire. So far, so good. Nobody has a problem, but I do disclose fully all of this information. I only use jeweler’s brass, copper, sterling, pure silver, or argentium for silversmithing (bezels, rings, and some earrings or wirewrap) or chainmaille. It is a mixed bag…some customers won’t buy anything that tarnishes and a few turn up their noses at anything that isn’t silver or gold. Fortunately, I don’t have very many of those!

By: Nancy Bailey

Nancy Bailey — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:16:34 +0000

Thanks Sue for the great information! That’s a good idea about having the explanation in writing to hand out to your customers. Great feedback! :))

By: Sue Beck

Sue Beck — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:47:32 +0000

Because I use 14/20 gold filled wire for my jump rings when my customers prefer gold chainmaille, I simply explain that silver filled wire is a sterling product manufactured in the same way. I also have a business card sized explanation of “What is Gold-filled (Silver-filled)?” For my customers to take with them, so they understand that GF and SF have hundreds times more precious metal than the light coating found on GP and SP. i also wear a ring made from 14/20 Gold-filled wire, and explain that I have worn the ring for X period of time to prove to myself how durable it is, and that usually convinces them, if they are not familiar with the material.

By: Nancy Bailey

Nancy Bailey — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 22:27:06 +0000

Gem Gals, that is a great idea! Thank you for the suggestion. I will report on how it goes, for I’m sure a lot of jewelers will benefit from this knowledge.

By: The Gem Gals

The Gem Gals — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 20:49:21 +0000

Nancy, keep us posted on how it goes doing both! Maybe you could make your “main” listing with the silver filled, but put in the comments (or whatnot) that you also offer it in Sterling Silver as well, to contact you for pricing. Or something like that. That way you don’t tie up money in having sterling ones sitting around as well.

By: Nancy Bailey

Nancy Bailey — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:29:38 +0000

You are right Jim, I would disclose the material and explain the difference. From all the feedback I’m getting from everyone here, I have decided to try both and see which ones are most popular. I originally had thought about totally getting away from all sterling, but decided, as you all say, there are people out there that are still willing to pay the price, so it makes sense to have different price points for all customers. Thank you all for your feedback, it has been most helpful!

By: Jim Davis

Jim Davis — Thu, 30 May 2013 11:19:07 +0000

I feel that as long as you make it clear in your item description whether it is silver or filver-filled, the buyer can make their own decision.

By: Nancy Bailey

Nancy Bailey — Wed, 29 May 2013 00:03:52 +0000

@Gem Gals, that is so true! I love to do chain maille and it is definitely a labor of love. Because of that, my prices don’t reflect a lot of labor, but I am really fine with that…:)) I like the idea of doing both (all) sterling and silver-filled and just see what becomes more popular.
Thanks so much for your feedback!

By: The Gem Gals

The Gem Gals — Tue, 28 May 2013 20:26:04 +0000

I think that is a really hard one! For me personally, being a designer also, I know the time and love-labor that goes into something like chainmaille. It’s an intense & long process. So that puts me in a position where I don’t blink at the higher price points for handmade jewelry, especially Sterling Silver (I’m really allergic to most else).

However, for a customer, unless they are like me & understand the value and are your ideal customer for that niche, I think silver filled is totally acceptable. So you just have to decide what *you* as the designer want to do. You may have to work much harder to find your target customers if you go with higher priced Sterling, but if you can do this, will be totally worth it in the end.

By: Drake

Drake — Mon, 27 May 2013 12:50:42 +0000

I am also a chainmaille artist, and I carry both solid Argentium Sterling and Sterling-filled pieces. As long as you keep the two separate, and can explain the differences, I find that both sell. Make sure you explain the difference between silver-filled and silverplate, and I also explain about how Argentium Sterling is a high-quality, tarnish resistant alloy of sterling, and I do fairly well. I do sell quite a bit more of the silver-filled than the Argentium because of it’s lower price, but I also had a pair of women come into a show in February and basically clear me out of every Argentium bracelet that I had.

By: Nancy Bailey

Nancy Bailey — Mon, 27 May 2013 12:27:12 +0000

Thank you for the good information Susan! I haven’t worked much with silver-filled so I will keep that in mind.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 27 May 2013 01:16:52 +0000

I started using sterling filled a while back and loved the price and look compared to sterling; that being said, not all sterling filled is created equal. I found some of it inferior and on pieces such as rings that were subject to a lot of wear, the plating wore off quickly. I also did not like seeing the copper color at the cut ends of wires. I did find a better product that has a white brass core so you don’t have that problem. There may be other suppliers, but I have had great service from Unkamen Supplies. You can find them on Etsy and Facebook.

By: Nancy Bailey

Nancy Bailey — Sun, 26 May 2013 02:39:34 +0000

You’re right Lisa! What I do is truly a labor of love.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 26 May 2013 00:36:06 +0000

I work with silver too and I understand how expensive it is compared to in the past. Most people unless they really know their prices and workmanship can’t appreciate what goes into a piece like yours! I do and if I wasn’t so broke from buying more and more tools….I would want it for my own collection!

By: Nancy Bailey

Nancy Bailey — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:34:14 +0000

Thanks Lisa! I have thought about carrying both, but it is getting harder to keep my sterling pieces at a price that people are willing to pay. We do several shows each year, so maybe I could carry both to see which ones are more desirable. Some people are willing to pay the price for all sterling.
Thanks for the feedback from you both!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 25 May 2013 10:55:20 +0000

It would not bother me as long as it was disclosed. Maybe having a few of each type piece would be the way to go. You do beautiful work!

By: Fanciful Ponderings

Fanciful Ponderings — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:15:49 +0000

As a buyer I think silver filled are just fine and I like the look for less cost. But it took someone explaining the difference between plated and filled before I was hooked. I have bought a few items and found that they hold up just the same as sterling and I don’t worry about buying filled anymore.