Andy Jensen
Director
Permanent Jewelry Experts Panel
Permanent jewelry turns heads. When people see a permanent bracelet or anklet they immediately ask, "Where did you get that?" and "How much does it cost?" The cost question was posed to an experts panel representing the permanent jewelry industry.
"There is definitely a range," says permanent jewelry pioneer, Shari Tammietti, who owns a boutique and training company, Permanent Jewelry Training. “I've seen sterling silver and gold fill bracelets priced anywhere from $50 to $150. Obviously, if you're using solid gold metals or larger pieces, like anklets or necklaces, that price is going to go up."
Danielle Watt, proprietor of River Valley Designs adds, "It depends on the area. In my area I see $50 to $100 for a dainty bracelet."
“For my studio, anything that is solid gold is going to range between $115 to $300 or more ,” says Kim Thompson of Love, Eros, a boutique in Chattanooga. “The price varies depending upon style and the amount chain of needed." Most permanent jewelry artists charge by the inch. The larger the wrist, the more expensive the chain becomes.
Christine Coughlin, owner of Flash and Fuse, a permanent jewelry boutique in Boston, says. "In my area, typically, prices start at $65. I see people charging $150 for a gold fill bracelet. I typically like to charge $85 for a bracelet."
Danielle points out the key to pricing. "A lot depends on where you are in the world. You have to be realistic. I would love to charge $100 for a sterling silver bracelet but that would put me out of business. You have to play with the numbers and find a happy medium, where you have customers continuously coming in but you're still making a profit. You have to make a profit."
Shari agrees. "You have to find the sweet spot. Being the cheapest is the laziest form of marketing. Being the cheapest is not where you want to be, so you have to find that sweet spot."
Permanent Jewelry FAQ's
Does Permanent Jewelry Interfere with TSA? No. Our fine TSA officers don't ask you to remove jewelry when going through airport security. Permanent jewelry is jewelry and doesn't have to come off.
What About X-rays, CAT scans, and MRI's? The quick answer is permanent jewelry can be easily removed for these procedures and then reattached. All you need is a pair of nail clippers to cut a jump ring or fine chain. For most of us, x-rays, CAT scans, and MRI's are not a usual occurrence. Don't let something that may happen discourage you from choosing to get permanent jewelry today!
Will Permanent Jewelry Tarnish? Of course. Like all jewelry, you should clean your bracelet or anklet often. Chemicals you find in pools will tarnish your permanent jewelry. Gold is less likely to tarnish than any other metal.
What about Sports? Most contact sports prohibit you from wearing any type of jewelry, and that includes permanent jewelry.
Where You Can Get Permanent Jewelry
You can find a permanent jewelry artist near you by searching the Permanent Jewelry Directory. You can usually book a permanent jewelry artists online for private parties, bridal showers, weddings, and other significant events.
How to Do Permanent Jewelry
1. Choose and Measure Chain. Your permanent jewelry artist (also referred to as a permanent jewelry technician) will show you a display of the chain they offer. Once you choose your chain they'll measure your wrist and then cut the chain to that length.
2. Connect the Chain with a Jump Ring. Your permanent jewelry artist will wrap the chain around your wrist. Next, the artist will connect both ends of the chain using a jump ring. A jump ring is a small, silver or gold ring that has been cut, allowing the permanent jewelry artist to place the two ends of the chain inside the jump ring. The artist will use a pair of pliers to hold he jump ring. The pliers are usually ground and connected a permanent jewelry welder™, such as an Orion mPulse™, Orion PJ™, or Zapp™. The artist will use pliers to move the two ends of the jump ring together, so they are tight against each other.
3. Check for Safety. The permanent jewelry artist will place a small leather patch between your skin and the jump ring. This will protect you from the off chance that the jump ring becomes unexpectedly hot during the welding process (it rarely happens, but your artist will do all they can to ensure a pleasant experience). You'll also be asked to either look away during the welding process or view the process while recording the experience with your smartphone. Remember what grandpa always said: Never watch someone weld without proper eye protection. Your permanent jewelry artist will protect their eyes using special glasses or an auto darkening lens (or ADL).
4. Weld the Jump Ring Closed. With the jump ring holding both ends of the chain and with safety assured, the permanent jewelry artist will weld the two ends of the jump ring together, so the chain can not be removed. Of course, you can always use a nail clipper to cut open the jump ring and remove the bracelet. The jump ring can be closed again at any time.
5. Polish the Chain. Your permanent jewelry artist will take a fiberglass brush to clean up the welded jump ring. Accomplished permanent jewelry artists will use argon gas to produce a cleaner, stronger weld. And that completes the process, which should take about 10 minutes from start to finish.
How to Start a Permanent Jewelry Business
Starting your permanent jewelry business requires little in upfront investment. The top permanent jewelry welders start at $999, come with 3-year warranties, and responsive customer service. You can also purchase a permanent jewelry starter kit to get all the tools you need, and then invest in what chain you feel will be most popular with your customers. As a general rule, you should be able to recoup your investment after selling 50 to 70 bracelets.
"Just start," says Kim Thompson. "If you want to get into the business, then just get started."
You're more likely to find permanent jewelry artists at fairs, farmer's markets, and other events or within a salon or boutique. Wherever your target audience is, that's where you'll want to be. The majority of permanent jewelry artists only work remote events (which they call pop-up's), because the overhead is considerably low and the margins are much higher. Others pay rent for a spot in a salon or already own a salon or boutique.
To learn more about permanent jewelry, or to start your own permanent jewelry business, visit www.permanent.jewelry or call or text +1 801-658-0015.