A heartfelt note from the bench, why soaring silver and gold prices, along with rising business costs, mean small makers like me need to make a few changes to stay sustainable.
Today my heart skipped a beat…
If you’ve been listening to the news lately, you might have heard that precious metal prices are soaring.
As I sat at my much loved jeweller’s bench this afternoon, creating pieces for my upcoming collection, I had BBC Radio 4 playing in the background.
When Fiona Cincotta, Senior Market Analyst for City Index, announced that silver prices have risen 78% this year and gold is up 53% my heart skipped a beat.
That’s an extraordinary jump and one that ripples through every studio, workshop and retailer across the country.
As a small independent maker, I feel these changes directly. The silver and gold I use in my designs aren’t abstract numbers on a screen, they’re the heart of every necklace, ring and bangle I make.
When costs rise so drastically, it affects everyone. From the maker to the wholesaler and eventually to you, our valued customer. And it’s not just metals, everything behind the scenes has crept up too: studio rent, utilities, packaging, casting, website fees, postage & insurance to name a few..
I’ve always done my best to keep my jewellery fairly priced and accessible, but for my business to remain sustainable and viable, I do need to adjust my prices to reflect these rising costs. This allows me to continue designing and handcrafting quality pieces without compromising on materials, ethics or craftsmanship.
I want to be transparent about this, it’s something happening across the entire industry and these are conversations I feel we need to have.
My goal isn’t just to make jewellery but to build a brand you can trust and one that will last.
Thank you as always, for supporting small makers like me. Every piece you treasure helps keep independent jewellery alive.
Now more than ever, I ask you to shop mindfully and recognise that rising material and running costs are things all small makers are navigating together.
And to my fellow jewellers reading this.. Don’t worry, we’ve got this ✨ but let’s check our pricing together… pretty pronto!
With love,
Sadie x
(P.s. If there’s something you’ve had your eye on, now’s the time as I’ll be adjusting throughout the week)
