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Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Handmade Jewelry - What is Required by the FTC in Order to Be Represented as Handmade?

Handmade jewelry is a wonderful item to add to one’s jewelry collection. There is something extremely attractive and unique about items which fall into this category and one is sure to get a pure treasure when purchasing trinkets which are made by hand. In order to ascertain that one is getting a handmade piece of jewelry and not one which is manufactured in bulk factory line quality, there are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping for accessories of this type.

FTC Places Certain Requirements on Sellers Which Advertise and Sell Handmade Jewelry

Since handmade jewelry is a specialty type of item, the FTC places restrictions on such for the overall benefit of the consumer. The purpose behind doing so is so that the general consumer is not tricked in any way to believe that what they are purchasing is authentic in nature when in fact it may not be. The Commission has stated that any piece of jewelry which is represented as handmade must be entirely so or made by manually controlled operations otherwise it would be a deceptive practice to call something handmade when in fact it was not. This provides some protection and peace of mind for the consumer to know that handmade goods are being monitored by the FTC and there are certain restrictions placed on jewelry vendors with regard to this type of item.

In order to have something in one’s back pocket should a discrepancy occur with regard to whether the jewelry piece is handmade or not, purchasers of claimed handmade jewelry should ask for one of two things when they purchase the item. First, they should ask the seller to write down on paper anything which they verbally represented with regard to the authenticity of the handmade jewelry item. Also, ask for a certificate of authenticity as jewelers may have access to such items and these are a wonderful way to show that you purchased what you believed to be handmade.

What Talent Is Needed to Produce Handmade Jewelry?

Individuals who produce handmade jewelry should have certain traits with regard to talent and expertise in the area. Those who construct accessories which are made by hand should be creative by nature and have the ability to construct unique pieces of jewelry. In addition, those who make handmade jewelry should have the necessary expertise so that their finished product is one which will be sturdy and durable for the purchaser to wear. If one who makes this unique type of jewelry has the aforementioned traits they are more likely to produce a well made, original product for the buyer to adore. The more time which one spends perfecting this craft, the better the final outcome may be.