using GF & GP components together ??

[allthatglitters]

I just found a really good deal on GF lever backs ...I have been wanting to add a GF option for a while but the cost makes it difficult ...I was thinking to help keep my costs down ( and therefore my resell price down) by using GP headpins ...I figure they don't show all that much ...does this sound ethical as long as I only claim 'gold filled ear-wire' ?  Thanks!

[Polly]

Yes, that does work -- but not for all customers or all shows.
It's a good compromise if the customers at the places you're selling your jewelry, want a high quality ear wire, for plated-jewelry prices.
It can help to say "If this pair of earrings was all (this metal), they would be $39 instead of $23. I'd be happy to custom-make a pair for you." (And then take a 25% - 50% deposit so you can order the components.)

Mixing in a higher quality ear wire with plated components doesn't bother me nearly as much as mixing, for example, plated and sterling beads on the same piece of jewelry. It is nice to have a pretty pair of handcrafted earrings, that are affordable and don't make my ears itch!

[allthatglitters]

thanks for the reply ...I am mentally weighing the savings and thinking maybe I will offer some both ways

[Luann Udell]

I think people who want real gold won't settle for anything less. 

And almost everyone else doesn't care about gold plate vs. gold-filled.  When I did more work with gold-filled components, I would explain the difference to people.  But most just didn't really care. 

I'd say if you're using the gold plate pins only where they won't show or affect the look of the piece, and the cost difference between the two is really big, then use the GP headpins and just advertise "gold-filled ear wires" and leave it at that. 

If, however, there's potential of wear to the gp components, make sure you use quality gp pins from a reputable supplier (hint, hint--R&T!!).  Sometimes the plating is so thin, it wears off fast.  Then you're left with with the base metal showing through, which never looks good....   That rarely happens with good quality gold-filled components.

[Russ Nobbs]

Hi Luann,
One of the reasons that head pins and eye pins often have a very thin plating is so that the finish does not chip or crack when you manipulate, bend and wrap  the pin.
Heavier, thicker plating is more likely to crack and flake off when bent.

Gold plate uses real gold so the cost of gold plating is also going up. Rings & Things recently made the decision to maintain the same quality (thickness) of the gold plate on our gold plated chain. Our supplier offered to use a less expensive finish to avoid passing on to us as high an increase in the cost of the plated chain.  We decided to maintain the better quality plating and accept an increase in the cost, some of which we will have to pass on to our customers.

We recently had a delay in a shipment of gold plated chain because the supplier in China providing the gold to the plating factory withheld the gold until the price stabilized. If we understand correctly, the price was increasing so rapidly that the metals supplier refused to sell gold for a short time.

[Luann Udell]

Good points, Russ, & fun insight into the big world of fashion jewelry components!

I'm not knowledgeable about plating issues, but sometimes it can be a function of the alloy used to plate, too.  Years ago I bought cheap silver--plated headpins from a company I won't name (NOT R&T!!)  and the plating cracked, just as you said, when I made loops and bends.  My guy in Providence RI, after looking at my sad collection of headpins that didn't work, said it had something to do with too much.....chrome???...in the plating.  Made the plating brittle rather than the same malleability as the brass.

It's kinda cool to see how much planning and knowledge goes into something as the ubiquitous head pin!   

[Russ Nobbs]

Chrome and hot nickel are both problematic.
When I used to sell engraving jewelry I had some really nice looking ID bracelets with those finishes that would sometimes chip and pull away from the copper base metal when I engraved them. The really annoying part is that only some of them chipped. Most of the time they engraved quite nicely.

[Luann Udell]

Ah, yes intermittent issues--they're the WORST!!!