Silver Jewellery : The blog of online jeweller Corazon Latino

29 December 2009

Handmade v Machine-made Silver jewellery

People often ask me what the difference is between handmade silver jewellery and the machine made version. As with all things, there are upsides and downsides to both.

The advantages of machine made jewellery are, that it is quicker and easier to make (which means it is much cheaper than handmade jewellery). It is also much more consistent. A machine made piece will be identical every time. Machines can work with much lighter weights of silver, which means they can make solid pieces with much thinner silver, thereby reducing theweight and the price.

The downsides are, that the cost to set up the machines mean that you have to produce thosands of identical pieces to make it cheaply, and that means that there are thosands of pieces just like yours floating about out there. You may also have a much less robust piece with a far shorter lifespan.

Handmade silver jewellery, on the other hand, takes time and skill. Moulds have to be created or links built (often without solder which can not be applied effectively by hand on fine links) and every piece has to be polished for hours.
Every piece is made individually and that means it is slower to produce, and every piece is slightly different. You don't get mirror shines, you can't produce tiny chains and you can't produce thousands of the same piece of jewellery quickly. BUT the advantages are that you get heavier weight pieces, and you get something that has been made with skill and care, and you are supporting a craft that has been handed down for generations.

At Corazon Latino, all but 1 of our pieces of silver jewellery is handmade. To read more about our artisans and the ethos behind our jewellery click here.

Our only 1 machine made piece is the fine silver chain we offer as an option with some of our silver pendants. Most of the silver chains are machine made in Italy, where huge machines churn them out by the metre to be cut to size and sold. They are cheap, but extremely well made, and the only option available as it is impossible to make a fine chain by hand (the silver would be to fragile to handle). However, many people mark these simple chains up by ridiculous amounts despite their low production cost. We do not sell the chain itself, only offering it at little more than cost as a service to our customers because we believe that our customers are paying for handmade pieces and should not be overcharged for a machine made chain.

So whether you want a perfect machine made chain, or a chunky handmade silver bangle, there will be something out there for you. Just be sure you know what you are buying and that cheap is NOT necessarily better value when it comes to silver jewellery.

Posted By Catherine D'Arcy - Founder Corazon Latino At 11:42 • Trackbacks (0)

28 December 2009

The silver world mourns Antonio Pineda

Antonio Pineda, the last great modernist Mexican silvermith has died in Taxco at the age of 90.

A native of Taxco in Central Mexico; where much of the Corazon Latino silver jewellery is made for us. Pineda beame an apprentice in the workshop of the great William Spratling (the man creditted with turning tiny Taxco into the silver jewellery capital of the world) when he was just 11 years old.

Learning his trade over the next 20 years, Pineda opened his own workshop in 1939 which at it's height employed nearly 100 silversmiths. During the 1940's and 50's Pineda's work became renowned around the world, being exhibited beside the other greats of silver jewellery design Georg Jensen and Margaret de Patta, and sold across the world.

Pinedas work was defined by his use of extremely pure silver (970 instead of the traditional 925), his chunky handmade designs combining his Mexican heritage with a modernist twist and his use of semi precious stones.

Pinedas work not only inspired generations of Taxcan silver smiths, but has also kept the pretty hillside town of Taxco on the silver jewellery map for the past 60 years.

He will be sadly missed.

Posted By Catherine D'Arcy - Founder Corazon Latino At 08:48 • Trackbacks (0)

24 December 2009

Christmas Cheer from Corazon Latino

As snow blankets large parts of the UK and bad weather leads to massive disruption to online deliveries in the run up to Xmas. We are proud to announce that despite our busiest Christmas ever, Corazon Latino did not let down one single customer!

We had a few hairy moments with a silver bangle trapped in snow in Northumberland, and although it didn't arrive within the 24 hours promised by Royal Mail it did arrive this morning in time for a very happy customer to wrap it ready for the big day.

We even managed to get 2 last minute panic orders for silver bracelets gift wrapped and out yesterday AFTER our guaranteed order deadline, and they arrived this morning as well.

While we have huge sympathy for those people still waiting and hoping for their presents to arrive, it just goes to show that if you are prepared to spend a little more as a business and invest in high priced delivery for your customers, in the end you don't let them down.

Because we hate getting to the check out and finding some sneaky hidden delivery charge added to our shopping or finding we have to pay extra to get something in a hurry, we have aways offered Special delivery free of charge on all our silver jewellery. In most cases that means you get you jewellery within 48 hours of ordering at no extra cost...

Our jewellery, is handmade, fabulous quality and great value for money, so next year, why not join our already happy customers and buy your Xmas presents at Corazon Latino.

Posted By Catherine D'Arcy - Founder Corazon Latino At 11:02 • Trackbacks (0)

18 December 2009

Last orders for Xmas 22nd December

If you still haven't found that perfect gift for the woman in life, don't panic! help is at hand.

At Corazon Latino we take the stress out of Xmas shopping. First of all we offer personalised advice to help you find the best piece of silver jewellery for you. Whether you want a chunky silver bangle or handmade necklace, a solid silver choker or a pretty matching set. Everything is handmade, sterling silver and superb quality and the range is big enough you will be sure to find something you like.

Once you've decided on that special piece you're all set. If you want to we will gift wrap it and even add your own personal message.

Then we ship your jewellery FREE anywhere in the UK using fast and secure Special delivery so that by 1pm the day after we ship you have it. This means that even if you order on December 22nd you will still have it before Xmas.

If at the end of all that she doesn't love it (and we are pretty confident she will), don;t worry, we offer a 7 day money back guarantee from Xmas day so you can change it or get a full refund. No questions asked.

ow that HAS to beat queuing for an hour to park at the local shopping centre and traipsing round the shops in several inches of snow, let alone doing battle with a wrapping paper and a roll of sellotape... Doesn't it?

Posted By Catherine D'Arcy - Founder Corazon Latino At 19:55 • Trackbacks (0)

17 December 2009

Online sales soar for silver jewellery

A survey carried out by a jewellery industry magazine has found that while high street jewellers are facing a tough time, online retailers are seeing sales skyrocket as customers begin to realise the savings to be made by shopping online.

The biggest sales are is sterling silver jewellery with online sales up on average 300%.

At Corazon Latino we have seen a massive increase in demand for our silver jewellery with stocks selling out for the first time in our history. I think the reason silver jewellery is so successful online is that it is relatively inexpensive. This makes silver jewellery a low risk purchase compared to gold or diamonds where you would be far less likely to buy "blind" (without seeing it in reality).

When you combine a low risk purchase with superb value for money (we offer many pieces at half the retail price of similar weighted pieces on the highstreet) and fabulous customer service then it is not a surprise that people decide to take the plunge.

At Corazon Latino, we aim to make shopping for silver jewellery easier than shopping on the highstreet, and we think, this Christmas, we have achieved it. Certainly the record numbers of shoppers (many coming back and buying twice this holiday season) tells us we are doing something right.

Posted By Catherine D'Arcy - Founder Corazon Latino At 23:22 • Trackbacks (0)

13 December 2009

Superb Customer service from Corazon Latino

If you are new to buying silver jewellery online, or you have failed to find that perfect Xmas present in the high street this weekend, or you just can't face the Christmas crowds, then look no further than Corazon Latino.

Not only do we have a fabulous range of unique and unusual silver jewellery, all of it handmade and guaranteed sterling silver, but we also offer some of the best customer service on the web.

Despite the Xmas rush, we are still processing orders within 24 hours, which combined with our FREE Special delivery means that you will have your jewellery within 48 hours. If it's really urgent, order before 2pm and let us know you need it the following day, and we will try and ship the same day and you will have your jewellery in less than 24 hours!

Not only do we offer fast and free UK delivery, we also ship worldwide at great rates (although you have left it a bit late for Xmas now). For those buying gifts we also offer gift wrapping and a money back guarantee so you can afford to take the risk and buy her that bracelet or necklace, as if the worst happens and she doesn't like it, you can always change it for something else.

To read what some of our customers have had to say about our silver jewellery and our service, check out our testimonials page .

Our last order date for Xmas is Dec 22nd, so even if you really have left things to the last minute, we can still help you.

Posted By Catherine D'Arcy - Founder Corazon Latino At 21:26 • Trackbacks (0)

New handmade silver jewellery for 2010

When my sister and I set up Corazon Latino we wanted to bring beautiful handmade Mexican silver jewellery to the UK. Since then, the range has expanded to include pieces made for us as far afield as Thailand and the Baltic Sea. However, our heart remains in Mexico.

While my sister has been slaving away at home, getting all the orders out in time for Xmas, I have had the chance to mix business with pleasure and spend three weeks in Mexico working on the new range for 2010.

Developing a new range takes about 6 months and several thousand pounds, so although we only launched our 2009/10 range in September, work is already underway on the next range so that we have a new selection of silver bracelets, bangles, necklaces and pendants for you by Summer 2010.

Having looked at the early prototypes, I think we will have another lovely range for next year. There are some lovely silver bracelets, which, with matching necklaces will add to our range of matching sets which have proved so popular this Xmas. We will also have an unusual take on a charm bracelet in both bracelet and necklace formats, designed specifically for engraving your own personal message to the one you love. For those looking for a really special piece we will have a stunning new silver necklace and bracelet combination, perfect for that big event.

For the first time in our history, we are also looking at silver rings. We hope to start with a range of 5 or 8 rings in the two most common sizes. IF they are a success, we will then roll out a bigger range of sizes.

I will keep you posted on progress as the new range develops, and I hope that once again we can bring you some of the most unique and unusual jewellery on the market in 2010.

Posted By Catherine D'Arcy - Founder Corazon Latino At 20:45 • Trackbacks (0)

12 December 2009

Silver jewellery prices set to rise in 2010

Buy your silver jewellery now before prices rise again in 2010.

Don't forget that as from January 1st 2010, the UK government is increasing the VAT rate from 15% to 17.5% and that means an instant 2.5% increase on all jewellery sold by companies large enough to register for VAT (and that means Corazon Latino).

In addition to this, the price of silver has risen by over 15% in the past few months, and although we are hoping it will settle down at a slightly lower level, we could be looking at new stock hand made for us in 2010 costing up to 10% more than this year.

At Corazon Latino we have always worked on lower margins than your average jewellery store, meaning that we can offer you high quality, handmade silver jewellery at a fraction of the price you would have to pay on the high street. We believe that quality is the most important part of our business, so rather than cutting costs by cheapening pieces or reducing their weight (which would reduce the price but could compromise the quality and durability of the pieces) we will be increasing our prices BUT in an open and honest way.

IF silver drop in price, we won't implement the increases on our range. And IF it drops during the year, or we are able to improve on prices without compromising quality, we will pass on these savings to our loyal customers.

However, please think about it now as no matter what we do, the government will be adding 2.5% to the prices from Jan 1.

Posted By Catherine D'Arcy - Founder Corazon Latino At 20:38 • Trackbacks (0)