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My cousin's wedding band request showed me how people undervalue our skill
My cousin texted me a photo of a wedding band with three different stones set in a twist pattern. He said he wanted it for his wedding in two weeks as a family favor. I explained that setting stones like that needs careful effort and special tools. He laughed and said it should be easy for someone like me. I had to break down the cost of silver and the labor hours. His response was that I was being too serious about a small job. That moment let me see how often our craft is taken for granted. From now on, I give quotes upfront, no exceptions, even for relatives.
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sethp267mo ago
Two weeks? For a custom wedding band with three stones in a twist pattern? That's insane. Even if you worked non-stop, you'd need time to order the stones, set them right, and polish everything. People don't get that this isn't like buying off the shelf. It's hands-on work that can't be rushed without ruining it. Your cousin really thought that was a 'small job'? No wonder you felt taken for granted.
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charles_kim7mo ago
Yeah when seth said "people don't get that this isn't like buying off the shelf" it reminded me of my friend's client who freaked out that a repair couldn't be done overnight. Some folks just see the shiny end product, not the work.
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jamieb647mo ago
Depends on the jeweler's setup lol. Some of us keep common stones in stock and can bang out a twist band in a few days if we clear the bench.
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