WWJSRP

World Wide Jewellery Suppliers Review Project

I’ve had an idea! You wouldn’t credit it, but I do have them from time to time. My idea was first born out of blatant self-interest, but after a few minutes thought, I realised that this idea could be of assistance to more than just my own self.

You see, I’m going away soon, on a sort of holiday.  Actually, it’s to visit friends, in a whole other country. Singapore, country and city. I have been to Singapore before, but like my friend reminded me, a lot has changed since I was last there, about 8 or so years ago.

I went to a bead shop when I was there. It was massive, and specialised in semi-precious strands of beads, from memory. But what I remember buying was tweezers and wire… And in one of the larger malls (don’t ask which one…) in one of their many mini-electronics/home hardware stores I bought my first set of needle files. So it’s true, everyone can find what they’re after in Singapore.

But this is not a blog about retail therapy. It’s about jewellism, so back on topic. Over at AJF, Damian’s leading the charge on cataloguing books relevant to jewellists. He’s posting up reader submissions for the biggest annotated bibliography project known to jewellery. Or jewelry, if you prefer.

So, say I plan to go to London next year, or hell, Singapore (what, really?), and I want to know where to buy jewellery tools or who has the biggest range of silk thread, where do I go? I know, I could type my query into google/bing/yahoo, but spending hours trawling through the intertubes can be a little mind-bending. Especially since we all know that typing ‘jewellery’ into a search engine almost never brings up one million online retailers for ‘best quality gems’…

So, I’m calling out to jewellists worldwide to help a sista out! (And hopefully more than just this sista.) Have a great thread store that you visit religiously? Your file-monger knows your name, and you want to get them more bid-ness? Then email me a review of your favourite supplies store (one with a shopfront, please, I could go online while I’m on holiday for sure, but it would kinda defeat the purpose) and I’ll pop it up here!
(to borrow from AJF again, about 200 words, including the location details, seems to be a good amount)

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Seattle Findings
500 Union Street, #310, Seattle, WA  98101
Tel: 206.682.7020  Toll Free: 800.678.7759

In downtown Seattle resides Seattle Findings, the local tools and supplies shop. It’s wonderfully close to Facere Jewelry Art Gallery (in the neighbouring building) and very easy to access from the street, and is in the main city block close to busses and not too far from the Seattle Streetcar line and light rail.

The shop itself looked sparse (but maybe that’s cos I’m used to Koodak and AJS in Melbourne), there were all the basics of course, and a few small benches for sale, as well as some basic flexi-drives and a fair few ultrasonic cleaners. Drill bits and saw blades are hanging on a wall for customers to access and investigate, and they have a counter filled with silver findings, and another with gold-filled products. (Gold-filled, such a misleading name….)

In keeping with the long-standing American tradition of mail-ordering goods, (the self-same fascination which has ultimately brought me to these United States) I was told early into my encounter with the lovely sales assistant (a recent graduate jeweller, or jeweler as we call them here) that they can deliver all goods, and in fact, with direct shipping, some goods are cheaper when ordered through their online store and delivered direct than they are if you buy them in store.

I was specifically worried about the delivery of chemicals, and to my pleasure I found that they have Sparex, and that between all the different postage types – they can specify land delivery only – that they could probably deliver direct or keep them in store for me to collect if I preferred. I left her with the task of finding an equivalent for Tenacity in her range of chemicals, though I’m thinking it might be accessible online. I’ll have to check…

I was also told that a gas and oxygen setup is quite easy to procure, from my local hardware store. Oxygen from the hardware store? I know, smell the freedom. (This is yet to be proved, I’ll keep you posted.)

So in all, without actually buying anything, I’d have to give these peeps a pretty high rating. The staff were helpful, knowledgeable and courteous, and so I would definitely recommend them for the basics, though I think the list of findings might be a little limited. I’m going to hold full judgement til I actually order something, so no word yet on how many sets of pliers.

Stay tuned…

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Here’s one of the many, many Melbourne suppliers, and one I visited fairly regularly.

Twin Plaza Metals
L12/227 Collins St
Melbourne
(03) 9654 1477

Twin Plaza also have a store in Adeliade, which I have also visited, to buy a single pin end. (2nd/55 Gawler Pl, Adelaide, SA.) This review focuses on the Melbourne store.

These guys have a fair selection of hand tools, waxes, cleaning products and display boxes, but for me they are the people I go to for silver chenier and chain. I’ve also bought silk thread, chemicals (something similar to Sparex), emery paper and a pre-made silver ring. They do rings in sizes to order, and on my order it was about a one week turn-around. (For those of you who know me, it was about the 3rd ring I’d done in 5 years…) They do have a big selection of rings on display, including multiple colours of gold and titanium wedders.

Their chenier catalogue is pretty comprehensive, and I have never challenged their supply in any one order, so they seem to have a good amount of stock. It is sold in 30cm lengths, and from what I’ve seen on their shelves they also stock square too. I have also purchased 18ct gold wire, and gold chain. Gold chains are sold finished, in standard lengths, while the assorted silver chains are sold by the meter.

Their service is generally friendly, and efficient. I give them three sets of pliers out of five.

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Seattle Suppliers