"Is this really handmade?" "Why so expensive?" "How can I tell it's real sterling silver 925?" "Why does it take so long?" We answer your questions.
When you look at a gleaming ring or a subtle necklace, you see the final result. You don't see the burner flame, the silver dust on the craftsperson's hands, or the hours spent polishing one detail. Handmade jewelry is a world that runs on different rules than mass production. Here, time flows more slowly, and the price reflects something more than just the metal.
How long does it take to make one handmade ring?
In the world of mass production jewelry comes together in hours — at MARAI it can take up to 15 working days. Every ring goes through the full process: sketch, casting, forming, soldering, and multi-stage hand polishing. The longest — and for us most stressful — stage is prototyping, when our idea and graphic design (read: the dream) face the test of reality. With earrings, several iterations often happen — adjusting the size, the balance, the post position — and the whole thing can take up to two weeks. It's exactly the time, focus and precision that give the finished product a character that can't be reproduced by machine.
You can't speed up the growth of a tree. You can put up a plastic one, but it's not the same. It's the same with handmade jewelry — the process has its own pace, because the nature of the material and the craft have their own rules.
Is handmade jewelry more expensive than mass-produced?
Short answer: yes, but for specific reasons.
Looking at two seemingly similar rings — one from a chain store, one from a designer workshop — the price difference can be significant. But the difference in value is even bigger.
Handmade jewelry is made from premium materials — at MARAI we use only sterling silver 925 and 1 micron of 24K gold for plating. Every piece is created by skilled jewellers, working on one piece at a time, not hundreds of products a day. Add to that short, limited series instead of thousands of pieces. We make small runs, which means your jewelry is unique. It's an investment in quality that lasts for years — not an expense for a single season.
Will every piece be identical?
In the world of machines, the goal is absolute repetition. In the world of handcraft, we aim for character. The answer is: no, not every piece is identical. And we're proud of that. Even within the same model — for example our earrings with an irregular texture — there can be subtle differences. A slightly different play of light on the hammered surface, or a touch of asymmetry from hand polishing.
For us — and for our customers — that's a feature, not a bug. It's proof that the jewelry was made by a person, not a moulding machine. Like leaves on a tree — they all look alike, but no two are identical. Those micro-differences give the jewelry its soul. We naturally try to faithfully reproduce the "mother" piece, and to keep earrings — well — paired ;)
So can I order something "made for me"?
This is the biggest advantage a small workshop has over a giant. Because we're in direct contact with the production process and the craftspeople, we're flexible.
Need a non-standard ring size? Dreaming of an engraving with an important date? Or a small modification to the design? As we're writing this, a 5 cm longer Lust & Trust necklace is being made on special order — and it might end up in our regular range. It's possible because we don't "buy in" finished pieces; we can adjust the chain length for full comfort. In mass production you're stuck with what's on the rack. In the handmade world jewelry adapts to you. That's the definition of luxury — an object made with a specific person in mind.
❌ What we don't do:
- Completely new, one-off designs (this requires a separate design process and prototyping costs)
- Copies of other people's designs (we respect other makers' intellectual property)
- Customisations that compromise structural integrity (e.g. a very thin ring — it will quickly snap)
Is everything sold as "handmade" really handmade?
Unfortunately, no.
"Handmade" sells, so many brands abuse the term. Here are red flags worth watching out for:
🚩 Identical product photos across dozens of stores (Chinese dropshipping)
🚩 Hundreds of "different" models in the catalogue (a real craftsperson has limited production)
🚩 Instant availability (real handmade takes time)
🚩 An unusually low price (real sterling silver 925 + handwork = a real cost)
🚩 No information about the process (a real maker is happy to talk about it)
At MARAI we're transparent: we show the workshop on Instagram, every piece carries the 925 hallmark, and we publish behind-the-scenes from the making process. Because real craft doesn't need to hide.
What materials are used in handmade jewelry?
Hand-crafted jewelry can be made from a range of materials — it depends on the maker's philosophy.
The most popular materials in handmade:
NOBLE METALS:
- Sterling silver 925 (the most popular — balance of quality and price)
- 14K / 18K gold (luxury segment)
- Platinum (most expensive, most durable)
- Copper and brass (budget alternative — but causes allergies)
PLATING:
- 24K gold (purest, most beautiful shine)
- 18K gold (common in luxury jewelry)
- Vermeil (a thick layer of gold over silver — premium)
STONES:
- Natural (amethyst, rose quartz, citrine)
- Semi-precious (pearls, opals, turquoise)
- Precious (diamonds, sapphires — high-end)
ORGANIC:
- Pearls (freshwater or saltwater)
- Wood (exotic species)
- Leather (natural, vegetable-tanned)
- Resin (for setting flowers, leaves)
At MARAI we use only:
- Sterling silver 925 (92.5% pure silver)
- 24K gold plating (minimum 1 micron)
Why such a limited list? Because we believe in jewelry for years, not for a season. Sterling silver 925 and 24K gold are materials that survive decades with minimal care. Wood or resin in fashion today might be passé in five years — silver never is.
How does plating in handmade jewelry differ from mass-produced?
It's all about the thickness of the layer and the quality of the gold.
FLASH GOLD (0.05–0.1 micron)
- Symbolic plating, more colour than layer
- Wears off after 2–4 weeks of daily wear
- Typical for fast fashion (Zara, H&M)
- Cost: pennies
STANDARD PLATING (0.3–0.5 micron)
- A thin layer that lasts 2–4 months
- Typical for mass online jewelry
- Starts wearing off after first contact with water/perfume
- Cost: a few złoty
PREMIUM PLATING (1–2 microns)
- A thick layer that lasts 1–3 years with good care
- Standard in high-quality handmade jewelry
- Requires a professional electroplating workshop
- Cost: tens of złoty
VERMEIL (2.5+ microns)
- A very thick layer of gold over sterling silver 925
- Lasts 5–10 years or longer
- Standard in luxury jewelry
- Cost: hundreds of złoty
How do you check the plating thickness when buying? Ask outright: "How many microns of plating?" If the seller doesn't know or dodges the question — red flag. A real craftsperson always knows their specs.