Sell handmade jewelry online, and show how it’s made

1. 01

   Tell the story behind the bench

   Write who you are, where you work, what you make with and why. A photo of your hands at the bench, your tools and your workspace does more for a handmade shop than a polished logo.

2. 02

   Decide what’s in stock and what’s made to order

   Keep a few ready pieces with real stock, and turn on “sell when out of stock” for designs you make once they’re ordered. Put the making time on each made-to-order page so nobody expects it tomorrow.

3. 03

   Show the process, not only the result

   Add photos of a ring at each stage: the wire, the soldered band, the stone setting, the polish. It explains the price without a word and helps buyers see that each piece will be a little different.

4. 04

   Say plainly that no two are identical

   Hammered textures, stone colors and hand-sized bands vary. One line on each product page sets the right expectation and heads off a “this doesn’t match the photo” email.

5. 05

   Count your bench hours in the price

   Metal, stones, solder, findings, packaging and payment fees are the easy part. Time your making for a week and include it, or you won’t be able to sell to shops at a wholesale price later.

6. 06

   Take commissions without a backlog

   List custom work with the price hidden and a request form for the metal, stone, size and occasion. Say how many commissions you take each month, and when you’re full, say so on the page.

• Metal words and marks

  Call a piece sterling silver only if it is, and say plated or filled where that applies; in the US the FTC’s jewelry guides define these terms. In the UK, silver over a small exemption weight must be hallmarked before it’s sold as silver, so many makers send pieces to an assay office.

• Nickel-free claims

  Findings like ear wires and jump rings can contain nickel. In the EU and UK there are legal limits on nickel release for jewelry worn against the skin, stricter for piercing posts. Buy findings from suppliers who share their test results before you say nickel-free.

• Packaging is part of the piece

  Handmade jewelry is often bought as a gift. A small box, a care card and a note on how the piece was made make it feel worth the price, and they protect it in the mail.

General information to help you get started, not legal advice. Rules differ by country, state and product, so check the ones that apply to you.