Alex Monroe is ridiculous

[buzzoffbee]

I really loved their hidden bee locket but wanted it 50% bigger. (1.5cm tall instead of 1cm)

After several attempts and mis-communications with them going back to April, I finally managed to get a quote from them today! The original is £775, they want between £3500 and £5000!

Is it me, or does anyone else think they've lost the plot? They really don't want to make this necklace for me, do they?

Anyone recommend a similar jeweller who can make something similar at a more reasonable price?

www.eileengatt.co.uk/

Gosh that is dear but I suppose it’s a tricky shape compared to, say, a bespoke engagement ring

I'm not sure pretty convinced that the OP doesn't understand the word "Bespoke" or the work that goes into creating anything bespoke. Nor is she willing to pay for the service. Which is fair enough but it's pretty strange that she's started a thread about it when she clearly has so little understanding.

You could just about justify the price quoted for all the reasons given above (new mould, man hours involved in scaled up design, more gold, etc). It also depends on whether one thinks £775 is a fair value for the mass produced tiny item in the first place.

But £5000 is a lot for a piece/designer which are probably a bit on the faddy/trendy side rather than a timeless classic.

@TheWoleb it's likely that the Chinese companies are copying her designs rather than vice versa. I've seen her process photos from a metalsmith group and she's an extremely talented polymer clay sculptor (polymer clay masters then cast into precious metal). She also used to do bespoke things like the parrot engagement rings based on a customer's own birds

You want a bespoke item so expect to pay bespoke prices. Absurd complaint.

how ill it cost them 7 times more to make it 50% bigger

It isn't 50% bigger, though, is it? Unless you want it taller without also being wider.

Assuming it's 1 cm high by 0.5 cm wide by 0.25 cm deep (I've no idea what the thing is, so this is just a guess). Then it would be 0.125 cm3. If you increase the height and width by 50% then it's 1.5 x 0.75 x 0.25 = 0.28125 cm3, i.e. 125% bigger. Add on the additional time to make something non-standard and costs are going to be high.

Imagine your 8 oz cake. If someone wanted a cake 50% wider, 50% longer and 50% deeper, that would be 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 = 3.375 times the size of the original, i.e. 237.5% bigger (i.e. a 27 oz cake, not 12 oz). This would take much longer to cook and would require much more icing (I won't do all those calculations as well). You would be very foolish to only charge 50% more.

@Gorl

It’s not really that surprising that a custom item costs way more than an off the rack item.

Nor me. It’s just common sense.

@buzzoffbee

I bake cakes- if someone wanted a 12oz cake instead of a standard 8oz cake I wouldn't increase the price from £50 to £325- it doesn't make any sense!

You obviously don't understand how jewellery is made. I assume you can buy a cake tin off the shelf to make a bigger cake.

This maker will have to scale up the design and have special moulds made. It is a huge commitment in time and money. They will have done this with the original design and then used those moulds to make hundreds or thousands of these pieces. The cost of the prep work is spread out over all those sales and they make their money back. It's simple economics.

They will do this for you, but at a cost. They've told you the cost and you don't like it, so that's that. They haven't done anything wrong. People frequently undervalue the creative process.

[quote ferretface]@TheWoleb it's likely that the Chinese companies are copying her designs rather than vice versa. I've seen her process photos from a metalsmith group and she's an extremely talented polymer clay sculptor (polymer clay masters then cast into precious metal). She also used to do bespoke things like the parrot engagement rings based on a customer's own birds [/quote]
Absolutely this. So many of my friends who run their own independent clothing labels have designs shamelessly copied by the likes of Shein, it's so frustrating for them and devalues their hard work.

@Gorl

Also re finding another jeweller, you’re very unlikely to find a reputable jeweller who will copy another artist’s design. You could, however, research jewellers you like and work with someone else to make a unique necklace that you love.

The bee necklace that Alex Monroe is selling is very similar and I would say inspired by a Heart within a heart necklace by Link. Beautiful it is. A small 18k gold heart inside a larger silver heart. Sadly Link are no longer trading.

@buzzoffbee

The necklace is 18ct gold and is made to order anyway, they do a bespoke service and I just want it 50% bigger than their standard offering in this design. Of course I expected it to be more- 50% more gold and scaling up but they are asking for not 50% more cost but a cost increase of around 700%

I think that if my maths is correct it’s between 3 and 4 times as much gold.

His/her jewellery remind me of the Harry Enfield “I saw you coming” shop. Badly cast, tiny, Chinese mass produced jewellery. Trust me, everyone is producing them in China, and then finish them here to stick the label. I just can’t fathom that someone is willing to pay nearly £9K for a tiny ring that is with £1500 and less based on the size and quality of the diamond and gold it has. The mark up is incredible!!!
Alex Monroe is rofl-ing all the way to the bank.

Hi there. I happened to see this post and can assure you all my work is designed by me, in my little home studio - and not mass produced!

If you have seen any imitations or items for sale that look strongly like they could be imitations, I'd be very grateful if you'd share links - I have had my work copied previously, and it is pretty devastating.

Lucy x

I like Alex Moore's pendants. Very imaginative.