When you invest in gold jewellery, you are paying not only for the weight of gold but also for the craftsmanship, creativity, and care that go into each piece. Two common terms in jewellery pricing are “making charge” and “wastage”, and understanding them helps clarify how the final value of your jewellery is derived.
What Is a Making Charge?
The making charge refers to the cost of transforming raw gold into a finished, wearable work of art. This includes:
- Designing the piece (CAD or hand-drawn sketches)
- Casting, setting, polishing, and hand-finishing
- Skilled artisan labour, often involving heritage techniques passed down over generations
- Hallmarking and quality assurance
Making charges vary depending on the complexity and technique involved. For instance:
- A delicate filigree necklace may require dozens of hours of handwork, reflected in a higher charge.
- A machine-made plain band might have a simpler process and therefore a lower charge.
Making charges are usually:
- Fixed (e.g. £150 for a custom pendant), or
- Percentage-based (e.g. 20% – 40% of gold value), depending on design intricacy.
What Is Wastage?
“Wastage” refers to the small amount of gold lost or unrecuperated during crafting, especially in handcrafted designs with complex details. During cutting, filing, or polishing, tiny gold particles may become unrecoverable despite best efforts. This is particularly true with:
- Hand-engraved surfaces
- Hollow structures
- Fine mesh or filigree styles
Wastage is often calculated as a percentage of gold weight (commonly 3% – 7%), depending on the style and technique.
Our Approach at PureJewels
At PureJewels, we believe that jewellery is not a commodity; it is a story, a legacy, a form of personal expression. While some brands market their jewellery with claims of “zero making charges” or “no wastage”, we gently differ in philosophy.
We do not reduce our thoughtful, handcrafted designs to a formula of weight alone. Our creations are inspired by journeys, shaped by artisans, and rooted in tradition. Every detail, from a subtle curve to a filigree swirl, has been carefully considered, and it deserves to be valued as part of the finished piece.
You are not simply buying grams of gold; you are investing in a piece that has been sketched, sculpted, and finished with purpose and pride.
How Do We Calculate the Final Price?
At PureJewels, every quotation is transparent and fully itemised. A typical price is calculated as:
(Net Gold Weight × Gold Rate) + Making Charge + VAT
Each piece is hallmarked by the UK Assay Office, and our pricing reflects both the intrinsic and artistic worth of the jewellery.
Choosing Jewellery with Meaning
Whether you are selecting a bridal necklace, a bespoke bracelet, or a simple gold band, we invite you to look beyond the weight and into the soul of the piece. At PureJewels, we craft with love, not shortcuts and it shows.
