I have pondered long and hard about my “about” page.  What do people really want to know about Colucci & Company?  I get asked all the time what school I went to learn how to make jewelry.  Fact is, I did not go to school to learn my craft.  I really did not have time to learn about all the great jewelry makers/designers of our time, the exact temperatures to melt metals, or the history of jewelry making.   It may sound kind of stuffy, but, those things did not interest me…metal flows when you hit the right temperature…you just see when its ready.  I have never modeled my style of jewelry making on another artists work, you cannot re-invent the wheel, maybe just put your ‘own spin” on it.  I was taught the basics of casting by a goldsmith in my hometown.  I learned how to solder over the course of a year down in my basement under a horrible 2 bulb fluorescent work light.

Prior to opening Colucci & Company I owned a successful Faux Finishing business and loved it!  I have sold cars, office equipment, and even de-tassled corn in my younger days.  Oh, and the paper route I had when I was really young.  I have always been a better business owner than employee.  I started the business because I saw a need for a store that was not your typical jewelry/gift store.  What would make us different from the rest?  The answer is that we actually make some of our jewelry in our on site workshop.  I use the Lost Wax Casting Process.  I know of no other goldsmith in my area that uses this process.  Typically a jewelry store buys the finished product from some supplier, usually foreign made, and marks it up and sells it.  I do not consider myself a “jeweler”, I don”t do watch batteries and I don”t do prong settings.  I carve, texture, manipulate and play with wax!  Below are a few pictures of the casting process, it is very cool to be able to create jewelry in a way that is so very different from the norm.

Why only American Made?  I ask why not?  Sure, it would be easier to buy less expensive products made in other countries, mark them up and sell them.  If you see jewelry/gift items on sale for 65-75% off, be rest assured that they are still making a profit, how? Less cost+higher mark-up=bigger discounts if it does not sell.  I think I will stick to the old school way and offer great products at a great prices.   I believe that there is a place for a “global economy”, but I strongly believe that you take care of your own home first before you start paying for someone elses.  Sure, American made products are more expensive for me to buy, reason, we have labor laws.  Keep the brick and mortars in the U.S. moving in the right direction, small businesses have the biggest workforce and it will grow when you support the American Artisan.