If I had a dollar for every time someone asked how long it takes me to make a piece of filigree jewelry, I’d have enough to buy at least a solid gold wire spool.
The truth? It depends. Every piece is different, and since filigree is handcrafted with delicate wires twisted, shaped, and soldered together, there’s no shortcut.
Why I Don’t Track My Hours (and Probably Never Will)
- I’m usually working on multiple pieces at once. One might be drying, another might be in the soldering phase, and a third is just a pile of tiny wire waiting to be transformed.
- The process isn’t rushed—if I forced myself to time it, I’d probably just cry. Filigree is an art form, and art doesn't like being put on a stopwatch.
- Some designs are simple and take hours. Others are intricate and take weeks. I don’t stop until it looks exactly how I want it to.
So, if you ask me how long it takes to make a piece, I’ll probably smile and say, “Somewhere between ‘a while’ and ‘a lifetime’—but I promise it’s worth the wait.”