Is A&A cheaper than Rio Grande?...No.

All my fellow jewelry artists tell me that buying sheet silver is cheaper at A&A Jewelry Supply in downtown Los Angeles, than if I buy online from Rio Grande. Well I can tell you that its simply not true. Today, I went to A&A to buy sheet silver and wire, because I need them next week and don't have time to wait for a shipment. I also had birthday cash, and so was limited to that amount.

I wanted to buy 24g sterling sheet and 10g wire. I went online to see how much Rio would charge today based on the market rate for silver ($27.48). I chose a 6 x 2" piece of sheet to start. On Rio, the price was $40.58 for a 6 x 2" sheet weighing 1.29 oz. (36.57gr).

The same sheet, in size and gauge was $53.68 at A&A! Their market price was listed as $27.73/oz, though they weigh metal by the gram. The piece I bought was a hair less than 6" by the same 2". Their weight was listed as 42.6gr. Okay, I know that there are minute fluctuations in thickness and weight, but come on! The same weight would be $47.12 on Rio. Even adjusting for the increased cost of production of the sheet (around $31) I still should have payed around $46.73. That ends up being 13% more than Rio. Ouch.

I managed to get 7"(9.6gr) for $11.62, though I wanted more, I had to save out $ for parking. The same piece on Rio costs $9.96 (9.07gr). A&A cost is 14% more for the wire. Yes, I adjusted for weight and manufacturing costs.

Rio is the better deal, especially since they reduce prices as the total silver weight adds up.

Don't go to A&A unless you want to pay more. CA taxes are also obscenely high. A resale license would solve the tax issue.

Ps. Damn, silver is expensive.

my sad little $58 sheet of silver- its still pretty, though

More jewelry

snake bangle with red sapphire and tsavorite garnets

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butterfly pin/pendant with aquamarines, sapphires, labradorite and rubies

scorpion pendant with labradorite, green sapphires and tourmalines

snake ring with cabochon sapphires

large aquamarine ring with sapphires

snake bangle with watermelon tourmaline slices

large agate on overlay/paneled silver bangle

bird earrings with sapphires and moonstone drops

elephant earrings with sapphire eyes and chalcedony drops

large agate with citrine, chalcedony, and rose quartz frame; sapphire drops

large brass dragonfly necklace (now hung from green labradorite beads)

older paintings- Seattle, Iowa City

antique jewelry I like

I hope you enjoy these photos. I really love antique jewelry and if I could purchase objects like these , price being no object, I'd have a closetful. But I choose to collect photos of jewelry I admire. Below, you will find a selection that includes Codognato, Iradj Moini, possibly Krementz...I have a sketchbook that is filled with collaged photos of clothing, jewelry, paintings, architecture, furniture and other lovely objects. I will photograph some of the pages and post the pictures in the near future...When I say I like antique jewelry, I refer to a host of periods and styles. I love Georgian and Victorian sentimental jewelry. I love ancient Greek and Scythian objects. I love jewels from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, all for different reasons. I guess I really enjoy seeing the hand of the artist in the work. The same goes for paintings, too, in terms of seeing the artist's hand in the work.

older work-some much older

some of my paintings and drawings- in no particular order

Some of my student's work