Welcome to the Biker, Gothic, Baroque, Street Jewelry Blog, the first of its kind.


We scour the globe for the edgiest designers and artists for sterling silver jewelry - biker jewelry, gothic, baroque, skull rings, metal & leather works. The realist jewelry is often highly intricate; custom; handcrafted; imaginative; and beautifully created pieces of wearable art made in sterling silver and other precious metals. Established in 2008, Los Angeles. Instagram @excessive21.


𝓐𝓻𝓽𝓢𝓽𝔂𝓵𝓮𝓢𝓲𝓵𝓿𝓮𝓻.𝓝𝓮𝓽

Monday, August 2, 2010

Selling Silver Only - Pt II


 

CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION

Invidious consumption refers to consumption deliberately intended to cause envy, while conspicuous spending deals with lavish spending on goods and services acquired mainly for the purpose of showing off income, wealth, or bling. Some kids call it flexing. The trend for "new money" individuals in newly developed countries skews towards conspicuous consumption of the biggest, global, brand name luxury goods. What we mean by this is that "new money" have only recently (within one generation) accumulated large amounts of disposable income and, previously, may not have been exposed to the "best of the best" of the finer material things in life.

With little to no prior exposure to the wealth and splendor of developed and advanced nations, "nouveau riche" families, especially from newly developed countries, are taught or directed to what is considered luxury and high quality. Like most of us, many did not grow up with silver spoons in their mouths, nor did they spend their childhoods living in big mansions decorated with beautiful, antique furniture, rugs, paintings and sculptures. Neither did their parents pass down heirlooms of gold and precious stones. Less than a century ago, the citizens of today's newly developed countries were happy just have adequate food, clothing and shelter.



Our younger generation have never seen a car made of stronger metals or a pair of sneakers made of genuine leather. They see a world of plastic, where cost effective measures are applied down to every nut and bolt. The "luxury education" that they receive comes through marketing via the media, press, advertisements, etc. The new yuppies see a celebrity or affluent, high-profile person wearing a certain watch, carrying a certain bag, or driving a specific race car and they will accept it as a real luxury brand. (You can experience this first hand among new wealth in China and Taiwan).

For women, you have seen the countless advertisements from the same luxury companies, since you first began reading "Vogue", etc, back in junior high school. Over years and years of conditioning and exposure to mass brainwashing marketing campaigns, you have come to accept certain brands as real luxury. And to make things worse, the big companies raise the price of everything year after year. A pair of designer jeans used to go for $25, but now a more fashionable Italian cotton version will run you $250. "Want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing" - Brooke Shields for Calvin Klein Jeans (1981).



Gold is very suitable for investing. It is actually more valuable than your paper money, which depreciates on a daily basis. In Mr Skull N Roses' previous career, he attended training classes at the Federal Reserve Bank on subjects such as Interest Rate Risk as well as other banking related topics. When he was at the San Francisco FED, there was a pamphlet there about why U.S. money was no longer backed by gold.

Henry Ford once said, “It is well that the people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.” Your money is no longer good. Gold should be your money, so don't wear it all on your body.

So how does this all relate to "Selling Silver Only"? Gold, more expensive than ever, should replace your paper money, while silver has and always will be great for jewelry. You get ripped off plenty once a designer turns money, or gold, into a jewelry piece for you. With silver jewelry, you will still not get your full return in silver, but with a good designer, you will definitely get your money's worth in terms of design, quality and craftsmanship. A lot of hard work and labor goes into the production of a masterpiece.




A reputable designer will use high quality silver that has never been recycled and an expensive alloy with anti-tarnishing properties. In a good silver jewelry piece, your silver will be non-allergenic and nickel free. The designer's creativity and ideas are not limited by the price or weight of the jewelry piece that he or she is designing for you. Gold is denser than silver, so the exact same silver ring made in gold would also be much heavier and costlier.

This article will likely get stolen soon, just like everything Mr Skull N Roses writes on this blog. So, please remember that you read it here first! Live free or die!!! Stay tuned for Part III in the series - Mr Skull N Roses "Sells Silver Only!"