If you've been following the metals market lately, you might already know: silver is nearing $40 an ounce. Gasp. Wont even talk about gold...
I've been in this business for a long time, and while silver has always fluctuated, this is something entirely different. Very recently, silver was less than half this price. That’s a dramatic shift—and it affects every silversmith, designer, and jewelry lover in the market. With the cost of silver skyrocketing, and with new tariffs now affecting the cost of stones and materials, we’re all facing a new reality.
At LBJ we're working on the same playing field as everyone else—and we’re navigating these changes with our values intact.
We've been seeing a noticeable shift toward lower quality: silver-filled, silver-plated, and all kinds of shortcuts that try to pass for solid sterling silver. It’s disheartening to see, especially when the goal seems to be to fool the public rather than offer real value. At Linda Blackbourn Jewelry, we’re not going down that path. We’re going to continue making the same high-quality, solid sterling silver jewelry we’ve always made—even if it costs a little more—because our materials are genuine, our stones are real, and our values haven’t changed.
What makes us different is not only the exceptional quality ... but the experience we offer: LBJ is like having access to a private silversmith, online. You get to choose your stone, you get personalized service, and you receive handcrafted pieces made with care, not mass-produced by machines or outsourced across the globe.
What does that mean for you? It means we are only raising our prices as much as we absolutely have to. Our commitment to offering personal, high-quality service and beautifully made jewelry hasn’t changed—and it won’t.
We appreciate your continued support, and your love for handmade jewelry. It’s not just about metal and stones. It’s about craft, intention, and the stories that jewelry carries with it. And we’re here to keep telling those stories—together.
—Linda
Comments will be approved before showing up.
