Where has Tawbis Studios (Jewellery) been this year?

Silver has always been at the heart of my creative work under the Tawbis Studios (Jewellery) brand. The gleam of a freshly crafted piece, the delicate shaping of metal under my tools, and the satisfaction of turning raw silver into wearable art have defined my silversmithing journey. Yet, over the past several months, I have stepped back from both crafting and teaching workshops. The reason is simple but significant: the sharp rise and unpredictable swings in the price of silver have made it difficult to continue as before.

In this post, I want to share why the changing silver market has affected my work, how it has influenced my decisions, and what this means for anyone interested in silversmithing today. Whether you are a fellow artisan, a student or prospective student, a customer, or simply curious about the craft, understanding these challenges can offer insight into the realities behind the art.

One of my recent creations in silver!

How Silver Price Volatility Affects Silversmithing

Silver is not just a material; it is a commodity traded globally. Its price depends on many factors, including economic conditions, investor behaviour, industrial demand, and geopolitical events. Whenever worldwide events introduce uncertainty into global markets, investors who would traditionally focus on property or stocks get spooked, and instead transfer their interest to bullion, mainly gold and silver. Add to that the increased use of silver in electronics and AI-related uses, and you can probably see why the past year (and in particular the past few months) has seen silver and (to a lesser extent) gold prices go through the roof and suffer very unpredictable pricing trends. When silver prices rise sharply or fluctuate wildly, it creates a ripple effect on anyone who relies on silver for their craft.

Increased Material Costs

The most immediate impact is on the cost of raw silver. Over recent months, silver prices have jumped significantly, sometimes changing by several pounds per ounce within days or even within the same day. For a silversmith, this means:

• Higher prices for purchasing raw silver

• Difficulty in budgeting for projects

• Increased prices for finished pieces, which may reduce customer demand

  
  

For example, a simple silver ring that cost £30 in materials a year ago might now require £50 or more. This increase forces makers to reconsider pricing or absorb costs, both of which can be unsustainable, particularly for a small business like Tawbis Studios.

Challenges in Workshop Planning

Workshops rely on predictable costs to set fees and attract participants. When silver prices are volatile:

• Workshop materials become expensive and unpredictable

• Planning becomes risky, as sudden price rises or price volatility can affect profitability

• Students may hesitate to pay higher fees

  
  

Over the last few months, put quite simply it has been impossible to arrange any workshops, due to the unpredictable price of silver: I need to know at the point that I list tickets for sale that by the time tickets are booked and I go to restock on materials, I won't be making a loss! Like many other workshop organisers, I unfortunately do rely on ticket sales to be able to purchase the raw materials necessary for the sessions and isn't possible to do things the other way round (ie bulk purchase materials then list the workshop tickets for sale). If only that were the case - maybe if I win the lottery!

However, it looks as though the price of raw silver (for now at least!) seems to have stabilised enough that I feel I can risk organising some more sessions. I hope you will understand but I have had to put my prices up fairly substantially from the sessions I ran in 2025: in truth I wasn't really making a profit from those, and with the hugely increased cost of silver and other materials, I need to make sure that my workshops are financially viable for the business. The prices I will now be charging will be in line with the price charged by my main competitors though and will still represent very good value for money.

Don't forget, I also offer the same workshops for the same price per head as private parties, so while I am getting the workshop dates lined up, feel free to get in touch (anne@tawbis.com) if you'd like to discuss us coming to you to run a session.

Close-up of silver ingot on workbench

So what have I been doing this year?

Well, first of all Tawbis Studios (Music) has still been running as usual, and I have taken on a number of fantastic new students (email me if you're interested - anne@tawbis.com). I have also been focusing on writing a lot of new musical arrangements to use in teaching my students.

Secondly I've been focusing on pieces of jewellery made using other metals, and in particular copper and brass which have always been a big part of my creative practice. While the rise and unpredictability of silver pricing has had a knock-on effect on the prices of copper and brass it has not been as extreme, thankfully!

My 'Thistle Rose' piece in copper

Behind the scenes, I have been spending time working on admin and logistics for the business, to make things more efficient and streamlined. I've also been looking for more venues to hold workshops in, and I am hopeful that this year I will be able to offer sessions across a broader geographical spread of the northeast of Scotland.

And, finally, I've been keeping a feverish eye on silver prices, waiting for the moment that I felt confident enough to start organising workshops, and we have finally reached that point! Keep an eye on this website and on my Facebook page, as these are where the dates will be announced first.

What will this mean for the pieces I sell?

As you can probably imagine, the cost of pieces that I sell will also have to be reassessed, and in most cases raised. The good news on this front, however, is that you have a small window of opportunity if you see anything you like in my shop, to buy it at it's original price while stocks last!