A good, well-chosen jump ring often goes almost unnoticed: the jewelry moves correctly, the pendant sits nicely, and the connection looks exactly the way it should.

A poorly chosen ring, on the other hand, makes the piece stiff, clumsy, or unreliable to wear.

Copying is a sore subject for many small jewelry makers. When you've put time, materials, experimentation, and creative thought into your own design, it feels unfair if someone else makes a very similar piece and sells it as their own.

Read on to find out how you can protect your own creative work.

Your product's price should be able to withstand discounts, resale through retailers, waste, and your own pay without your business becoming unprofitable.

Calculating your profit margin helps you see whether your prices are actually right.

But what counts as a good margin?