Handmade Versus Machine-Made Rosaries
Handmade versus Machine-Made Rosaries
The value of a rosary is in its durability and beauty. We look at FIVE different aspects of handmade versus machine-made rosaries.
Handmade
versus
MACHINE-MADE
Durability:
HANDMADE ✔
Variety:
HANDMADE ✔
Cost:
MACHINE-MADE ✔
Let's Compare
SAMPLE HANDMADE ROSARY
Not all rosaries are the same. However, we chose samples of a couple of basic new rosaries for the sake of comparison.
SAMPLE MACHINE-MADE ROSARY
1. DURABILITY:
Both machine-made and handmade rosaries can be sturdy. Yet…
HANDMADE
Most handmade rosaries stand above the crowd for their reliability. They are built to last longer.
HANDMADE & RELIABLE
MACHINE-MADE
Some commercial rosaries are more durable than others. Still, many of them will break under constant use.
2. Variety
Both machine-made and handmade rosaries can become a favourite set of beads. However…
HANDMADE
HANDMADE & UNIQUE
MACHINE-MADE
3. How They are Made
Manufactured rosaries can be made more quickly than handmade ones. The result…
HANDMADE
Rosary artisans start with a roll of wire. They attach each bead by turning and cutting the wire with hand-held pliers. Checking the bead quality as they work, they loop the wire by hand and individually secure the beads.
They also take great care to make their loops consistently even and round. As a result, rosaries made like this take 4 hours or more to complete.
HANDMADE PRECISION
MACHINE-MADE CONSTRUCTION
MACHINE-MADE
A popular way to make a rosary is with premade eye pins. They have factory-made loops on one end. Rosary makers re-attach these loops, slide on the bead, and then make a loop on the second side by hand. It only takes about 20 minutes to make one of these rosaries.
The fastest way to make a rosary is by assembling it with a machine-made strand of beads. Assemblers quickly unhook sections and re-attach them to chain pieces. Although there is a human element, machines make the part that is the most vulnerable to breakage. They generally do not notice individual bead flaws. Also, they likely do not want to waste a group of connected beads.
4. How the Cost Compares
The cost of a finished rosary is a direct result of its type of construction. The value…
HANDMADE
Rosaries that are made in the tradition of artisan design are the most pricey. Artisans choose supplies based on quality and uniqueness. They miss out on bulk discounts. When you buy a handmade rosary, you are paying for authenticity.
AUTHENTIC & HANDMADE
MACHINE-MADE
Commercial rosaries use large quantities of wholesale supplies at a lower price. The machine-made strands of beads are simple to assemble. As a result, they are the most affordable rosaries on the market.
5. Buying Locally
Machine-made rosaries all start with strands of beads assembled overseas…
HANDMADE
Local artisans design and make rosaries from more basic materials like beads, lengths of wire, and pieces they choose to put together.
They pay close attention to details, like bead quality and loop consistency.
As a result, these rosaries have a longer lifespan.
HOMEGROWN QUALITY
MACHINE-MADE
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CREDITS
The LOGO image of Our Lady of Grace is original artwork by Martin Lariviere in 2009. We have the artist’s permission (my son). It is our exclusive trademark logo image.
A beautifully photographed sky by Donald Tong inspired the website’s colour scheme. Cropped portions of it are the background for the footer Bible verse. He shared it as a free download on pexels.com.
Raphael painted The Sistine Madonna circa (1513-1514). We made circular cut-outs from the original image.
Our information is from general knowledge, experience, and shared internet resources. We ask that you use it as a starting point for your research so that you can verify facts and build a reference list.
IN REVIEW
Not all rosaries are equal. Machine-made rosaries are generally not as strong or unique as handmade ones.
- STRENGTH & LIFESPAN: Most handmade rosaries stand above the crowd for their reliability.
- VARIETY: Handmade rosaries are as unique as the artisan who dreams them up.
- MANUFACTURING: Rosary artisans start with a roll of wire. They attach the beads by turning and cutting the wire by hand.
- COST: Handmade rosaries have a variety of carefully selected supplies. Their authenticity adds to the cost.
- HOMEGROWN QUALITY: Artisans pay close attention to details like bead quality and loop consistency.