I think there are lots of ways to make good work. You can throw big bucks at a project and make what some would call crap, or you can work very modestly with eloquently moving results.
My favorite jewelry designer is Suzanne Belperron, a great Parisian jeweler who was known for her bold and creative use of stones. I admire the fact that she was a strong successful woman during a time when women did not play a large role in the work force.